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American Health Assistance Foundation Announces Board Changes

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CLARKSBURG, MD-The Board of Directors of the American Health Assistance Foundation, a nonprofit providing research funding and public information on age-related degenerative diseases, elected a new slate of officers during its summer meeting in Cleveland, Ohio. Grace Frisone has assumed the chair; Michael Barnett, Esq., is vice chair; and Scott Rodgville, CPA, is now secretary. Brian Regan, Ph.D., stepped down as chair after seven years in the post. Nicholas Raymond remains as American Health Assistance' treasurer.

Grace Frisone, of New Orleans, La., and Saratoga Springs, N.Y., is a financial services executive with 30 years' experience in business development, strategy, and e-commerce. “This is an exciting time to take on the chairmanship of this important organization,” Frisone said. “Many of my friends and I have experienced first-hand the devastation Alzheimer's disease levels on a loved one, as well as on family and friends. As baby boomers, we now worry that we, too, will be affected by age-related diseases. Given our numbers, the blow to the health care system from the accompanying costs will be catastrophic. We know that only through research can we find cures for cognitive and eye diseases that affect the quality of life of millions-and lead to the deaths of millions more.”

“Grace Frisone is committed to ending these diseases, in part because her mother suffered with Alzheimer's,” said Stacy Pagos Haller, American Health Assistance president and CEO. “Her personal experiences, coupled with her business and financial acumen, greatly benefit an organization like ours, which works to improve efficiency while staying true to our mission and funding more research.”

Frisone spent the greater part of her career with J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc., in New York and Milan. She also worked at Capital One Bank, ING Furman Selz Asset Management, and FOLIO[fn], an e-commerce company. Frisone holds a B.A. from Long Island University and an M.I.A and M.B.A. from Columbia University. She has served on the American Health Assistance board for four years.

Brian Regan hands the gavel to Frisone after seven years at the helm. “Brian has been an extraordinary leader during a critical time in our organization's history,” said Haller. “We are truly grateful for the advancements he instituted during his tenure, which significantly improved the organization and our governance.”

Under Regan's leadership, American Health Assistance streamlined fundraising and administrative functions to direct more money to research. From 2005 thru 2012 , American Health Assistance awarded more than $57 million in grants, which represents nearly half of all grants awarded by American Health Assistance in its 39-year history. In addition, American Health Assistance became an accredited charity under the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance program and obtained the Standards of Excellence Seal by the Maryland Association of Nonprofits.

“American Health Assistance is changing the face of science and improving people's lives,” said Regan, who lives in Port Washington, N.Y. “I'm proud to have served as chair and remain devoted to helping advance these programs as a board and committee member going forward.”

Stepping in as vice chair is Michael H. Barnett, Esq., of New York City. Barnett is Of Counsel to the law firm Lieber & Associates, LLP. Barnett served as New York State gubernatorial appointee to the New York State Hospital Review and Planning Council, serving on the Council's Executive Committee and as chairman of the Project Review Committee. He holds a B.A. from Colgate University, an M.S. in Hospital Administration, and a J.D., both from Columbia University.

The new American Health Assistance board secretary, Scott Rodgville, CPA, of Elkridge, Md., leads the Not-for-profit/Employee Benefit Plans service area of Gorfine, Schiller & Gardyn, PA, where he specializes in the financial management of not-for-profit organizations and oversees the audit and accounting practice of the firm. Rodgville earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Towson State University, Towson, Md., and an M.S. in taxation from the University of Baltimore.

Treasurer Nicholas Raymond is a retired retail banker with experience in lending, investments, and insurance. Raymond, a U.S. Army combat veteran of five wars, worked in special operations command and was a Green Beret. He retired in 2009 after 39 years of active and reserve duty. A resident of Silver Spring, Md., Raymond received a B.A. from the Virginia Military Institute and an M.B.A. from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

About the American Health Assistance Foundation

The American Health Assistance Foundation (www.ahaf.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding cures for age-related degenerative diseases by funding research worldwide under its three program areas: Alzheimer's Disease Research, Macular Degeneration Research, and National Glaucoma Research. AHAF also provides the public with information about these diseases, including risk factors, preventative lifestyles, current treatments, and coping strategies.

Stay connected to ground-breaking research news by signing up for American Health Assistance eAlerts at www.ahaf.org/news. To follow American Health Assistance on Twitter and Facebook visit www.ahaf.org/connect.