The Harry Johns Award for Volunteer Excellence is an award named in honor of former Alzheimer's Association president and CEO Harry Johns. The annual award recognizes one volunteer who has demonstrated exceptional contributions, distinguished service and unwavering dedication to ending Alzheimer's and all other dementia.

About Harry Johns

Harry Johns served as Alzheimer's Association president and CEO for 17 years between 2005 and 2022. Johns' tenure saw the Association accomplish a number of milestones, including unparalleled investment in dementia research and public policy gains. Read about Harry Johns' legacy.

Award selection criteria

The winner of the Harry Johns Award for Volunteer Excellence will meet the following criteria:

  1. The nominee must be a past or present Alzheimer’s Association volunteer.
  2. The nominee must exemplify the values of the Alzheimer’s Association: accountability, agility, community, inclusivity and integrity.
  3. The nominee must demonstrate a distinguished contribution of lasting and continuing service to the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association. Service can include activities conducted on a community, chapter, region or national level of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Award nominations are currently closed.

For questions, contact wvizek@alz.org or 407.758.5261.

Harry Johns 2024 winner2024 Winner: Herb Magley

Volunteer Herb Magley received the first-ever Harry Johns Award for Volunteer Excellence during the Community Leaders Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2024. A passionate advocate and Oklahoma chapter board member, Herb served as a caregiver to his wife, Gail, who died of the disease in 2015. Herb supports all priority areas of the Association and across the United States, not just in his home state of Oklahoma.

From leading support groups to fundraising activities to advocating and telling his personal story to the media, Herb is truly a full mission volunteer. He has touched and impacted so many lives and is changing the trajectory of Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

Find the right volunteer opportunity for you

No matter your time or experience, you can make an impact in the lives of the nearly 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and their over 11 million caregivers when you volunteer with the Alzheimer's Association.

Find a Volunteer Opportunity