The 2nd Annual Maude’s Award Recipients are announced today. Three organizations will each receive $25,000 and five individuals will receive $5,000 each.

Maude’s Awards was created to enrich the quality of life for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their care partners. It provides monetary awards to organizations and individuals for innovations excelling in one of the categories of care, found here The Awards – Maude's Awards (maudesawards.org)

One of the Individual recipients is from Elgin, IL and Chandler, AZ with a project called Tales & Travel Adventures:

Mary Beth Riedner – For Tales & Travel Adventures (T&TA) - http://talesandtravelmemories.com/memory-cafes/
“Through my 10-year journey as a caregiver for my husband, I was inspired to bring my first book and reading program to those living with dementia at a local memory care facility in IL. The Tales & Travel Memories (T&TM) program takes residents of memory care facilities in IL and Memory Café participants in AZ on imaginary trips to another country or part of the US using library materials. With the pandemic, I adapted the program into an online series called Tales & Travel Adventures (T&TA). The series simulates real time trips to locations I have visited over the past few decades. Participants are invited to read aloud a simple narrative that accompanies photos from each destination. The programs stimulate memories and conversation. Other literacy activities such as reading poems, singing and playing word games are incorporated into the programs. This interactive program can be easily replicated on almost any topic.”

Maude’s Awards was created in 2019 by Richard Ferry (Co-Founder of Korn-Ferry International) in honor of his beloved wife of 65 years. In 2013, Maude was diagnosed with dementia. As a loving care partner and tireless advocate, Richard continues the journey by discovering and sharing innovations that speak to the challenges and needs of persons living with dementia and their care partners.
Maude’s Awards are for achievement and demonstrated success, as opposed to grants for future programs. The nominated program must have been active in 2020 or the year prior. If the program is currently active or recurring, it must have completed one year of operation, or enough time to demonstrate success.

For more information, visit: https://maudesawards.org/2021-awardees.

The full list of recipients is as follows:

Organizations ($25,000)
Opening Minds Through Art (Oxford, OH) – Making Connections Category
Giving Voice Initiative (Bloomington, MN) - Making Connections Category
Duet: Partners In Health & Aging (Phoenix, AZ) – Supporting Care Partners Category

Individuals ($5,000)
Fayron Epps (Atlanta, GA) – Making Connections Category
Diana Blackwelder (Washington DC) – Making Connections Category
Laurette Klier (Lyme, CT) – Making Connections Category
Mary Beth Riedner (Elgin, IL / Chandler, AZ) – Making Connections Category
Carol B. Amos (Hockessin, DE) – Supporting Care Partners