Page 16 - Gilbert Awards 6-Year Scrapbook

2010 Winner, Diverse/Multicultural Communities:

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America - New York, NY

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is a national nonprofit organization in New York with a mis-

sion to provide optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and

families, through member organizations dedicated to improving quality of life.” AFA supports individuals
and families through caregiver education, crisis counseling by licensed social workers, and respite care

grants. AFA also provides technical and financial assistance to local non-profit member organizations to

enhance programs and services. Website: www.alzfdn.org

Program: AFA Teens

Recognizing that teens are impacted
by the rising incidence of Alzheimer’s

disease, the AFA Teens program edu-

cates, engages and supports teens

with information about the disease

and caregiving tips in a peer-friendly
and practical language. Embrac-

ing teenagers’ thirst for the Internet,

the program’s hallmark since 2003

has been its dedicated website, www.

afateens.org, which provides factual

information and a forum for teens
to submit poems, essays, videos and

scanned artwork to express their

thoughts and emo-

tions. There is also a

moderated message
board and Facebook

page where teens can

post observations and

concerns and receive

advice from AFA social

workers.

“Teenagers today are just more connected than ever . . . they’re really able to use this power that they

have, this understanding of the world, to make a difference in any way they know how. I hope that, in

the future, I can talk about how, when I was younger, myself and my peers were doing everything we

could to make a difference for this cause, and that we were focusing on care and that we were helping
these people that were suffering in silence.” - Neha Chauhan, AFA Teens Founder

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