NEED TO KNOW
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Sally Phillips donated $90,000 to the YMCA of Central Florida in 2024 in honor of her late husband, Ken Titus
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The donation funds programs for Alzheimer’s patients, including fitness classes and a year-round heated pool for activities
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Phillips says the gift honors her husband’s memory and encourages others to live life to the fullest
A woman is honoring her late husband with a donation to a place that is dear to her heart.
Sally Phillips, 81, donated $90,000 to the YMCA of Central Florida, which provided physical and social opportunities for her late husband Ken Titus after he was diagnosed with dementia, according to Florida Today.
Phillips said that the gift, which was made in 2024 and is now being put to use, will help keep Titus’ spirit alive. The Cocoa, Fla. couple often visited the YMCA after Titus was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a progressive, irreversible brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out simple daily tasks, per the Alzheimer’s Association.
Phillips cared for Titus by keeping him engaged in the world around him up until his death in September 2021.
“I dressed him in beautiful dinner jackets so people would come up to him and compliment him — to keep him socialized,” Phillips recalled to Florida Today. “We went out every day the last five years he was alive and had a great time. Every day was an adventure.”
Of the funds, $10,000 was put toward a free chair-fitness class for people living with dementia, which is offered at Parrish Health & Fitness Center, operated by the YMCA of Central Florida.
The rest of the money went to the addition of a pool heater at the Titusville YMCA Family Center, which will allow the pool to stay open year-round, providing swim lessons, family activities and programs for people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers — no matter the season.
Stock photo of elderly man smiling
Credit: Getty
The generous donation will also enable the YMCA to offer additional social activities that contribute to brain health.
“The more you interact with people, the better it is for the brain,” Dr. Visalakshi Srinivasan, a geriatrician with Health First Medical Group, told Florida Today.
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Phillips said her gift to the YMCA comes from a place of love and hope.
“There is no reason to be bored. Get out and enjoy life. It’s a choice. So, choose to live life to the fullest,” she said.
Read the original article on People