Join the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
Have questions or inquiries?
Check out our FAQ or contact us!
Cherry Justice
Executive Director of Development, UCI MIND
2656 Biological Sciences III
Irvine, CA 92697-4545
949.824.3793
justice1@uci.edu
Malia Tano
Associate Director of Development, UCI MIND
2656 Biological Sciences III
Irvine, CA 92697-4545
949.824.8885
mtano@uci.edu
Jiesi Zhao Thomas, Esq.
Executive Director, Planned Giving
5141 California Avenue, Suite 250
Irvine, CA 92617
949.824.8134
jiesiz3@uci.edu
- Designated Donation
- Memorial Donation
- Planned Giving
- Living Large Legacy
- Corporate Partners
- Community Partners
- December to Remember Gala
Gift Designation
You can make an online donation to a specific research area you would like to support.
Click each box to donate directly to the available area of studies.
Memorial Donation
A memorial donation is a wonderful way to support Alzheimer’s disease research in memory of a loved one or in honor of someone special.
Click here if you prefer to mail a Memorial Donation
Planned Giving
There are many ways to donate to UCI MIND.
Click each box to connect with our team and learn more about planned giving.
Charitable IRA Rollover
A Charitable IRA Rollover, also known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), is a gift option that enables you to transfer up to $105,000 directly from your IRA ($210,000 for a married couple with separate accounts) to UCI MIND and can mitigate your tax liability. Individuals aged 70 ½ and older may take advantage of this gift option. For those subject to Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), your gift may count towards your RMD without counting towards your taxable income.
Gifts of Real Estate
Donating gifts of appreciated real estate, such as a home, vacation property, undeveloped land, farmland, ranch or commercial property can make a great gift to UCI MIND. Get a full fair market value income tax deduction for your gift and bypass all capital gains taxes on your property.
Gifts of Insurance
A gift of your life insurance policy is an excellent way to support UCI MIND’s mission. If you have a life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose, consider making a gift of your insurance policy. Gifting all or a percentage of your insurance policy can make a significant impact with minimal effort.
Charitable Gift Annuity
A charitable gift annuity is a simple contract between you and the University of California. In exchange for a gift of cash or publicly traded stock, the university agrees to make fixed payments to you for the remainder of your life or to a loved one for their life. Once the university’s obligation to you has been fulfilled, the remainder of your initial gift are used to further UCI MIND’s mission in an area that you designate.
Bequests
A bequest is one of the simplest ways to leave a lasting impact on the people and projects at UCI MIND. Including a bequest in your will or living trust gives you the immediate fulfillment of creating legacy that ensures the future of UCI MIND. A bequest is flexible and may also provide estate tax benefits. Please contact us for the proper bequest language to include in your plans.
Beneficiary Designations
For many individuals, retirement plans such as an IRA, 401(k) and 403(b) represent a significant portion of their net worth. However, these assets are also subject to taxes when you leave them to your loved ones. Naming UCI MIND as a beneficiary of your retirement assets can maximize your philanthropic impact while leaving other less-taxed assets of your estate to your heirs. Please contact us for how to properly name UCI MIND as a beneficiary of your account(s).
Living Large Legacy
Harriet Harris is the matriarch of the Harris-Taylor family, an Orange County family with a strong record of doing good for the community.
Harriet’s husband Bill developed cognitive problems that would later lead to dementia. Her friend Keith Swayne introduced her to UCI MIND shortly after, giving Harriet a source of expertise and comfort that researchers were working to protect the rest of her large family, and the world.
Bill ultimately succumbed to the disease in 2022, but Harriet and entire Harris-Taylor family have remained active supporters of UCI MIND and the mission to rid the world of Alzheimer’s disease. To maximize their impact, they started the “Living Large Legacy” fund at UCI MIND.
Special message from Harriet about her beloved husband, Bill
“When my husband, Bill, started isolating himself in our bedroom surrounded by magazines, newspapers and miscellaneous articles, I thought he was having a mid-life crisis. While I was aware of the family history of his parents having memory issues, it wasn’t until a terrible automobile accident and tragedy that officially turned my world upside down and my biggest fear became true as Bill was diagnosed with dementia. I didn’t know where to turn and the stigma surrounding this disease was often too much to handle. I eventually wrote Keith Swayne a brief note stating I needed to contact him about something he was all too familiar with. Without saying, he knew immediately what I was referencing. We met at Starbuck’s where I tearfully described our situation. He recommended a place to visit for residential care and he gave me a contact at UCI MIND. It was only when Keith called and invited me to UCI MIND to meet Dr. Joshua Grill and tour UCI MIND’s research facility that the light went on in my head of what I was dealing with.
Bill was the love of my life, and although our lives were turned upside down, the support that UCI MIND gave us was immeasurable. During the final years of Bill’s life, when asked how he was doing, Bill would always give the same response: “Living Large.” That is how we remember Bill throughout his life, someone that lived life to the fullest. That is why our family made the decision to create the “Living Large” Legacy Endowment in his honor. Our goal is to continue to support and advance the important research conducted by UCI MIND.
There are many ways to help advance and support Alzheimer’s disease research. Raising funds for this endowment and having daughters a part of the Longitudinal Cohort Study is our way of showing our continued dedication to UCI MIND. We hope that you will join us on our quest to bring awareness and support in finding ways to eradicate this disease. We need to do this for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
**All funds raised will be used at the discretion of the Director of UCI MIND to support innovative research.
Laura Khouri and Michael K. Hayde are longtime supporters of the university, with previous donations directed towards UCI Medical Center in Orange and the UCI School of Medicine. Hayde has participated on the Cancer Campaign Committee, UCI Health CEO Advisory Board and the UCI Health Gala Committee. Khouri has been a member of the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute Board of Advisors since 2019.
Kimberly Varenchik is a member of the Stephanie Lowe Group at Compass. Compass is the largest residential real estate brokerage firm in the US and her team has been helping families buy and sell homes for over 20 years across Orange County with over $1 billion in sales. Alongside her real estate career, Kimberly's family has been volunteering at UCI MIND for over 5 years. In the spirit of giving, Kimberly is dedicating a portion of her annual sales to support UCI MIND, her goal is to donate over $25,000 towards Alzheimer's Research.
Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport is located at the heart of the I-405/Routes 73/55 intersection, five minutes from John Wayne Airport via free shuttle. The hotel is less than seven miles from the waterfront attractions and dining of Newport Beach Pier. The Irvine Business Complex is only a seven-minute drive away.
Cap Prince has over 25 years of experience specializing in visual and graphic design and a wide range of related services. These include project management, print production management, video production and editing, and copy editing. His expertise in creating visually compelling designs and managing complex projects ensures that your brand stands out and your objectives are met with precision and creativity. Cap oversees all phases of a project, from initial concept to final delivery, ensuring high-quality outcomes. With a strong background in healthcare, education, and military education, Cap brings a unique understanding and tailored approach to these sectors.
Community Partners
UCI MIND engages with a diverse network of community partners to enhance our mission of understanding, preventing and treating neurological disorders. These partnerships are integral to advancing research, providing support services, and raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases.
December to Remember
Save the date for our 2024 UCI MIND Gala honoring Somang Society and Alzheimer’s Orange County!
