Jim Prugh and Diane Fatheree

When Jim Prugh's father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at age 62, "our family experienced what many families do: confusion, frustration and anger, along with the extraordinary effort it takes to manage everything that a diagnosis of Alzheimer's brings," Jim says. To help other families facing the disease, he and his wife, Diane Fatheree, joined the Alzheimer's Association Zenith Society with a generous gift to support research. They also started serving in volunteer leadership roles for the Association at the chapter and national levels.

In recent years, Jim and Diane have focused their philanthropy on individuals and families living in rural communities like the ones where Jim grew up. In 2007, the Denver-area couple started "Prugh Challenge" to increase participation in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's® in Southeast Wisconsin and Colorado. They also funded the Rural Outreach, Alzheimer's Disease (ROAD) program, a pilot initiative by the Alzheimer's Association to identify and address unmet needs in less-populated areas in Colorado.

Jim and Diane hope ROAD will serve as an inspiration for donors in other areas of the country. "No one should face Alzheimer's alone," says Jim, "no matter where they call home."