2010 Heroes, Saints & Legends
Honorees Named by Wesley WoodsYoung, Amos and DeLong To Be Honored in April
The Board of Directors of the Foundation of Wesley Woods (“Foundation”) is pleased to announce the selection of it’s honorees for the 2010 Heroes, Saints & Legends gala, to be held on April 8, 2010 at the new St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta. This annual event is beginning its third decade as a mainstay of Atlanta non-profit events with the proceeds of the event annually supporting Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research, conducted by Emory Healthcare researchers at the Wesley Woods campus. Honorees are chosen from among prominent Georgians who have reached age 70 and who continue to make contributions into their maturity.
The 2010 honorees are Mr. Paul Amos of Columbus and the Honorable Andrew Young of Atlanta. In addition to these gentlemen, a new annual award will be presented for the first time in 2010 to recognize individuals – physicians, researchers, philanthropists, or volunteers – who have made significant contributions to unlocking the mystery of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and ultimately finding a cure. The initial recipient of this award will be Dr. Mahlon DeLong, prominent neurologist and the William Timmie Professor of Neurology at Emory University.
Mr. Amos, along with brothers John and Bill, founded the American Family Life Insurance Company in 1955. That company, known today as simply AFLAC, is headquartered in Columbus and has grown to be the largest provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the largest insurance company overall in Japan. Mr. Amos’ son, Dan, is AFLAC’s current chairman and chief executive.
Mr. Young, a native of New Orleans, has served as Mayor of Atlanta, a Congressman from the 5th district of Georgia, and United States Ambassador to the United Nations. He was a friend and supporter of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a prominent leader in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Today, he continues to promote education, health, leadership and human rights through his Foundation and via other organizations.
“The Foundation is excited to honor two of Georgia’s more prominent citizens in Ambassador Young and Mr. Amos, “ said Mike Watson, President & CEO of the Foundation. “These gentlemen join an incredible honor roll of individuals who have been honored since 1990. Mr. Amos and Mr. Young are shining examples of how people today can age with distinction and continue to be a source of inspiration and discovery well into their maturity.”
In addition, Dr. DeLong will be honored for his world-class contributions to the field of neurology. His studies have contributed to the development of new and more effective surgical approaches for the treatment of movement disorders. His numerous honors include receiving the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Award, the 2008 Movement Disorders Society Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2009 American Academy of Neurology Movement Disorders Research Award. He is recognized by Health America as one of the Top Doctors in Neurology for the treatment of movement disorders.
“The Foundation of Wesley Woods is privileged to create this new annual award to recognize those who are leaders in the search to ridding ourselves of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders”, said Watson. “These diseases have devastating effects, both to patients and their families and in addition to raising research funding, we felt it important to recognize those in our society who are leading the way in helping patients and families deal with these diseases and ultimately in ridding ourselves of these major impediments to older citizens living higher quality lives as they age.´
About the Foundation of Wesley Woods
Founded in 1954 by leaders of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and Emory University, Wesley Woods partners with Emory Healthcare to help people age in healthy, affordable and ethical ways though a program of service, education and research in seven facilities throughout north Georgia and Wesley Woods Center, the main residential-medical campus on Clifton Road in Atlanta. The Foundation of Wesley Woods is the connection point between the generosity of supporters in the community and the practical, life-changing work for which Wesley Woods is respected and renowned. Through the Foundation, significant charitable care is extended to those whose assets have been consumed by medical bills or by simply outliving their savings. Hundreds of thousands of dollars a year are contributed for unreimbursed and charitable care. Just as importantly, the Foundation provides vital support for specific Wesley Woods programs, including major research, care of the facilities, and development of new programs and services for the elderly.