Non Profit Fundraising Tips

Big-game fishing is making a big impact in the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease.Gloucesters Bluefin Blowout, a fishing tournament, has raised more than 1.7 million dollars for the Massachusetts/New Hampshire chapter of the Alzheimers Association.Drew Hale who serves as the fishing director, started the tournament in 2012.”We just did it to kind of revive an old fishing tournament that used to exist at Cape Ann Marina and in Gloucester, he said.Hale said his cousin and event sponsor, Warren Waugh, had the idea to make it a fundraiser to fight Alzheimers disease starting in 2016. Waughs late wife suffered from early-onset dementia.”I saw what the Alzheimer’s Association did with me when I had to finally find a nursing home, get some guidance, get that assistance I mentally needed to get through it, he said. Without them, I don’t know that I could have done it on my own.”Charlene Bemis, the senior director of development for the Alzheimer’s Associations Massachusetts/New Hampshire chapter, said the money raised is instrumental in supporting the organizations efforts.”That’s 24-7 helplines, support groups, public education, as well as research for treatments and a cure, Bemis said. They are making a significant impact in our work to support local families and continue finding a cure.”Waugh said he hopes more awareness about the disease leads to action. Speaking about his late wife, he said symptoms started in her late forties.She was diagnosed in her fifties, he said. We just used to say, Oh, it’s mom being mom, she’s forgetful, she’s quirky, and it wasn’t (that), the signs were there. I really hope that testing for early onset dementia and Alzheimer’s starts at early stages of medical exams, maybe in your early forties.”The team from the fishing vessel Mojo won the tournament with a bluefin that weighed in at a massive 649 pounds.Boat captain, Mike Wallace said the mission behind the event is a motivating factor in why he took part.”What’s amazing is just the benefits behind it, the Alzheimer’s focus, Wallace said.Elyse Jewelers designed a necklace to support the Bluefin Blowouts fundraising efforts. Anyone interested in learning more can submit an inquiry directly to the jeweler.Find more information on the Bluefin Blowout here.