Alzheimer’s Alliance Held Butterfly Hope Luncheon
The Tyler organization hosted its 14th annual fundraising event to support memory care and local services.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Alzheimer’s

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The Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County gathered residents at the Mehling Center at Breckenridge Village for its 14th annual Butterfly Hope Luncheon. The event raised funds to support dementia patients and caregiver resources through $125 ticket sales.
Why it matters
This luncheon helps finance essential local services including adult day clubs, memory screenings, and counseling. By promoting awareness, the event addresses the fact that one in nine people over age 65 faces an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
One in nine individuals over the age of 65 will receive an Alzheimer's dementia diagnosis, a progressive disorder characterized by abnormal protein buildup. Attendees paid $125 for individual tickets to support the alliance.
The players
Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County
This nonprofit organization provides essential care, counseling, and screening services for residents navigating dementia.
Nelson Dellis
He is a memory athlete who holds six US memory titles and performed a demonstration involving unlocking 19 safes in four minutes.
The details
Keynote speaker Nelson Dellis presented techniques on memory training during the luncheon, which ran from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The organization uses these proceeds to maintain its memory-focused support network for Smith County residents.
Timeline
The 14th annual Butterfly Hope Luncheon occurred on September 24, 2026.
The organization will celebrate 45 years of service in 2027.
Health Landscape
This event reflects the ongoing efforts of the Alzheimer's Alliance of Smith County to bolster community support structures for cognitive health. It follows a pattern of local outreach used to bridge the gap between clinical research and daily patient support.
The funds raised at the luncheon directly support local memory screenings and caregiver support groups available to residents in Smith County. These services help families manage the daily impact of the progressive brain disorder through counseling and specialized adult day clubs.
The takeaway
Memory health requires consistent community support and educational awareness to assist both patients and caregivers. Residents can improve their cognitive well-being by engaging with local screening programs and participating in professional memory training workshops.
What happens next
The organization will reach its 45th anniversary milestone in 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local support networks on the Alzheimer’s page.
More information
For more information on available support services, visit the Alzheimer's Alliance of Smith County website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tyler Morning Telegraph.
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