Alzheimers Coachella Valley (ACV) is pleased to welcome three new board members who bring a wealth of experience in various fields along with their enthusiasm for ACV’s expanding programs and services.
Joining the board are Patricia Riley, MBA, marketing and community relations manager with Vista Cove at Rancho Mirage; BJ Worzack, longtime local businessman, investor, and commercial real estate broker; and Judy Rhodes, MSN, RN, a retired nurse educator who has been an ACV Club Journey volunteer for more than a year.
“We are delighted to welcome Pat, BJ and Judy to our very active board,” said Dom Calvano, ACV board president. “Each of them bring something unique to our organization that is experiencing very rapid growth. We are expanding programs and designing new ones that meet our community’s needs and demands. In addition, we are steadily increasing our education outreach and fundraising events. Their expertise is welcome and needed.”
Pat Riley’s 20-plus years as a strategic planner brings her expertise in multi-media communications vehicles, market research and analysis, special event planning, community relations, website launches and content management, media relations, collateral development and production to ACV.
“As a marketing professional in this industry and as a person whose family has been impacted by Alzheimer’s, I wanted to volunteer for an organization that is making a difference in this field,” she said.
“Through my work at Vista Cove, I’ve learned that even though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are steps that can be taken to ensure that the individual with this diagnosis and his/her family get the help they need. ACV is fulfilling this essential role with its programs and service.”
Riley and her husband, Ricardo, have lived in the Coachella Valley for five years.
BJ Worzack brings 30 years’ experience in commercial Real Estate brokerage, management and investments to provide “a different perspective” to ACV.
“I just want to give back, serve and help cognitively impaired residents in the Coachella Valley,” said Worzack. “I’m looking forward to being of service and bringing my business administration and marketing background to this organization.”
A 40-year resident of Indian Wells, Worzack enjoys golf, sports, yoga, hiking, collecting sports memorabilia, as well as enjoying the beach and wine collecting. He is graduate of the University of Redlands with a BS in Business Administration.
When Judy Rhodes retired in 2013 after a 44-year career as Registered Nurse in a variety of clinical, educational and administrative positions, she and her husband, Mike, moved to Palm Desert.
She soon discovered that the “quiet retirement life” was not for her and began volunteering with the Hospitality Committee at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, as a Chaplain’s Assistant at Eisenhower Medical Center, and the Read with Me ministry at Mecca Elementary School. Still looking for something more, a mutual friend introduced Rhodes to Pat Kaplan and Alzheimers Coachella Valley.
“I had written my Master’s Thesis on Caregiver Burden and knew of the difficulties that chronic diseases place on families, so I thought I might be able to make a difference for the Alzheimer’s families. Little did I know that my husband, Mike, would be diagnosed with Vascular Dementia a few months after I began my role with ACV,” said Rhodes.
Rhodes has taken her valuable experience as an RN and Club Journey volunteer to develop an important new education program, “Meaningful Conversations with a Cognitively Impaired Person,” a two-part course that launches Nov. 6 and 13, at the ACV office. The course is state-approved for Continuing Education Units. Rhodes will also be working with College of the Desert third semester nursing students during rotations at Club Journey to earn college credits in dementia care and management.
“I enjoy seeing the person with the diagnosis, the amazing strength of the caregiver, and traveling the journey with my own husband,” continued Rhodes.
About Alzheimers Coachella Valley
Alzheimers Coachella Valley is a community based 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit providing support and services for Coachella Valley residents living with cognitive impairment, their families and care partners. All funds raised in the Valley remain local to fill the need for professional and peer-led programs. ACV is not affiliated with any national organizations.
2019 Desert Health Nonprofit of the Year winner, Alzheimers Coachella Valley is located in the Berger Foundation Charitable Center, 42600 Cook Street, Ste. 134, Palm Desert, CA 92211. For information, call (760) 776-3100 or visit www.cvalzheimers.org.
