Speakers

Faith Parker, who heads up the annual Alzheimer’s Disease fund raiser “Lexington Goes Purple”, and Susan Antkowiak, Vice President of Programs & Services for the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter, will be our speakers.  Faith on Lexington Goes Purple, and Susan will cover such topics as the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia, lifestyle interventions and modifiable risk factors, and the newest treatments.

Faith Parker: Faith holds a BA from Wellesley College and a master’s degree in human services management from the Heller School at Brandeis University.  She worked for 14 years in the human resources field managing corporate pension and executive benefit plans at Boston companies including Avery Dennison and BankBoston.  In 2000 she retired from corporate life and co-founded the Parker Family Foundation, a private family foundation whose funding priorities include education, the arts, and health care/Alzheimer’s. Faith served on the Board of the Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association for nine years and was Board President for two years.  

Faith’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2002 and passed away in 2008.  In 2017 Faith co-founded “Lexington Goes Purple”, an awareness and fundraising event held every June under the umbrella of the Alzheimer’s Association’s “The Longest Day” Program.  Now in its eighth year, Lexington Goes Purple 2024’s activities will include a Bridge tournament, a film screening, a lecture, our signature Purple Puppy Promenade, purple decorations in Lexington Center and purple flower beds honoring Lexington residents dealing with dementia.

As an additional reminder, Lexington Goes Purple is a significant annual Town of Lexington event in which  funds are raised to help support both treatment and research of Alzheimer's Disease.