An effort to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s will bring the community together tomorrow night.

Washington First Bank is organizing the second-annual “Making Memories” Dinner Dance Fundraiser at the Washington Civic Center on Saturday night to raise money for Alzheimer’s NC, a nonprofit that supports families, community education and the research and prevention of the disease. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that slowly erodes memory and cognitive skills, according to Alzheimer’s NC.

All of the money raised at the event will go directly to the nonprofit to help promote research and prevention.

“The money will stay right here in North Carolina,” said Melissa Jarvis, assistant vice president/manager of the Washington First Bank.

Jarvis said the event is gearing up to be a fun-filled evening with food, drinks, music and a silent and live auction. The Main Event Band will perform around 8 p.m.

“Even though it is a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s NC, the main objective of Saturday night is also to just make sure everybody has a good time,” Jarvis said.

There will be about 50 silent auction and six live auction items. Jarvis said the live auction items are going to be hard to pass up — including a two-night stay in a hotel with tickets to the North Carolina Zoo and a North Carolina State University package that includes four tickets to a N.C. State versus Syracuse football game.

Jarvis said there will be many options for the silent auction, as well.

“We have numerous different themed auction baskets. Just to give you an example, we have a hot pepper basket and an Italian basket. You name it, we got it,” Jarvis said.

Jarvis said she has experience with organizing events like this, and the community has really been responsive because it’s supporting a good cause.

“People are really good when it comes to donating or sponsoring for Alzheimer’s because it’s such a good thing to raise money for,” Jarvis said.

Last year was the first year of the event, and according to Jarvis, about 150 people attended. Jarvis is anticipating an even bigger turnout for Saturday’s event.

“I know how to do dinner dances and I know we can make money and pull it off. Last year, we decided to do what we knew we could do. It was a blast,” Jarvis said.

While Jarvis said she knows she has the experience and knowledge to organize an event like this, it still requires hard work.

“Even though it’s a lot of work, knowing you’re raising money for a good cause makes it all worth while,” Jarvis said.

The event is at the civic center on Saturday from 6-11 p.m. Tickets are $35.

The civic center is located at 110 Gladden St. in Washington.