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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 4th, 2003
Alzheimer’s Association Long Island Appoints
New Executive Director/CEO
Ronkonkoma, N.Y. -- Michael R. Gorelick, President/Chairman
of the Alzheimer's Association Long Island is pleased to announce
the appointment of Mary Ann Ragona as the Chapter's new Executive
Director/CEO. The Alzheimer's Association Long Island, established
in 1983, is the local chapter of the National Alzheimer's Disease
and Related Disorders Association. Our Mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's
disease through the advancement of research and to enhance care
and support for individuals, their families, and caregivers. Currently,
the Chapter is servicing family members and/or caregivers for over
50,000 Alzheimer's victims from the Long Island Community.
By the middle of this century, it is estimated that
14 million of today's baby boomers will have Alzheimer's disease.
The annual cost of Alzheimer's disease will soar to at least $375
billion, overwhelming our health care system and bankrupting Medicare
and Medicaid. Alzheimer's disease does not happen overnight, it
begins to attack the brain of its potential victims 10 to 20 years
before the first symptoms appear. To protect today's baby boomers
from the ravage of Alzheimer's we have to find ways to stop this
disease process now, while there is still time to prevent the damage.
Ms. Ragona, who brings to the Association over twenty
years of organizational management experience, will focus on Chapter
growth, enhancing the many programs the Chapter offers to both Nassau
& Suffolk Counties, and securing the funds needed to advance
research and development and support the Chapter's services and
programs. The core services offered by the Alzheimer's Association
Long Island are Care & Consultation, Information & Referral,
Education, Safe Return, Support Groups and Advocacy.
Ms. Ragona holds a Bachelors of Science in Organizational
Management from St. Joseph's College and a Masters in Business Administration
from Long Island University/C.W. Post. She is currently an Adjunct
Professor of Management for the University of Phoenix. Ms. Ragona
holds the distinction of being named Newsday's Newsmaker of the
Week and has received numerous awards including the Legislative
Achievement Award from the American Staffing Association and the
Partners in Education Award from the New York City Board of Education.
Anyone wishing to learn more about the Alzheimer's
Association Long Island may do so by contacting Michael Gorelick,
President at (516) 237-3578, or Ms. Ragona, Executive Director at
(516) 935-1033 or (631) 580-5100.
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