A Powerful Why
Nov 26, 2023Longtime University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus benefactors Doug and Lindsay Andrews have always believed in the power of philanthropy. Established members of their community with a thriving business and busy lives, the couple loosely followed developments at CU Anschutz as a matter of interest. However, when Doug’s father passed away after a 15-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease, their very personal experience sent them on a journey of impactful giving.
“I wanted to do something in my father’s memory,” Doug recalled of the decision to become involved in supporting CU Anschutz, particularly Alzheimer’s research and treatment efforts. “We’ve been very fortunate in my business and are in a position where we can afford to give back. We don’t really believe in giving it all to our children or in spending it lavishly, and so we hope to make a meaningful impact.”
After being introduced to Dr. Huntington Potter, director of the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center, Lindsay knew she had stumbled upon something significant.
“I was the first one who found Dr. Potter, and I told Doug, “You’ve got to hear this!””
Doug subsequently met with Dr. Potter and his team to learn more about the work being done in the
fight against Alzheimer’s.
“I found out about Dr. Potter’s programs and met with him, and we’ve been pretty strong supporters
ever since. His colleagues are in awe of him as well, and appropriately so,” Doug laughed. “I think he’s doing really groundbreaking work. He’s going to be famous – he already is.”
After their first-hand experience on the front lines of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, the couple felt they were in the right place and time to give.
“It was so devastating to see what happened to his father,” Lindsay said. “We need to find a cure for this disease.”
The memories they shared about those 15 years as caregivers alongside Doug’s father’s wife were fond ones and depicted a bittersweet story of burden and privilege, a tale that is all too real for the millions of family members of those affected by Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S.
“We were really lucky, but it was still a huge burden to care for him,” Doug said.
“It was a lot. A lot,” Lindsay reflected.
Still, the couple remains optimistic in the work being done by Dr. Potter and his exceptional colleagues.
“I think we’ll see a cure in our lifetime,” Doug said.
In addition to their generous gifts over the past several years, Doug also ventured into the realm of
research as a participant in Dr. Brianne Bettcher’s Longitudinal Innate Immunity and Aging (LIIA) project, an observational research study that investigated how inflammation affects the aging brain.
“That was an interesting study,” Doug recollected. “As part of that, they gave me a brain MRI, and that’s part of the reason I volunteered. If they could see signs of Alzheimer’s, they would’ve had to tell me, so I’m feeling like I’m in pretty good shape. My fear was that it was genetic and would run in the family.”
While his flourishing business prevents him from taking part in any further studies for the time being,
Doug expressed his enthusiasm for giving of one’s time to such critical efforts.
“I think that volunteers are essential to complete research,” he said. “I would think it’s just as essential as the money.”
“Volunteering definitely makes an impact,” Lindsay agreed.
“I feel like we’re supporting one of the real cutting-edge institutions – in a lot of different areas – in the country,” Doug continued. “I think Dr. Potter has a lot more ideas and a talented young staff, and so I think the future looks very bright for CU Anschutz.”
“I just love that they’re doing the work and I know it’s one of the largest research places for Alzheimer’s. It’s very exciting,” Lindsay said.
Thanks to the generous gifts of Doug and Lindsay Andrews and other benefactors, groundbreaking drug research, treatments and assessments are underway at the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center to stop or prevent Alzheimer’s altogether and reverse its damage, providing hope for untold millions around the world. If you would like to give in support of Dr. Potter’s work, please click here; to support the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition fund, please click here.