Providence man, 70, spends every day fundraising for Alzheimer's, raises over $48K

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — Since 2003, 70-year-old Tommy Dwyer has made it his mission to help the Rhode Island chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Prior to taking on the task of volunteer fundraising, years before, he raised tens of thousands of dollars for muscular dystrophy.

He never shies away when it comes to fundraising for his church, The Holy Ghost.

"I raised $144,000 for muscular dystrophy and I won a trip to Disney World," said Dwyer. "I started doing the Alzheimer's in 2003. I got 37 plaques on my wall from raising money. But its not about the plaques, it's about fundraising for Alzheimer's."

Dwyer is a retired city worker.

Although he doesn't have a deep personal connection to someone with Alzheimer's disease, doing his part to help find a cause seemed like the right thing to do.

"I took a trip one time to a home in Johnson and I said, 'I got to help them people,'" said Dwyer. "Ever since, I come out every day. Everyday, if it's snowing, I still go out there and do it."

To help fundraise, he carries around large flowers, courtesy of the Alzheimer's Association, so that when a person donates $1, they have the option to write their name on the flower.

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Typically, he walks around Federal Hill and Broadway with them in hand.

“He comes into the office like every two weeks and he’s requesting, like, 500 flowers at a time," said Donna McGowan, the executive director of the Rhode Island chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

“He is out here no matter what," she added. "We have to tell him to stay in if it’s too cold."

Besides walking the streets asking for donations, some local businesses have welcomed him with open arms.

Dwyer sits inside of Pizzeria Gusto daily and asks customers that come in if they'd like to donate.

“I come out with these flowers. 'Excuse me, would you like to donate a dollar for Alzheimer’s?' Thank you,'" Dwyer told NBC 10 News.

Owner, Dimitiros Klitsinikos, said Dwyer is so passionate about it, he enjoys having a few hours a day with him.

"If I come to work I see him every day. If I don’t see him by 2 o'clock I'm like, 'Uh oh, where’s Tommy?'" said Klitsinikos. "What he is doing is amazing. Every day I see him, I feel better."

Cellular Medical is a few doors down from the pizza shop.

When Dwyer gets a donation and receives the flower back with a name on it, he brings it inside of the mobile store and hangs it on the wall.

There's well over 400 flowers.

"I met Tommy from him doing this," said James Giolitti, the owner of Cellular Medic.

“I try to help get donations with him, I go on the walk every year, I let him hang them in here because it's a great cause," Giolitti added. "It helps with donations as well and shows the legitimacy of it."

Giolitti said every few weeks, the pair takes the old flowers down and puts new ones up.

When people don't write their name down, they have fun with it and make up names.

"We've got Tom Brady on the wall, the Celtics," said Giolitti. "But Tommy Dwyer, oh my God. He’s such a great person. He’s the best. He’s such an honest person and just loves getting charity."

According to McGowan, funds raised go directly back into the community to provide support for people and families struggling with the disease.

Money also helps to fund programs, services, and the effort to find a cure.

“It’s been difficult with COVID, of course. We took a direct hit during COVID but our constituents are just amazing and they walked within their neighborhoods and still raised money and we’re almost back to where we were in 2019, so we’re very excited about that," said McGowan. "Tommy, he’s been raising a ton of money to find a cure for this disease. It’s just amazing he puts his heart and soul into it."

McGowan met Dwyer in 2010 when she took on the role at the association.

“Everybody knows Tommy Dwyer," she said. “He’s one of our heroes, one of our heroes."

"I think he’s raised collectively like $45,000 to $48,000 - on his own, just him alone, he’s raised about $22,000 from selling these $1 flowers," she explained.

Dwyer said he's just happy to help.

“I feel great. I feel great that I belong to the Alzheimer’s Association," said Dwyer. “This year I’ll have the top team in the state."

Dwyer said this year he is honoring his friend Sandra Torchetta's mom.

“To see someone on the other side of the disease and then to know there are people like Tommy Dwyer that are doing this one their own time to help find a cure and eradicate the disease. It’s just beautiful," McGowan said.