It is not often that the community comes together in person, so it was extra special when AFTD Ambassadors Melissa Fisher and Scott Rose organized a gathering in Portland to celebrate the new Oregon state awareness proclamation.

The proclamation establishing September 22-29, 2024, as FTD Awareness Week was signed by Governor Tina Kotek on August 29. This win, which was obtained by an anonymous volunteer, reflects successful work toward increasing Oregon legislators’ awareness of FTD.

To honor the announcement and mark the win, Fisher and Rose arranged a meet-up for members of Oregon’s FTD community. Although he is a new AFTD Ambassador, Rose has been a long-serving support group leader in the area, so he invited his support group participants, and 20 people came from around Oregon to connect and celebrate. Attendees brought photos of their loved ones with FTD.

The gathering was held in the Portland Memory Garden, a unique garden “designed to meet the special needs of those with memory disorders … and to provide respite for their caregivers.” It was a very fitting place to meet.

As World FTD Awareness Week unfolded, people from across the country came together to connect, remember, and — deservedly — to celebrate their wins. In the weeks and days ahead of FTD Awareness Week, AFTD’s stellar volunteers gave their time and energy to procure four state resolutions, twenty-two state proclamations, and seven city proclamations.

If that wasn’t enough, our intrepid volunteers attempted to obtain resolutions and proclamations from 10 more states. Though they were not successful, their time and energy were not wasted, and we recognize their efforts.

Resolutions and proclamations last for one year, which means AFTD needs volunteers help us obtain new ones for World FTD Awareness Week 2025. If you would like to participate, email advocacy@theaftd.org, and we can help you get started!

To help people begin preparing for next year’s awareness efforts, AFTD will be offering a December 2024 workshop to help guide anyone interested in volunteering. Stay tuned for details.

For those who already volunteer, we encourage you to become an advocate. You will join a group of committed individuals determined to raise FTD awareness.

The first day of World FTD Awareness Week aligns with AFTD’s two-week Food for Thought campaign, in which AFTD volunteers host food-related awareness and fundraising events throughout the country. This year, hosts created myriad events, from taco bars to chili cook-offs, beer and wine tastings, food trucks, and pizza parties.

One Food for Thought host, Mike Brucklier, is director of operations at Flour Bakery, a small chain in the Boston area. For this year’s event, Flour Bakery sold AFTD Red Oreos at its Boston locations. A portion of the proceeds from these cookie masters was donated to AFTD’s mission.

Another host, Lindsey Hunt, owns the burger food truck Sear + Savor in Boise, Idaho with her husband Ron. Throughout Food for Thought, Lindsey donated 20 percent of all sales to support AFTD’s mission. In addition to fundraising, she provided materials and giveaways to spread FTD awareness.

And Colleen Franzreb and her family took their Food for Thought tradition to a new level this year by introducing a chili contest! This event was held in memory of her brother, Edward “Big Time” Costello, and honored their family’s love of chili at tailgates and football games.

Thank you to all who used their time, energy, and creativity to put together the fabulous Food for Thought events this year. AFTD appreciates each of you.