Coping with Dementia LLC and Dementia Education Inc. have announced a fall schedule for the Famous Americans Dementia Education Photo Exhibit that will include an appearance in the State Capitol Rotunda in Tallahassee, followed by a Citrus County homecoming exhibit at the Citrus Memorial Health Foundation YMCA in Lecanto.
The exhibit is an extensive collection of shadowboxed photographs on canvas of famous American artists, authors, musicians, athletes, entertainers, actors, scientists and politicians who have succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia.
The purpose of the exhibit is to drive home the message that memory diseases have no boundaries. They afflict equally men and women of any race, in every walk of life, regardless of wealth and social status, and are arguably the most serious medical problem of our time, requiring greater support and funding not just for a cure, but for day-to-day care.
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The collection of photos, which now numbers 80, is owned by Inverness, Florida-based Coping with Dementia LLC and designed by its president, Debbie Selsavage. Dementia Education Inc. is a Citrus County-based nonprofit organization that assists with the scheduling and travel of the exhibit. Over the past four years, it has been viewed by more than 1 million people in west-central Florida.
Selsavage said, “We are especially thrilled about its upcoming appearance at the State Capitol in Tallahassee. This is not only a prestigious venue, but the first time we have had enough space to display the entire 80-photo collection.”
“For our opportunity to display in the Capitol next November, we are grateful to the office of Rep. Ralph Massullo, who assisted with access and planning,” said Dementia Education Inc. Director Lee Cooper, who helps with scheduling of the exhibit reports.
“As our population is growing and aging, it is important that we continue to bring awareness to all aspects of mental health. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in some way touches all of us,” Massullo said. “We need to not only provide awareness of these conditions but continue to work to find treatments and hopefully eventual cures. I’m proud to be able to prioritize this issue as I serve our community and state.”
Following the showing in Tallahassee from Nov. 7 through Nov. 11, a 36-photo version of the exhibit will make a Citrus County homecoming presentation in the lobby of the YMCA from Nov. 14 through Dec. 3. YMCA Executive Director David Reed reports, “We think this will be a very popular educational feature at our facility, especially after having just appeared in Tallahassee.”
The full fall schedule for the exhibit includes:
- A 36-photo display at the New Covenant United Methodist Church in The Villages on Sept. 23.
- A 36-photo display at the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce Expo in Inverness on Sept. 24.
- A 36-photo display at VITAS Health Care in Lecanto on Sept. 29.
- A 36-photo display at the Lakes Region Library for the full month of October.
- A 36-photo display at the Floral City Library on Oct. 15.
- The complete 80-photo display in the State Capitol in Tallahassee Nov. 7 through 11.
- A 36-photo display at a caregiver symposium in The Villages on Nov. 19.
- A 36-photo display at the YMCA in Lecanto from Nov. 14 through Dec. 3.
To learn more about the Famous Americans Dementia Education Photo Exhibit and how to schedule a showing at your church, club or business, contact Lee Cooper at 352-634-0981, David DeCarlo at 352-566-4271 or Debbie Selsavage at 352-422-3663. Presentations are free, though donations to Dementia Education Inc. will be accepted.
