My name is Gary Stephen Manning, Pennsyvania Constable of Salisbury Township, Lancaster County and co-founder of There Is Hope, Inc., a 100% volunteer 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on music and the arts as a therapy to better the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s and Dementia. We are actively attempting to purchase, restore, and reopen the Hanover Theater which closed in December 1986. Our goal is to bring this beautiful historic building back to life and hold live events, show films made before the year 2000, open a small therapy center in one of the retail spaces and a coffee shop in the other, and make the office space on the 2nd floor our permanent home. Once open, we also plan to support local theater groups and school programs involving music, art, and theatre.
My grandfather died of Alzheimer’s and now my father was recently diagnosed with Vascular Dementia. For those who have never experienced Alzheimer’s or Dementia, it’s hard to imagine how helpless an individual, or their family, feels. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to waste away (degenerate) and die. There is no cure and it is currently the 6th largest cause of death in the United Sates. Alzheimer’s and Dementia can potentially affect anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, income, or other factors. The first symptoms of Alzheimer’s vary from person to person. For many, decline in non-memory aspects of cognition, such as word-finding, vision/spatial issues, and impaired reasoning or judgment, may signal the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers are studying biomarkers (biological signs of disease found in brain images, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood) to detect early changes in the brains of people with MCI and in cognitively normal people who may be at greater risk for Alzheimer’s. Studies indicate that such early detection is possible, but more research is needed before these techniques can be used routinely to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in everyday medical practice.¹
With this being our very first major fundraising attempt, we hope that you will consider becoming a Founding Donor of There Is Hope, Inc. so that we can begin moving forward and putting in place the framework for the programs we are planning for the future. We are steadfast in our commitment, and with your help, those who have been affected by Alzheimer’s and Dementia, can look to the future with hope and optimism.
Should we be unsuccessful, all donations will be refunded.
All donations are tax deductible.
Tax ID# 47-5051467
1. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet
