Our goal is to bring visual understanding and dialogue to a disease that has been in the shadows for far too long.
As a daughter of Alzheimer’s, I believe that visual storytelling can be a powerful way to advocate for the increased public and private research and spending needed to find a cure. — Gina Martin, founder, The Bob and Diane Fund

Bob and Diane Martin in 1958, and with Gina in 2006.

Today we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of a special fund that elevates photographic projects devoted to making visual the challenges of Alzheimers Disease and Dementia. The Fund honors Bob & Diane Martin, high school sweethearts married for 49 and a half years. In 2006, at the age of 65, Diane was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. She passed away 5 years later. Bob, her loyal partner and devoted caregiver, died just 3 months later. Though they left a void in the hearts of their family and the many people whose lives they touched, their true love and dedication to one another continues to inspire. The Fund is in honor of their memory and as a tribute to their generosity and genuine compassion for others.

Over the last ten years, meaningful photographic projects have been spotlighted through the Bob and Diane Fund, projects that bring us personal stories and new ways of considering families and caretakers dealing with memory loss. An interview with founder Gina Martin follows.

In 2016, Gina Martin founded the Bob &Diane Fund. Named after her mother Diane who passed away with Alzheimer’s and her father Bob who was her husband of 50 years and loyal caregiver who died 3 months later. The Fund gives a $5,000 grant each year to support visual storytelling about Alzheimer’s or dementia. This non-profit brings her two passions together – photography and finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.

Gina worked at National Geographic for 21 years representing photographer’s work for their photography agency. She is active in the larger photo community by attending photo festivals, providing portfolio reviews, judging photo contests, and mentoring emerging photographers. Gina has a large collection of photography books and prints and will be hosting her own intervention.

A Tough Old Bird By Jason Crowley, 2024 BOB AND DIANE FUND GRANT Recipient

How did the Bob and Diane Fund come about?

Soon after my parents passed away in 2011 and 2012 I was still not able to talk about Alzheimer’s. In 2016 I had some extra money and wanted to give $5,000 to a photographer as a grant. My friend suggested I name it after my parent’s and do it around Alzheimer’s. That is the day the Bob & Diane Fund was conceived.

No Longer Her(e) by Helen Rimell, 2023 Recipient

Love, Oma By Clara Shuku Mokri, Women Photograph Recipient 2023

Do you have specific funders or is this a grassroots organization?

I originally thought I would just give $5,000 of my own money each year. My friend suggested I start a non-profit, create a Board of Directors and truly make it professional. So I did. My fundraising is now 100% grassroots. I raise money from family and friends. I have been fortunate to offer raffle items and raise money from that. Sally Mann has donated signed prints; the actor Seth Rogen has donated a handmade pottery vase; and FujiFilm recently donated a brand new camera.

All the Little Things by Lori Grinker, 2022 BOB AND DIANE FUND GRANT Recipient

Your board is filled with visual heavy hitters, were you connected to the magazine world? How did you come to gather such a stellar group of board members?

I worked for National Geographic’s photo agency for 21 years and am quite active in the photo community. Sarah Leen, the former Director of Photography for National Geographic Magazine had done a story on Alzheimer’s years ago when she was a working newspaper photographer and was supportive of my goal. Being based in Washington, DC, I have known Chip Somodevilla for many years as a member of the White House News Photographers Association. And my former boss, Maura Mulvhill worked at National Geographic for 30+ years and understands the photo community on the business side.

Calling the Birds Home by Cheryle St. Onge. 2021 BOB AND DIANE FUND GRANT Recipient

Can you share a story about one of the projects and the result of giving it the opportunity to be seen by so many?

It is so hard to choose one grantee to talk about – it’s like choosing your favorite child. However, Maja Daniels was our first grantee in 2016. She did a beautiful project called “Into Oblivion” about a geriatric hospital in France that is home to residents with Alzheimer’s disease. Due to tendencies to wander about and potentially get lost, they are confined within the ward. A locked door separates the occupants from the rest of the hospital. It’s a beautiful and touching body of work and I was proud that it was chosen to represent the Bob & Diane Fund’s first ever grant. What was so special about it was that it was the first grant of its kind and it received a lot of worldwide press. We were fortunate that Time.com announced the winning work and we received interests and interviews from around the world – from The New York Times, Huffington Post, NPR to the BBC and many many more. Maja once stated that it was the most attention she had received from one grant. In our 10th year, the fund has been written about more than 125 times!

Keeping Mum By Paul John Bayfield, Recipient of the 2020 MENTORSHIP GRANT. A brief respite between lockdowns brings a chance for Janice to sit outside and enjoy a moment in the sunshine. This was the first time in seven months that her or any of the other residents would have smelled the fresh air or seen the sky with their own eyes. Not all at the care home were as lucky.

The Loss of Oral History by Jalal Shamsazaran, Recipient of 2020 BOB AND DIANE FUND GRANT recipient, My dad is sleeping more these days. Helen is his youngest grandson. He’s four years old. He painted his grandfather sleeping and wants to show him.

What elements are you looking for when you consider the submissions?

Great question. Two of our Board members judge every year (Sarah Leen and Chip Somodevilla) and then we invite one guest judge (I do not judge). The judges really look for a cohesive body of work about dementia. They obviously look at the quality of the photography. But they also consider the edit, sequencing, and consistency. I remember one project was quite strong and the judges liked the work. However, of the 25 images they submitted they included one b/w. Including that one image took it out of consideration. I encourage submitters to look at the previous grantee’s projects and to really take their time on the edit and sequence.

But Greatest is Love by Sofie Mathiassen, 2019 BOB AND DIANE FUND GRANT recipient

When is the next call for entry?

I have decided to move our call for entry up one month from September to August. The Washington Post announces our winner every year and November is a busy month for them publishing wise, and we like to have the work featured online and in print. If we choose the winner a month sooner, we can hopefully feature the work in print as well. So it will be August 1, 2025

With Dad by Stephen DiRado, 2018 BOB AND DIANE FUND GRANT recipient

Falling into the Day by Christopher Nunn, 2017 BOB AND DIANE FUND GRANT reipient

Have you considered a book of all of these projects? It would be such an incredible visual reference…and support for those going through the caretaking experience.

As someone who collects photography books (950 to date), I would love to publish a book. But that seems like such a huge undertaking. 2 years ago we did our first exhibit at Photoville and it was very exciting to show 7 grantee’s projects in one space. I would like to exhibit more before I decide to tackle a book.

Into Oblivion by Maja Daniels, 2016 BOB AND DIANE FUND GRANT recipient , Resident stands in front of the ward’s locked exit. Doors and blocked passing’s are disturbing elements to a person suffering from Alzheimer’s due to the common symptom to regularly often wander about. As a result of the potential risk of getting lost, the ward is confined for security reasons according to the « principle of precaution.