[Fuquay Varina, NC] — Guardian Angel Thrift (GAT) announced today that it will invest more than $211,000 in Alzheimer’s research across North Carolina during the 2025–2026 funding cycle, continuing its mission to accelerate progress toward prevention, treatment, and ultimately a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
This year’s commitments support leading academic and clinical research institutions advancing innovative approaches to understanding and combating dementia.
Guardian Angel Thrift will be supporting up to two new investigators at the Wake Forest Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center through one- to two-year pilot research projects designed to generate preliminary data and position emerging scientists for larger-scale federal funding. Additional Alzheimer’s research projects will also be funded at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Duke/UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
Leadership Perspective
“Every dollar we invest represents hope for families facing Alzheimer’s disease,” said Lynette Rivenbark Somers, Executive Director of Guardian Angel Thrift. “By supporting graduate researchers, new investigators, and early-career scientists across North Carolina, we are strengthening the pipeline of discovery. Breakthroughs begin with bold ideas — and we are committed to ensuring those ideas have the resources they need to move from the laboratory toward real solutions for patients and families.”
Linda Funke Johnson, Chair of the Board of Directors, added, “This level of funding reflects both disciplined stewardship and an unwavering commitment to impact. Our supporters trust us to direct resources where they can catalyze measurable progress. By investing in emerging investigators and high-potential pilot studies, we are not only funding research — we are accelerating the pace of innovation in North Carolina’s Alzheimer’s research community.”
Investing in the Next Generation of Alzheimer’s Researchers
Guardian Angel Thrift’s 2025–2026 funding strategy intentionally emphasizes early-career investigators and graduate researchers, strengthening the research pipeline in North Carolina and accelerating innovation at a critical stage of scientific development.
By funding pilot studies, supporting graduate training, and advancing national visibility for emerging scholars, GAT helps leverage additional competitive grant funding and expands the state’s leadership in Alzheimer’s research.
A Mission Rooted in Community Impact
Guardian Angel Thrift is a North Carolina nonprofit dedicated to ending Alzheimer’s disease by funding research and support to find a cure. Through its retail operations, GAT also expands access to meaningful employment opportunities for older adults and individuals facing barriers to employment — ensuring that its impact is both scientific and community-centered.
Funds for research are generated directly through the generosity of donors, shoppers, and supporters who make the organization’s work possible.
For more information on Guardian Angel Thrift, please contact Lynette Somers, Executive Director, at lsomers@guardianangelthrift.org or (919) 798-1184.