|
 More than 220,000 Illinois residents are currently living with
Alzheimer’s disease. This new Alzheimer’s Association specialty
license plate will help raise dementia awareness. According to a
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2015 health survey,
nearly 10% of Illinois residents 45 and older report they are
experiencing confusion or memory loss that is happening more often
or is getting worse.
The license plate was authorized by legislation in Springfield. The
plate was ultimately successful because of the help of state Senator
Martin Sandoval, (D-Cicero), state Representative Bill Mitchell,(R-Forsyth),
and state Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, (D-Shorewood).
“The Alzheimer’s Association is grateful for the hard work and
dedication Senator Sandoval, Representative Mitchell, and Senator
Bertino-Tarrant conducted on behalf of Illinois families looking for
Alzheimer’s care and support services,” said Jen Belkov, Illinois
State Policy Lead for the Alzheimer’s Association, “With Alzheimer’s
disease on the rise in Illinois, these license plates will provide
much needed awareness of Alzheimer’s and the resources available for
them.”
The new Alzheimer’s Association license plate will also help the
Association strengthen their care and support efforts for residents
and families facing Alzheimer’s disease. 92% of the funds generated
by the license plate renewal fees are given to the Alzheimer’s
Association to help fund services like the 24/7 Helpline.
In the coming months, the Alzheimer’s Association will be working
with the Secretary of State to finalize the license plate’s design.
The state police will then conduct an internal review to make sure
the design is safe and approved for use on Illinois roads. Once that
process is complete, registrants will receive a license plate
transfer application directly from the Secretary of State.
Throughout the process, the Alzheimer’s Association plans to update
their website as news comes in from the Secretary of State. To see
the most current information, please visit: act.alz.org/illinois
[to top of second column] |
Following is the response of state Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant,
(D-Shorewood),:
“With thousands of people throughout Illinois living with Alzheimer’s, it’s
critically important to increase awareness of the disease and fund care
programs,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “I’m proud to have partners with the
Alzheimer’s Association to make a license plate available that will help support
dementia patients and their families.”
Representative Bill Mitchell, (R-Forsyth),:
“Alzheimer’s Disease is an especially cruel disease that tales away the precious
memories of loved ones. Alzheimer’s Awareness plates will help fund programs to
combat this terrible disease. I was honored to sponsor the law creating these
plates on behalf of the thousands of Illinoisans affected by Alzheimer’s and I
am very pleased to see this goal achieved,” said State Rep. Bill Mitchell
(R-Forsyth).
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in
Alzheimer’s research, care and support. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s
disease through advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support
for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of
brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information,
visit alz.org or call 800-272-3900.
[Alzheimer's Association]
 |
