Research Funded

The Guardian Angel Thrift’s donations help fund research aimed towards identifying the root cause of Alzheimer’s and working to find cures. Thanks to our public support, we have been able to contribute $3,000,000 for Alzheimer’s Research in the state of North Carolina.

The Guardian Angel Thrift would never be able to accomplish this without the partnership and philanthropic spirit of our surrounding communities, our donors, and customers. For that, we are so thankful for all of our support and are optimistic about the future of Alzheimer’s research.

Examples of research funded and subsequent advancements made may be observed through here.

The Guardian Angel Thrift Endowment Fund allows donors to give funds to our research objectives. The endowment fund allows donors to give in perpetuity, meaning that all of the endowment funds remain in accounts and are used for research charity. You can make a donation of any amount in the name of a loved one, a former teacher, a friend, or even yourself that will have a perpetual impact for the mission of ending Alzheimer’s.


AlzNC Research Grant Funding 2003 to present 

September 2003 – $25,000 to UNC School of Medicine Department of Neurology from Guardian Angel Thrift Shop via the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in support of Research Expenses. Dr. Kaufer & Dr. Longo 

February 2004 – $22,500 to UNC School of Medicine Department of Neurology from Guardian Angel Thrift Shop via the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in support of Research Expenses. Dr. Kaufer & Dr. Longo 

July 6, 2005 – $150,000 to Duke University from Alzheimer’s Association-Eastern Chapter entirely to the Alzheimers Disease Research Fund. 

August 2, 2006 – $125,000 to Duke University from Alzheimers Association Eastern NC thru Guardian Angel Thrift Shop entirely to the Alzheimers Disease Research Fund.  Kathleen Welsh-Bohmer, PhD 

August 3, 2006 – $125,000 to The University of NC at Chapel Hill received from Alzheimer’s Association Eastern NC thru Guardian Angel Thrift Shop to Med-Fdn-Neurology – Alzheimers Research Fund 

December 2007 – $6500-$8500 in- kind support to University of NC at Chapel Hill, Department of Neurology for two conferences and providing support to physician practices participating in the network. Dr. Kaufer 

August 29, 2008 – $49,567 to UNC-Chapel Hill Memory Disorder Clinic from Alzheimer’s Association Eastern NC Chapter for Research Project by Dr. Dan Kaufer – “Assessing Longitudinal Change of Demential Symptoms in Clinical Practice.” Dr. Kaufer 

October 22, 2008 – $49,572 to Duke University Medical Center received from Alzheimer’s Association Eastern NC Chapter for Research Project “Demonstration of Intervention in Alzheimer’s Disease Maximizing Abilities and Adjustment.” Deborah Koltai, PhD 

July 18, 2013 – $50,000 to East Carolina University (Brody School of Medicine) from Alzheimer’s North Carolina for A Multidisciplinary Approach to Fight Senior Dementia: the Wooten Laboratory for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research. Qun Lu, PhD 

February 10, 2014 – $50,000 to University of NC Wilmington, Department of Psychology for Research Project – Therapeutic Approaches to Regulate Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Rachel Kohman 

February 25, 2014 – $121,193 to Duke University from Alzheimer’s North Carolina for the Project – North Carolina Regional Consortium for Brain Health in Aging. Kathleen Welsh-Bohmer, PhD 

March 5, 2014 – $50,000 to Brody School of Medicine East Carolina University from Alzheimer’s North Carolina for Part II of “A Multidisciplinary Approach to Fight Senior Dementia.”  Qun Lu, PhD  

March 10, 2017 – $5,000 to Harriet & John Wooten Laboratory for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Qun Lu, PhD 

March 15, 2018 – $10,000 to Harriet & John Wooten Laboratory for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Qun Lu, PhD 

May 2019 – $100,000 – ECU Jessica Ellis, Phd 

May 2019 –$100,000 – Duke –Daniel Parker, MD 

June 2019 – $10,000 to Harriet & John Wooten Laboratory for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Qun Lu, PhD