Reborn Dolls4Alzheimers A 501C3 Nonprofit

by Jacque Mays
(Bend Oregon)

The reborn dolls take them back to a happier time in their lives.

I happened upon my first reborn doll in Puyallup Washington at a Doll Convention. The lady had them was walking around with her babies in a front baby carrier. Everyone who saw them was amazed. I had to have one and went home with my first reborn. I belonged to a local doll club here in Bend, Oregon. Some of our members started learning the art. At first we used the dye like we had been taught but soon realized the dolls seemed to turn in to "blue Babies" over time. We started with the Berenguers but hated sanding the heads. We ended up using the Secrist dolls.
I had a doll shop at the time and begin to notice the change that happened as older women or troubled women held the reborns. I began allowing them to take them home and began getting Thank you cards from these women. I decided to close the shop and form a nonprofit to make these babies available to women with Alzheimer's. It was a big endeavor as I had never had any experience in this area. I did get the nonprofit formed 2 years ago and also received a grant for $5,000.00 from the Alzheimer's Foundation Of America. Because the demand has been so great I have changed to Lee Middleton dolls. Their hair is great so I just do the painting with the oils and dress them in sweet Carter's Newborn outfits. You can visit my website at
http://www.dolls4alzheimers.com you will see photos of some of the women and notes from their families. Just over 400 dolls have gone out. You will find me listed on front page of Alz. Foundation of Amer. I supply dolls to Brookdale Living/ Clare Bridge facilities there are about 182 of these facilities. I have a Reborner from Washington state that has joined in with me and you will see her page on the website also. I am searching for grants again as well as people that would like to join in.
Jacque Mays Bend, Oregon