Dan and Diane’s commitment to ending Alzheimer’s is deeply personal. Diane lost her mother, grandmother and uncle to dementia, and her aunt is currently living with the disease.

A resident of Atherton, California, Diane first got involved with the Alzheimer’s Association in 2014 when she joined her local Walk to End Alzheimer’s® as a team captain. Since then, she’s become a driving force in the movement. In 2024, Diane led one of the top two Walk teams nationwide, helping the Silicon Valley Walk become the first in the country to raise more than $2 million.

In 2017, Diane joined the Alzheimer’s Association Northern California & Northern Nevada Chapter board. After attending the San Jose gala in 2020, she saw potential to grow the event and decided to get more involved. Since then, Diane has been instrumental in helping the event increase revenue almost five-fold; the "A Bright Night" Gala now raises more than $1 million annually.

"I love watching the money add up and know it’s going to such an important cause," she says.

With a background in science (she has a Ph.D. in cell biology), Diane understands the importance of research funding. She and her husband, Dan, made their first Zenith-level gift in 2017 to support the Association's research grant program, and they renewed their commitment with a second Zenith-level gift in 2022.

The Riccios have also joined with other Northern California residents in funding Association research grants as part of the Part the Cloud movement, and Diane participates in The Longest Day® each year to raise awareness and funds as well.

"It’s so empowering to work with others who are equally committed to ending Alzheimer’s and all other dementia," Diane says.