About us

The Alzheimer’s Association - Greater Cincinnati Chapter 
The Alzheimer's Association of Greater Cincinnati began in 1979 as a family support group for caregivers, relatives and friends of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. It became affiliated with the national Alzheimer's Association in 1980, was granted chapter status in 1983 and now serves a 27-county area in Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana. It is estimated that there are 44,000 individuals with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder within the Greater Cincinnati Chapter territory.

Chapter programs and services include a professionally staffed Helpline, a family support group network, educational programs for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families, supportive counseling and care consultation services for families, educational programs for health care professionals, a multimedia reference library and a quarterly newsletter. The Alzheimer's Association of Greater Cincinnati is a non-profit organization, not affiliated with United Way. Funding for programs and services is achieved through individual, foundation and corporate support, as well as special fundraising events. All services are provided without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry. Various programs and services are funded in part by the Ohio Department of Aging through the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio and the Area Agency on Aging, District 7.

Our Mission
To eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

Value Statement
The Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati promotes a principled working culture of compassionate service to all, mutual respect for all and organizational excellence in all we do. We strive to create an environment that is culturally relevant and competent, family friendly and also fosters creativity and professional growth. We are unified in purpose and dedicated to our established mission of service, ever mindful and respectful of the individuals who donate time, talent and financial resources to sustain our mission.

Our Vision
To serve as the primary and authoritative source of information, education and support for those affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in Greater Cincinnati.

Financial information

The Alzheimer's Association of Greater Cincinnati is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donor-supported organization. Programs and services are made possible through contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. The chapter uses 66 percent of funds raised for programs, services and research efforts. To see our most recent Form 990 (tax return), please go to http://www.guidestar.org/ and type the Chapter's employer identification number, 31-1067991, in the Search field in the top left-hand corner of the page. This will take you directly to the Chapter's information. Click on the link for Form 990 on the left-hand side of our page, then enter your email address and a password (sign up is free) to view our current financial information.

Annual Report

Annual Report Fiscal Year 2006-2007

Annual Report Fiscal Year 2007-2008

Board of Directors – Alzheimer's Association of Greater Cincinnati

The Board of Directors establishes policies, which ensure sufficient resources, and monitors the Association's achievement of mission-related goals. The following individuals are members of the Board of Directors as of July - 2009:

Nancy Graeter, President
Jane Fisher, CPA, Vice President
Tami Jones, Secretary
James R. Witte, CFA, Treasurer

Ann Bryant, RN
Lori Deaton
Margaret Dobbins, RN
Amy B. Kahn
Bernard Koenig
John Maggio, Ph.D. (advisor)
Steven Mombach
Robert Murphy
David Noonan
Pamela Reising
Janie Shaffer
Carl Sims
Tracy Schneider Tulle
Derek van Amerongen, MD, MS
 

Tuesday - Sept. 15, 2009
Tuesday - Oct. 20, 2009
Tuesday - Nov. 17, 2009
Tuesday - Jan. 19, 2010
Tuesday - Feb. 16, 2010
Tuesday - March 16, 2010
Tuesday - April 20, 2010
Tuesday - May 18, 2010
Tuesday - June 15, 2010

Our history

The Alzheimer's Association of Greater Cincinnati originated as a family support group in 1979 and became an official chapter of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association in September 1983. For the period between 1979 and 1983, its programs and services consisted of a volunteer-staffed Helpline, monthly chapter meetings, presentations by a speaker’s bureau, publication of a local newsletter and dissemination of materials generated by the National Alzheimer’s Association.

For the first four years of its existence, the chapter was volunteer-directed and volunteer-staffed. It was the foresight and vision of the President of the Board, Elizabeth “Betty” Bolles, which led to the board’s decision to facilitate the chapter’s growth by opening an office and hiring a staff person.

In 1983, Ms. Bolles worked with other local non-profit organizations to obtain free space at Cincinnati Area Senior Services, where a chapter office was opened. The trustees also hired its first staff member, Diana Trenkamp, as executive director. Mrs. Trenkamp was charged with organizing family support groups, developing educational outreach and raising funds to support a growing organization.
 
The founders of the chapter conducted business from their homes until 1984 when the chapter moved into office space donated by the Cincinnati Area Senior Services in the Holiday Office Park in Queensgate. In 1989, the chapter moved into its current 10th floor suite and has added to the leased space several times to accommodate continued staff expansion.

In 1986, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation provided grant funding to establish a volunteer Helpline phone system. A social worker was added to the staff in 1988 to supervise the Helpline. By the mid-90s, the Chapter discontinued the use of volunteers for Helpline and now only professional staff members answer Helpline calls. 

In 1987, in association with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, the Greater Cincinnati Chapter presented its first Summer Sympsoium. The symposium, which attracts more than 300 health care professionals annually, features guest speakers, workshops and sessions targeted to a specific aspect of Alzheimer's disease and related care issues.

In July, 2004, Mrs. Trenkamp retired as executive director and was replaced by Sue Wilke, who served as director for the next two years. In August, 2006, Program Director Clarissa Rentz was named executive director.

The Alzheimer's Association of Greater Cincinnati commemorated its 25th anniversary in 2008 and continues to strive to offer the very best in education, support and advocacy on behalf of those affected by Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. The chapter's educational programs, nearly all of which are free of charge to families, are ranked among the highest in client satisfaction, according to the Alzheimer's Association's Quality Evaluation Initiative. In addition, the National Endowment for the Arts named the Greater Cincinnati Chapter's Memories in the Making art program one of the 13 Best Practice Programs in Creativity and Aging in the United States in 2007. 

Strategic Plan

In May of 2008, the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Cincinnati Board of Directors approved a new three-year strategic plan for the chapter. Click here to view Chapter Strategic Plan.