Gift will help expand outreach and programming in Anaheim and Santa Ana, home to two of Orange County’s biggest older adult and underserved communities.

IRVINE, Calif., September 2, 2026 — Alzheimer’s Orange County (AlzOC), the county’s leading, independent nonprofit provider of dementia resources, education and support services, has received a $100,000 grant from the Samueli Foundation. The grant will help AlzOC reach more Orange County families in Anaheim and Santa Ana, including in underserved communities where access to dementia services, resources and education is significantly lacking.

More than 164,000 Orange County residents are estimated to be living with some form of memory loss, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Because age is the primary risk factor for dementia, that number is expected to climb as the county’s population continues to age. According to Orange County’s Master Plan for Aging report, Anaheim has the highest population of older adults with 62,598 residents aged 60 and older. Santa Ana ranks not far behind with 50,213.

By focusing on these communities, AlzOC aims to expand its outreach, strengthen community partnerships and grow its program offerings throughout Anaheim and Santa Ana. Doing so allows AlzOC to better serve areas of Orange County where the need and prevalence of dementia remains great.

“Whether it’s due to stigma, denial or sometimes simply because families didn’t know who to turn to, many Orange County residents still aren’t seeking or getting support” said Jim McAleer, President and CEO of AlzOC. “Thanks to the Samueli Foundation we can continue to invest more into making sure that doesn’t happen and more Orange County residents in need get the help they desperately need.

###

 

About Alzheimer’s Orange County

Alzheimer’s Orange County provides programs and services that span the continuum of care of Alzheimer’s and related forms of dementia to Orange County, California residents living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, including older adults and frail seniors, along with their families, caregivers, and the community. Alzheimer’s Orange County began as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1982 with a primary mission of providing care and support for those impacted with dementia and their caregivers in Orange County. Alzheimer’s is a devastating neurodegenerative illness that weakens the memory and other cognitive and emotional functions. For more information, call the Helpline at 844- 373-4400, or visit www.alzoc.org. Find Alzheimer’s Orange County on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About the Samueli Foundation

The Samueli Foundation’s mission is to make Orange County, California a vibrant mosaic of community well-being. We support and unite catalytic forces whose innovations yield a high quality of life for everyone. The Foundation works closely with the constellation of Samueli Family-backed for-profit and nonprofit organizations to ensure that giving back to the community is central to everything they do. These include the Anaheim Ducks Foundation, the San Diego Gulls Foundation, the Irvine Ice Foundation, The Rinks Foundation, and OC Sports & Entertainment, which oversees the family’s sports and entertainment assets, including the Anaheim Ducks, the San Diego Gulls and the Honda Center. Over the last 25 years, the Samueli Family, through its various entities, has contributed more than $1 billion in charitable grants.

 

 

References

Alzheimer’s Orange County. (2023). Dementia Prevalence in Orange County. Retrieved August 2026, from https://www.alzoc.org/resources/facts-and-stats/oc/

County of Orange. (2025). OC Cares: Master Plan for Aging. Orange County Office on Aging.