Wine festival will support nonprofit

Area agency helps families, caregivers of dementia patients

The Alzheimer’s Alliance Tri-State Area is gearing up for its fourth annual Un4gettable Twice as Fine Texarkana Wine Festival scheduled to take place May 5 at Spring Lake Park, Texarkana, Texas.

The event has been very successful for the nonprofit agency, which provides a variety of services to families and caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Last year more than 9,000 people attended the event.

“It is our signature fundraising event, so it is our largest revenue-producing event, which helps us continue to provide services,” said Terrie Arnold, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Alliance.

Services provided by the agency include education, support and resources for families from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Alzheimer’s Alliance also provides respite care for caregivers with its Our Place Respite Center.

“We offer respite care, which means rest for caregivers, three days a week,” Arnold said.

The respite center is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

These services are made possible, in large part, by the funds raised by the wine festival, and the majority of the money is raised through sponsorships.

“The sponsorships make up about 90 percent of the revenue from the event,” Arnold said. “With the wine festival we charge a minimal fee to enter the wine garden. It’s $10. The other main festival area is free, so we’re not producing revenue through the event. We want to offer something fun and make it available to anyone who’d like to come, so the sponsorships are extremely important because it is the revenue-producing source of the festival.”

The Alzheimer’s Alliance is looking for sponsors for this year’s festival. There are different levels of sponsorship, starting at $500 and going up to $15,0000.

Community support of the Alzheimer’s Alliance is welcome throughout the year.

“Donations are welcome and appreciate anytime during the year,” Arnold said. “There are also volunteer opportunities throughout the year.”

For more information about the wine festival, donating or volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Alliance, call 903-223-8021.