Diantha Grant works for the Alzheimer’s Association and is the current vice president of the Chamber’s Downtown Council. She has been involved with both since moving to Jacksonville six years ago from Palm Beach to be closer to her parents. The association is located in San Marco and she resides in Arlington.
What do you do with the Alzheimer’s Association?
“I’m the regional director. I’m primarily responsible for funding in the area and some programming as well. I raise money to support our programs and we do that through memorial contributions, special events, some grants, and employee campaign dollars through United Way and Community Health Charities. Our largest fundraiser nationally is Memory Walk in the Fall, which is a basic 5K walk. We have a black tie gala at the Sawgrass Country Club in the fall, a golf tournament May 6, and a Mother’s Day luncheon May 7.”
What does the association do?
“We’re part of Central and North Florida chapter of the association. We cover chapter-wide 31 counties and we cover about 10 counties in our area. There are three regional offices. To support families in the community, we do information referral, education and training, both with families and professional. We have about 23 support groups. We do care-consultation with families which means if they are having particular challenges, we try to walk them through, give them some suggestions, and help them problem solve. We also have a program called “Safe Return” which is a national ID bracelet program. We work with the sherriff’s department here and have probably a couple hundred people enrolled in this area. If a person with Alzheimer’s wanders and they are found with the bracelet on, they can be quickly returned home.”
What did you do prior to this job?
“I worked at Hospice By The Sea in Palm Beach for six years and for the Alzheimer’s Association there for three years.”
What do you like about your job?
“The No. 1 thing is working with great people. Secondly, I can go home every day and feel like I made a difference in somebody’s life. As difficult as families have it sometimes in their care giving situation, they are so appreciative of any help we give them.”
What challenges do you face in your line of work?
“Funding is always a challenge. Jacksonville is a very competitive market for non-profits. The second part of that is really getting the word out about who we are and what we do. Even though we’ve been here for 23 years, it just seems like not enough people know who we are. We’re really just touching the tip of the iceberg and there are a lot of people out there who need us but don’t know we are here. We just don’t have marketing dollars and money to promote ourselves. We know there are a lot of people out there who could benefit by just talking to somebody, just knowing that they are not alone, but they just don’t realize that we are here.”
Did the Alzheimer’s Association do anything with the Super Bowl?
“We greeted people at the airport and met with the host committee and corporate hospitality people. We were really glad that we volunteered; the feedback has just been phenomenal. People of Jacksonville really need to step up to the plate to keep the momentum going. We should have cleanups twice a year. Members of the Chamber and other business people need to do everything they can to keep their work spaces clean outside, to do their part to keep Jacksonville trash-free because the city did look fabulous. We really presented ourselves well.”
How long have you been involved with the Downtown Council?
“About six years. When I first moved here, I went to the Arlington Council but because I worked Downtown, I decided to go to the Downtown Council. I started getting more involved about three years ago and was elected to the board. I first worked with the Downtown Enhancement Committee about two years ago and I was chairman of that committee. I volunteered for the Education Committee about two years ago as well. Now I’m the vice president and in charge of programs.”
Are you involved in any other organizations?
“Rotary Club of East Arlington. We do a lot of volunteer work with that and I do a lot with the Area Agency on Aging in terms of committee work. In terms of other volunteerism, certainly the Council’s involvement with A. Philip Randolph and any school you can get involved with is something that people should take the time to do. If people are looking for volunteer opportunities there are certainly a lot of them in the community. Call Volunteer Jacksonville and find out who needs to have volunteers.”
Family
Husband Don. Sons David, a major in the Marine Corps, and Michael, an urban forester in Portland, Me. Two adopted dogs, a whippet (like a miniature greyhound) and a greyhound.
Hobbies
Likes to sail when in their summer place in Maine, play board games, likes to get out and go for drives. Likes watching NASCAR and other sports events like the Barracudas, the Suns and the Jaguars.
The Alzheimer’s Association is located at 2123 Mango Place. The phone number is 398-5193.
–By Carrie Resch