With more than 130,000 Georgians living with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, the Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter recently launched the Atlanta Regional Leadership Council to organize inspiring events that will bring added awareness of the devastating reality that is Alzheimer's disease.

The Leadership Council's first event, Reason to Hope, will take place on June 30 at Villa Christina from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Guests will be entertained by event emcee Alpha Trivette, former radio host of the Kelly and Alpha show, and who currently stars in "Too Close to Home," a TV drama series on TLC, created, executive produced, written and directed by Tyler Perry. Trivette plays Doctor Allen, a retired physician battling dementia. In addition, Don Panoz, pharmaceutical, technology and auto racing entrepreneur, will be the event's keynote speaker.

The Atlanta Regional Leadership Council, which is chaired by Anthony Campbell, vice president of Security with VMWare Airwatch, is comprised of 16 members of the metro Atlanta community who have been touched by Alzheimer's disease. The members include:

Anthony Campbell, vice president of security - VMware Airwatch and council chairman

Fayron Reche Epps, assistant professor - Byrdine Lewis School of Nursing

Mike Garrison, marketing director - Georgia Swarm

Sharon Goldmacher, president and CEO - communications 21

Rachel Guy, realtor - Palmer House Properties & Associates

M.J. Jelleme, senior HR representative - ADP

Phyllis Kitchens, physical therapist

Nathan Kongthum, director of Development - FurKids

Robert McBride, owner - McBride and Ceballos Commercial Real Estate

Christine Miller, marketing director – The Memory Center

Jennifer Mohler, patient care representative - Halcyon Hospice

Liz Moore, marketing consultant

Chris Nadel, financial advisor - Edward Jones

Bunny Tharpe, director of communications - erwin inc.

Daniel Tindol, CEO – Floristique

Art Wood, vice president, branch manager - MB Financial Bank

Two members of the Alzheimer's Association Board of Governor's Advisors also participate on the Council, including Dan Goerke, managing director - Site Services Group, LLC and Gary Eklund, senior vice president - Marsh USA.

The event is free to attend.