Rhode Island Chapter Honors Youth Volunteers

In Appreciation of You, and all that You do

Owen BlighAllison CookDavid Loehr

Pam McFarlandBrianna Montecalvo

We Honor Our Youth

• “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”

-D. Zadra

Owen Bligh

Owen wanted to get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association because his grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease. He started volunteering for the Rhode Island Chapter when he was a Freshman at Providence College, and 5 years later he has graduated and is working full-time, and still helps out when he can with events.

“Volunteering is great! It’s an enjoyable office to work in that is flexible and really lets you know the work you are doing is making a difference.”

Owen Bligh

Owen’s Story

“When I was younger, my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and battled it for 10 years until her death. I have fond memories before her diagnosis of spending time at their house & many great times together. After she was diagnosed, I saw her change from an outgoing and social woman who was always the one planning outings and events to barely being able to remember my name. It was painful to watch and inspired me to work so no more people are diagnosed and no more families have to go through this.”

Owen’s Thank You

“I’d mostly like to thank my mother. While I was too young to know it at the time, the strength that she exhibited as my grandmother’s mental health continued to decline helped our entire family. She appropriately explained it to me as a child and continued the conversation years after my grandmother’s death as my curiosity and knowledge grew. She helped change this cause from a dark time in our family to a priority in my life going forward.”

Volunteering

“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.”

-E. Bombeck

Allison CookAllison’s grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease. Allison started

a team for the Walk when she was a Freshman at Brown University, and she had a great turnout and decided there was a need on campus for students to be educated about Alzheimer’s disease and unite for the cause. Allison encouraged a group of students to create a club called the “Brown Alzheimer’s Activists.”

“We now volunteer at local assisted livings, educate students on campus about Alzheimer’s, have professors speak about the research they are doing on Alzheimer’s, fundraise, and for the first time we will be doing political advocacy. Although I graduated in May, I still intend to help with the club in my free time and my successor Ellie DiBiasio is keeping the club active and motivated.”

Allison Cook

Allison’s Story

“I visited my grandmother once or twice a week when my grandmother was in an assisted living and when I was at school, I wrote letters. I knew that Alzheimer’s does not just affect the person who has the disease, it affects the whole family that is why I wanted to volunteer. Volunteering makes me feel complete. Knowing that I am doing work to help others motivates me. However, it is the face to face interaction with people that I enjoy most. Going into a nursing home or assisted living and talking to people who really need the company is an unparalleled mood booster.”

How Can We Get More Young People Involved in Volunteering?

“I think getting a team together for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a great way to get involved. It is also a great way to find out more about the chapter and other opportunities to help out. I would like to thank the staff at the Rhode Island Chapter for their support in helping to get my club together at Brown. The Brown Activists Club is planning an awareness day at the statehouse for World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21st.”

Caring

“Treasure this day, and treasure yourself. Truly, neither will ever happen again.”

-R. Bradbury

David Loehr

David Loehr’s Mom participates in the Alzheimer’s Association Live & Learn program. David started volunteering for us last year and has shared his computer expertise with us. We are a small staff and David’s accomplishments and support have been beneficial to our success.

“My Mom really enjoys the group and I wanted to give back to show my appreciation.”

David Loehr

David’s Story

“My Mom has Alzheimer’s disease. We spend a lot of time together; watching retro TV shows, making dinner together, and taking walks. It makes me feel good to help at the Chapter. Even though I volunteer in the office, and am kind of removed from the people the RI Chapter serves, I know that the work that I do is important, and it frees up others to offer the most of their talents.”

How David Helps with Awareness

• David has helped to post our events and programs on Facebook and other social networking sites. He also updates the contact information for our donors and constituents. David is going to encourage more people to get involved in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s through social networking and volunteering.

Believing

“When you come to the edge of all the light you have, and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown, believe that one or two things will happen. Either there will be something solid for you to stand on – or you will be taught how to fly.”

P. Overton

Pam McFarland

Taking care of Pam’s Grandmother is what inspired her to get involved with volunteering at the Alzheimer’s Association. Pam is creative and has countless fundraising ideas. She started with the Chapter when she was 18 helping in the office putting packets together for the walk and now she is now 23 years old, and a member of our Walk committee and is currently working on sponsorship and teams.

Pam McFarland

An Excerpt from Pam’s Monologue

“Have you ever loved someone so much that it just killed you on the inside when something bad happened to them? Well, what if that person didn’t know that something bad happened and is still happening to this very day. This situation has been happening to my grandma for the past 17 years-Alzheimer’s disease. As a child my grandma was the only person in the world who could make me feel safe. I’d be sad or scared and she’d wrap me in her arms and sing you are my sunshine as we rocked back and forth in the rocking chair. I felt safe…I felt loved…”

Pam’s Creative Fundraising Ideas

• Silent Auction and Dinner- Nino’s Restaurant• Sold purple band bracelets that said “Forget

Me Not” as a fundraiser for her walk team• Performed her monologue at an event• Volunteered at Irish Festival Alzheimer’s

Booth• Contacted several businesses for sponsorship

with RI Chapter including Alex and Ani

Our Parents

“I think my parents recognized something in me that they encouraged instead of deflated, and I’ll always be grateful to them for that.”

-G. Nash

Brianna Montecalvo

Brianna’s grandmother, as she refers to as Nonna, died in 2007 after having suffered the affects of Alzheimer’s disease. Brianna and her whole family got involved in helping the Chapter. Brianna Montecalvo has been a spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Association since the 4th grade and now Brianna is 16 and in the 10th grade at LaSalle Academy. Brianna and her sister Isabella starred in the WPRI12 PSAs with their Dad to promote the walk. This year Brianna donated her confirmation money to the chapter.

Brianna Montecalvo

Brianna’s Story

“Seeing my Nonna so lost and confused really affected me. Knowing that other people are experiencing this awful disease really put life in perspective for me. My Nonna and Papa took care of me when my parents worked. She would spoil me rotten and I loved being with them. She lived right near a park and we would walk there daily and spend time together.”

Why Volunteer?

“Volunteering makes me feel like I’m fulfilling what I learn in school every day. At school, LaSalle teaches us we need to give back to other people because we are so fortunate. We have a roof, food, and our health we-should not only be grateful, but empathetic to those who don’t have as much as we do.

And I would like to thank my parents for always believing in me.”

Thanks for your help Volunteers and

Congratulations!Hope you are still

fundraising at 94 like me.

Ray Bonenfant is Board Member Emeritus,

94 yearsyoung with his wife Isabel.