McKeown Foundation to Host 35th Anniversary Gala on May 27 to Support Families Affected by Alzheimer’s Disease

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 7.4 million Americans suffer from the disease, with the number projected to rise to 13 million by 2050. Anyone who has had a family member suffer from Alzheimer’s knows that those statistics don’t cover how emotionally challenging it is to watch someone have this disease. 

One family, the McKeown’s, used their own experience to join the fight to stop Alzheimer’s, and will be hosting their 35th Anniversary Gala for the McKeown Foundation on Wednesday from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at the River’s Edge Garden Pavilion at the Pen Ryn Estate in Bensalem. Tickets will be $200 per person, and can be purchased at McKeownFoundation.org. 

The foundation was started after William J. McKeown, Jr. was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and passed away in 1991. After his passing, McKeown’s family transformed their grief into advocacy by launching the William J. McKeown, Jr. Golf Classic “Fore” Alzheimer’s. Following the passing of Margaret McKeown in 2002, the event evolved to honor both parents and ultimately led to the formation of The McKeown Foundation in 2007.

“I’ve seen up close what Alzheimer’s does to a family,” said Joe McKeown. “This gala isn’t just a party — it’s how we keep our mission moving forward. The money we raise helps families get real support and gives caregivers a chance to catch their breath. That’s what this is about. Showing up as a community for those who are struggling — and every person in that room is helping another family feel like they’re not in this alone.”

The foundation has also opened the McKeown House at The Hill in Whitemarsh, which is a 14-bed memory care neighborhood created in partnership with one of the Philadelphia region’s premier continuing care retirement communities. The residence offers short-term respite stays in a secure, homelike setting where individuals with memory impairment receive expert care from certified dementia practitioners and Jefferson Health physicians.

The McKeown Foundation, which was founded in 2007,  is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by Alzheimer’s disease through awareness, fundraising, respite care support and community initiatives. Established by the McKeown family in honor of William and Margaret McKeown, the Foundation continues its mission to ensure no family faces Alzheimer’s alone.