Chaired by Judy Lancaster (Alzheimer’s Association board member and CFO of Lancaster Craftsmen Builders, Inc.) and Diana Grimm (contracting office representative for Department of Homeland Security), with Mirror Ball Sponsor, Tox Path Specialists, this black-tie optional event will feature cocktails, seated dinner and dancing to live music by The Shades.

Debbie Williams (founder and executive director of the Patty Pollatos Fund, Inc.) and Todd Walker (2013 “Dancing Star” and local Realtor®) will emcee the competition in which the dancers will vie to win the Judge’s Choice Trophies for the best Waltz, East Coast Swing and American Tango performances and the You’re Our Star Trophy for the dancer raising the most money for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Adding to the fun, will be the “Making a Memory” raffle drawing. The lucky winner will receive passage for two on the Malt Shop Memories Cruise® to the Caribbean aboard the Holland America MS Eurodam, Nov. 2-9, 2014.

Amenities include a Verandah Oceanview Stateroom for two and live performances by over a dozen legends – and six Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, including Dion, The Temptations, Brenda Lee, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone and many more. 

The ship departs from Ft. Lauderdale and includes ports to Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island, Cozumel and Key West. This package also includes roundtrip airfare for two from any Baltimore/Washington area airport to Ft. Lauderdale (Total value: $6,000).

Raffle tickets are on sale now online through the gala at $25 each or five for $100. (Only 1,000 tickets will be sold. Raffle participants do not have to be present to win). To buy tickets online or see full package details, visit http://act.alz.org/2014ForgetMeNotGala [2].

Prior to the gala, participants will receive complimentary lessons from local instructors, Alice Hajjar, David Wolff and Paul & Melissa Watson.

On event night, the couples will perform before a panel of judges that includes David Brinkley (Maryland State Senator), Jan Gardner (past president of the Frederick County Commissioners), Kelly Schulz (Maryland State Delegate [4]) and Bill Wilson (2013 “Dancing Star” champion and owner, The Engine Room, a business consulting firm).

The dancers will vie to win the Judge’s Choice Trophies for the best Waltz, East Coast Swing and American Tango performances and the You’re Our Star Trophy for the dancer raising the most money for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Dancers can earn votes from friends, family and associates online prior to the event at http://act.alz.org/2014ForgetMeNotGala [2] and by the audience attending the Gala. Each vote costs one dollar. (Votes for dancers at last year’s gala raised over $66,000. Overall, the event raised over $100,000).

Proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association’s many programs and services, as well as raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, which now affect more than 86,000 people in Maryland.