The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI)
Raising Awareness & Funding Research Through Art
www.AlzQuilts.org
About Us
The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) is an Internet-driven, grassroots, totally volunteer effort to raise awareness and fund research through art. I founded the AAQI in January 2006 because my mother has Alzheimer's disease. All profit is donated to Alzheimer's research. Since the AAQI began we have raised more than $157,000 for Alzheimer's research.
On January 2, 2008, the AAQI became a Michigan nonprofit corporation. On January 17, 2008 we applied to the IRS to become tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. (This determination can take from 6 to 8 months.) Learn more here.
We currently administer two major programs. The first is a nationwide quilt exhibit called "Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece By Piece." It contains 52 quilts each interpreting Alzheimer's in some way. So far, an estimated 180,000 people have had the opportunity to see this exhibit. It will continue to crisscross the country until July 2009. A book and a CD of the exhibit are available for purchase.
The second is the "Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts" project, so named for the urgent need for research dollars and the requirement that these quilts must fit into a cardboard USPS priority mailer without folding. They are small works of art no larger than 9 inches by 12 inches, auctioned on the first day of each month (see below) or sold outright on the Internet or at selected venues across the United States.
My mother is one of 5.1 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. I began the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative because I think it is possible to make a difference, one quilt at a time.
If you agree, please join me,
Ami Simms
Founder & Executive Director,
Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative
Curator, "Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece
On January 2, 2008, the AAQI became a Michigan nonprofit corporation. On January 17, 2008 we applied to the IRS to become tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. (This determination can take from 6 to 8 months.) Learn more here.
We currently administer two major programs. The first is a nationwide quilt exhibit called "Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece By Piece." It contains 52 quilts each interpreting Alzheimer's in some way. So far, an estimated 180,000 people have had the opportunity to see this exhibit. It will continue to crisscross the country until July 2009. A book and a CD of the exhibit are available for purchase.
The second is the "Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts" project, so named for the urgent need for research dollars and the requirement that these quilts must fit into a cardboard USPS priority mailer without folding. They are small works of art no larger than 9 inches by 12 inches, auctioned on the first day of each month (see below) or sold outright on the Internet or at selected venues across the United States.
My mother is one of 5.1 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. I began the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative because I think it is possible to make a difference, one quilt at a time.
If you agree, please join me,
Ami Simms
Founder & Executive Director,
Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative
Curator, "Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece