Connie Assiff was raised by her grandmother from an early age. Her first steps were taken and her first words were uttered under her grandmother's care. Now, she is fighting for research and awareness of the very disease that claimed her grandmother's life: Alzheimer's.

"I'm humbled and honored to be able to be the voice for this disease and raise awareness for so many caregivers and people affected by Alzheimer's and other dementia [diseases]," Assiff said.

A resident of Spring for four years, Assiff is a finalist in the TexanPlus Champion contest in which the finalist receiving the most online votes chooses a philanthropic organization to receive a $25,000 donation. She is competing against four other Texans choosing four other organizations.

Her organization of choice—the Houston and Southeast Texas chapter of the Alzheimer's Association—conducts research and provides support and resources to people affected by the disease.

The Spring contestant said the Alzheimer's Association was integral in helping her as the primary caregiver for her grandmother.

"They literally saved my life as I was at the end of my rope," Assiff said. "I didn't have any idea where to start or anything about this disease. The most important thing they taught me was that I had to start taking care of myself so that I could better take care of my grandmother, [who was like] my mom."

She serves as a community outreach volunteer, coordinating resource tables at local health fairs, and serves on the organization's Speaker's Bureau. She is also a certified long-term care ombudsman at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

"My grandmother spent her last year in a nursing home," Assiff said. "I feel compelled to continue to advocate for others who live there in her memory and to continue to be a voice for the most vulnerable and often forgotten individuals in our society."

The prize money the organization could receive would go to community outreach and research, two things about which Assiff is passionate.

"We are all aging," Assiff said. "This issue is not a senior issue but a people issue."

Texan Plus is a member of the Universal American healthcare organization and specializes in Medicare Advantage plans. Each year, the group hosts its Champions contest in coordination with the Houston Astros to recognize Houston citizens who improve the welfare of older adults, advance social justice or create solutions for problems in their community.

To vote for the next Texan Plus Champion, visit www.texanpluschampions.com.