Starting an AFA on Campus chapter is an optimal way to:

• give back to the Alzheimer’s community
• raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses
• lend a helping hand to peers who have or had a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia
• gain meaningful leadership and volunteer experience

Step 1: Often, your college or university will have specific guidelines for starting a club or organization at your school. AFA recommends contacting the student activities office or other appropriate office to obtain these guidelines and review them before submitting an application to AFA on Campus to start a chapter.

Step 2: To start the process with AFA of forming an AFA on Campus chapter, please contact us.

Step 3: Some schools may also require their own application in order to start a club, as well as a constitution for your new organization. Please click here for AFA’s sample constitution, which includes language regarding the AFA on Campus mission and procedures for chapter meetings.

Step 4: AFA offers an AFA on Campus online handbook to distribute to prospective chapter members so that they may become familiar with AFA and the objectives of AFA on Campus.

Step 5: Begin planning volunteer activities in your community and/or fundraising events,

AFA values the efforts of its collegiate volunteers and recognizes the tremendous impact these chapters can make in the lives of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. We’re here to ensure your chapter’s success. Please don’t hesitate to contact AFA with any questions or suggestions.

News from AFA on Campus Chapters/College Activists

University of South Carolina-Fall 2011

A student at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC has established the nation’s first official AFA on Campus chapter—and it’s off to a running start.

Since the start of the semester, the chapter has grown to 30 members and has held several events to raise awareness on campus and in the surrounding community.

Elizabeth Owens, a sophomore and the chapter’s president, said starting the chapter has enabled her “to spread my passion for educating people about Alzheimer's disease and provide other college students with opportunities to get involved in the Alzheimer's community.”

“Many people don't realize how significantly college-aged people are being affected by this disease in their everyday and family lives,” she suggested. “While college often puts distance between us and our loved ones who are suffering from the disease it shouldn't make us any less proactive for the cause and with AFA on Campus we have been able to continue to work for the cause regardless of how far away from home we are.”

As its first activity, the group invited a few local caregivers to speak to members about their experiences with loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, and to offer suggestions on ways the chapter can volunteer to help the community.

In the near future, the chapter plans to volunteer at an Alzheimer's care facility; answer the caregiver phone line run by a local organization; and sponsor a presentation on successful caregiving.

Owens has been interviewed about the chapter by local and national media, and has been contacted by other college students interested in starting AFA on Campus groups on their campuses.

“It has been a rewarding experience putting together this organization and watching it get off the ground,” said Owens.

Redlands, CA—Fall 2011

Natalie Innocenzi, a member of the AFA on Campus Advisory Board, has been working with her sorority, Alpha Theta Phi, at the University of Redlands in Redlands, CA to organize a variety of events to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease among her sorority members and the university at large.

Recently, the college sophomore organized a book drive with her sorority members and collected more than 200 books that have been donated to Visiting Angels, a local home care agency.

According to Innocenzi, “It was a huge success and Visiting Angels was so thankful and pleased to see all the donations!”

Her new member class also hosted a small private remembrance for individuals with Alzheimer's disease. In the near future, she hopes to expand this by holding a candle light vigil with all of her sorority sisters.

Innocenzi’s activism on campus follows her tenure as president of an AFA Teens chapter at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in La Canada, CA.