The Alzheimer’s Association announced on Wednesday that IGT CEO Hector Fernandez and Las Vegas Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan will serve as co-chairs of the 2026 Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas walk is October 17 at Town Square Las Vegas and will host thousands of participants to honor those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
As part of this year’s effort, the organization is launching its One Million for Memory campaign, an initiative to raise $1 million in support of Alzheimer’s care, research and support services. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event dedicated to raising awareness and money for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.
Fernandez leads the combined enterprise of IGT and Everi, a global gaming, digital, and financial technology organization with a portfolio spanning gaming machines, content, systems, igaming, sports betting, and FinTech solutions, powering experiences across land-based and digital channels.
“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as co-chair of the Las Vegas Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” Fernandez said in a statement. “There is no better way to honor my mother’s legacy than by helping to create a lasting impact through the association’s global research and ongoing efforts to end Alzheimer’s for future generations.”
Fernandez’s deep commitment to Alzheimer’s research includes personally matching the first $20,000 committed to the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Douglass Morgan will help mobilize the community to participate in the Walk and support families facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.
“I am honored to serve as co-chair for this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Las Vegas,” said Douglass Morgan. “This cause touches so many families in our community, and it is critical that we continue to raise awareness and resources to support those affected. Together, through efforts like the One Million for Memory campaign, we can make a meaningful difference and move closer to ending this disease.”
On Walk Day, participants will join in the Promise Garden ceremony, a mission focused experience that symbolizes the many ways people are affected by Alzheimer’s. Participants carry flowers of different colors to represent their personal connection from those living with Alzheimer’s, to caregivers and to those who have lost a loved one, serving as a visible reminder that no one faces Alzheimer’s alone.
“The leadership of Sandra Douglass Morgan and Hector L. Fernandez demonstrates what’s possible when business and community leaders unite for a cause that affects so many,” said Alzheimer’s Association Southern Nevada Region Walk Manager Courtney Knight. “Through the One Million for Memory campaign, we aim to drive critical funding, raise awareness, and bring hope to families across Southern Nevada.”
More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Nearly 13 million family members and friends provide unpaid care for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
In Nevada, nearly 55,000 people are living with the disease, supported by more than 137,000 unpaid caregivers. Money raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s support the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission to advance research, provide 24/7 care and support resources, and promote risk reduction and early detection.
