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Did you know that Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death for adults in the United States? (CDC)
Every year, more and more adults suffer from this heartbreaking disease. In Classic Cookie's hometown of Sevierville, TN, the disease is prevalent among the adult population.
To help find a cure, Classic Cookie teamed up with the local Alzheimer's Association chapter to raise awareness during the organization's Paint the Town Purple August kickoff event.
Paint the Town Purple Week - August 2023
What is Paint the Town Purple?
To kick off the fundraising season, the local Knoxville Alzheimer's Association coordinated a Paint the Town Purple event. This event included businesses decorating their storefronts and creating purple-themed products to raise money and awareness about the disease. Other activities also were added around the area to engage the community.
"This event aims to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s education, support, and research," Sara Dickson, Development Manager of the Knoxville & Tri-Cities Area for the Alzheimer's Association Tennessee Chapter, told Classic Cookie. "We want to #ENDALZ and to do so, we have to jump into the fight. That is why this week is so important. That is why partnerships with local businesses, such as Classic Cookie, can really expand our outreach in Knoxville and surrounding counties. Their efforts have an invaluable impact on connecting people to our Association and the resources we provide. It is through these partnerships, that businesses can utilize our resources to provide for their employees and families."
Paint the Town Purple Week starts every year during the first week of August. This year's event took place from July 31 - August 5, 2023.
What Activities Took Place During Paint the Town Purple Week?
For Paint the Town Purple, many businesses and groups hosted fun purple promotions and activities to engage the larger community. (Listed below)
Classic Cookie
Classic Cookie committed to giving 15% of all online oatmeal raisin soft-baked cookie sales back to the Alzheimer's Association during August. This is the third year in a row that Classic Cookie has raised funds with their purple-packaged cookies.
On top of giving back a portion of sales, Classic Cookie also donated cookies to various local businesses to help in their fundraising efforts.
Cruze Farm
Cruze Farm, the #1 ice cream in Tennessee, committed to giving back proceeds from purple sprinkle sales at their downtown Knoxville location during Paint the Town Purple. They also gave back 100% of their Classic Cookie oatmeal raisin sales to the Alzheimer's Association.
Henley Street Bridge
The Henley Street pedestrian bridge in downtown Knoxville lit up with purple lighting each night to show the city's support for Paint the Town Purple. This walking bridge is famous for connecting visitors to the World's Fair Park over the busiest street in the city.
Home Instead
Home Instead's Knoxville office hosted a few different events during Paint the Town Purple. The first event was a purple-themed baking competition. From mini bundt cakes to crinkle cookies, the competition featured many great dishes.
The second event was a purple craft day where visitors could come and create a purple craft with a donation to the Alzheimer's Association.
Living in East Tennessee
Living in East Tennessee provided a fun segment with the Alzheimer's Association to promote all the wonderful things happening during the Paint the Town Purple event.
Nourish Knoxville Farmer's Market Booth
The Alzheimer's Association was allowed to set up on Saturday during Nourish Knoxville's downtown farmer's market to spread more awareness. Shoppers could get free prizes and cookies for stopping by the purple booth.
Other Activities
UT Medical Center - front entrance illuminated purple all week
Merchants of Beer - give back proceeds from Berry Margarita drink sales
Magpies Bakery - give back a percentage of proceeds from purple cupcake sales
Pelican SnoBalls - give back proceeds from purple Forget-Me-Not flavor
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame - promotional purple table
The Donut Shop - give back proceeds from purple donut sales
GROW Salon - give back proceeds from purple fairy hair sales
Kendra Scott - give back a percentage of proceeds from store sales
Buttermilk Pie Sky - give back a percentage of proceeds from Triple Berry Pie (all of August)
Orange Hat Brewery - give back a percentage of proceeds from purple beer (all of August)
Ham'N Goodys - give back a percentage of proceeds from purple cookies
Smart Toys and Book - give back proceeds from purple pinwheels sales
Cherokee Health Systems - 10 Ways to Love Your Brain handouts for patients
Hi-Wire Brewing - give back a percentage of proceeds from flagship pours
Random Acts of Flowers - delivering purple flower arrangements to select Memory Care facilities
Fanatic Brewing Company - give back a percentage of proceeds from each beer purchase
Nirvana Comics - throw a water balloon at the owner for every $10 donation and give back a percentage of proceeds from store sales
How Was Paint the Town Purple's Impact on the Alzheimer's Association?
With all the added activities, Paint the Town Purple 2023 was the biggest week in the event's history. "During last week's Paint the Town Purple campaign, I was incredibly humbled by the outpouring of support from area businesses, families, and individuals that joined together to help fight for Alzheimer’s first survivor," Dickson shared. "So many shared their story and why this cause is important to them. What I love most about the Paint the Town Purple campaign, is that through the involvement of businesses, people can visually see that there are so many navigating this disease and they do not have to do it alone. Too many have been directly affected and lost loved ones along the way."
The Alzheimer's Association is now focused on taking the momentum from Paint the Town Purple and using it to prepare teams for their Walk to End Alzheimer's event in late September at Zoo Knoxville. From this, the organization will continue to fund disease research to help find a cure for those who have been affected.
More information on Walk to End Alzheimer's (Knoxville): https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2023/TN-Tennessee?pg=entry&fr_id=16948
Continue to support the cause today by ordering your Oatmeal Raisin cookies: www.classiccookie.com
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