About Us
Our Mission
Founded in 2018 by NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney and his family, The Ryan Blaney Family Foundation is a registered 501c3 that is dedicated to raising awareness and funding for brain health causes that have directly impacted the Blaney Family, with focus on Alzheimer’s disease and concussion.
Our Mission
As a family, brain health, specifically Alzheimer’s disease and concussions, are causes that are near and dear to our hearts.
We lost our father and grandfather, Lou Blaney, to Alzheimer’s disease when he was just 69 years old. It is a horribly difficult disease for both the person and family it affects. When we felt lost and did not know where to get the answers we needed, it was our local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association that provided us not only with accurate and useful information, but with compassionate support for the whole family.
We also saw two close family members sustain severe concussions – one a racing accident and one a work-related accident. Both experienced severe symptoms that greatly disrupted their daily life and had them wondering if they would ever be able to return to work and the things they loved to do. It was then that the world-renowned University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UMPC) Sports Concussion Program was brought to our attention and both family member received expert treatment and experienced full recovery within a month.
It is because of these personal experiences that The Ryan Blaney Family Foundation was founded. Not only do we want to raise funds to help the people, families, and caregivers who deal with Alzheimer’s disease and concussion, but we also want to raise AWARENESS for these brain health issues that are not often talked about. We want to help prevent these brain health issues from occurring instead of only treating them after they have occurred.
With your help, we can bring the awareness and funds necessary to help people, families, and caregivers dealing with an Alzheimer’s disease or concussion diagnosis, as well as educate the public on how to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and concussions in their own lives.
Our Programs and Motivation
Each year we hold fundraising events that benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. To date we have raised over $700,000 to support global research, drive risk reduction and early detection, and maximize quality care and support for the people, families, and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
When possible, we bring our RBFF tent to racetracks around the country to educate fans and distribute information on Alzheimer’s disease and concussion care.
Our “Forget Me Not” program is designed to provide personal interaction with those living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia to combat loneliness. We sponsor card & letter drives throughout the year, collect and personally deliver gifts for those living in memory care facilities during the holiday season, and plan and sponsor events like our “Senior Prom” where we make prom night come alive again with music, food, and friendship at memory care centers.
Established in 2000 and under the guidance of Michael “Micky” Collins, PhD, clinical and executive director, the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program sees over 20,000 patient visits, involving between 6,000-7,000 unique patients, each year. The clinical team is involved in the evaluation and management of concussions for athletes and active people of all ages and experiences.
Ryan Blaney Family Foundation News
Support our Causes
To support our efforts with the Alzheimer’s Association and UPMC, please make a donation to the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation:
Where to find help
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Their mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
Established in 2000 and under the guidance of Michael “Micky” Collins, PhD, clinical and executive director, the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program sees over 20,000 patient visits, involving between 6,000-7,000 unique patients, each year. The clinical team is involved in the evaluation and management of concussions for athletes and active people of all ages and experiences.
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