Why I Volunteer – Jorge Salva

(April 27, 2017-New York, NY) I grew up in Manhattan, my mother still lives here and I work here. Although no one in my immediate family suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, in the year before my father passed away, although he was never diagnosed, we began to notice memory issues that in time might have been confirmed as dementia. My mother is now in her 80’s, and as life expectancy increases, caring for elderly parents with the increasing risk of Alzheimer’s will be a concern for all of us.

I first heard of the Alzheimer’s Association through my professional contacts at networking events. Several colleagues had been caregivers to family members who suffered from Alzheimer’s and we discussed how the whole family was affected by this disease, which can last for many years, without any hope for treatment or a cure.

Alzheimer’s was a cause I connected with, and I saw ways I could use my professional skills and contacts to help raise awareness and participation in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. As Sponsorship Chair of the Manhattan Walk, I will reach out to my contacts and colleagues to make them aware of the issue we all face with this disease and encourage them to help raise funds for the cause. I appreciate and admire the work the Alzheimer’s Association is doing, and I hope, in some small way, I can make a difference for those affected by this terrible disease.