TO BENEFIT ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION

Local Author Incorporates Company's Popular Bags into Bestselling Novel

NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (May 1, 2009)  - anna william, a custom handbag designer with a retail store located in Newburyport, has introduced the ALICE bag, featured in the New York Time's Bestseller, Still Alice, written by Bay State resident Lisa Genova.

Genova selected an anna william bag to become an important part of her compelling debut novel about a 50-year-old woman's experience with early onset Alzheimer's disease. Throughout the story, Alice carries her BlackBerry in her baby blue anna william bag. Genova was inspired to write the book after watching her own grandmother struggle with the disease. The novel sheds light on the challenging illness and captures in remarkable detail what it's like to live with it on a day to day basis.

"This is a cause we are extremely passionate about," notes anna william co-owner Erin Hornyak. "We are so proud that one of our bags was such a focal point in this touching story and that we immediately decided to create an ALICE bag, designed after the one in the novel.  If our effort can make a difference in funding research to eradicate this terrifying disease, we will be very pleased."

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the ALICE bag, which retails for $88, will benefit the Alzheimer's Association, the world leader in Alzheimer's disease research and support. The organization's mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease - which affects more than 5 million Americans - 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. More than 500,000 people in the U.S. have early or "younger onset" Alzheimer's like the character in Genova's bestselling novel.

You can purchase the ALICE bag at the anna william store on Merrimac Street in Newburyport or online at http://www.annawilliam.com/. Genova will be at the store for a book signing on May 30^th from 3-5p.m. Stop by to meet the author and get your signed copy of Still Alice. For more information on how you can help support Alzheimer's research and care, visit http://www.alz.org/.

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