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April 22, 2016
Volunteers Provide Boost to Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado
The equivalent of adding 20% more staff members
When a non-profit organization like the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado provides services at no cost to the public, it relies heavily on the contributions of individuals who generously support the cause through their volunteer efforts.
The charitable nature – and passion for the Alzheimer’s cause – of the people of Colorado was on display this past year as Alzheimer’s volunteers donated 17,422 hours valued at more than $408,000 to the association’s Colorado chapter. That was the equivalent of a 20 percent increase in the association’s staffing, or an extra 8.5 full-time employees.
“Our volunteers give our chapter an enormous boost with their talents, their passion and their energy,” said Linda Mitchell, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado. “We could not provide the full range of services that we do without cost to our community without the invaluable support of our volunteers.”
The Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will honor its volunteers next week in a special celebration, highlighting the accomplishments of several individuals from around the state in specific categories.
A total of 896 people volunteered their time to the Colorado chapter between April 2015 and March 2016, contributing a total of 17,422 hours with an estimated total value of $408,000. Those individuals worked anywhere from a few hours over the course of the year to more than 1,000 hours.
“It is gratifying to work for an organization that’s truly making a difference for families as they go through this terribly challenging journey,” said Linda Kuhns, who volunteers four days per week on the Association’s 24/7 Helpline and has worked with the organization for nearly three years.
“I had a career in the restaurant business and, through that work, I discovered my passion for service,” she said. “When people call our Helpline, we have the opportunity to direct them to our many programs and services, as well as provide them with community resources. Sometimes it’s important just to listen.”
Like many volunteers, Kuhns has a personal connection to Alzheimer’s. Her dad suffers from the disease.
Thirty-six volunteers from around Colorado will be celebrated at next week’s festivities, including one who is commemorating 25 years of volunteering to the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado. Volunteers provide a broad range of services to the Colorado chapter, ranging from counselor on the Helpline, facilitating support groups and serving in the speaker’s bureau to helping with special events, outreach to diverse communities, legislative advocacy and assisting with program activities for persons with early stage Alzheimer’s.
“Our volunteers are a very special group,” said Mitchell. “Behind the scenes, there is another group of volunteers who deserve accolades as well: the 239,000 Colorado caregivers who donated more than 272 million hours of their time last year alone to care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s. Those are the silent heroes of the fight against Alzheimer’s.”
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The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care and support, and the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research. The Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado provides services at no cost to about 35,000 people each year. An estimated 67,000 Coloradoans are living with Alzheimer’s – a number projected to rise 37% by 2025. Visit alz.org/co or call the 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.