NEW YORK, April 21, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), a national non-profit organization whose mission is to provide optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families today announced the appointment of former Congressman, Steve Israel, to its Board of Directors.

“Mr. Israel is an extremely dedicated and accomplished individual who shares our mission of spreading awareness and knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses,” said Bert E. Brodsky, executive chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. “He has done remarkable work throughout his career as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and was instrumental in securing increased funding for Alzheimer’s research and care.  We are proud to welcome him to our team and look forward to his contributions to our cause.”

AFA believes that, by raising awareness of the disease, and educating healthcare professionals and the public at large, they will help remove the denial and fear surrounding Alzheimer’s disease, prompt greater utilization of community resources, help lead to early detection and proper treatment, and ultimately, improve quality of life.

“After serving in Congress for 16 years, Steve, during his tenure in Congress, demonstrated a commitment to helping his constituents.  He is a hard-working individual with strong leadership skills,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.  “He is devoted to our cause as he has a personal connection to the disease, and I am confident that he will continue to lead the charge to help all individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, and their families and caregivers, while helping us to spread awareness of this debilitating illness. I am honored to welcome him to our team.”

An Oyster Bay, Long Island resident, the Hon. Steve Israel is Chairman of the Long Island University Global Institute and a university Writer-in-Residence. He was the Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) for four years, where he ran campaign ads in defense of his vote for health care legislation.  At DCCC, he was the chief architect of House campaign strategies.  He was lauded for recruiting and electing the most diverse and entrepreneurial freshman congressional class in history.

“In Congress, I helped lead the fight for expanded investments in Alzheimer’s research.  The disease not only threatens lives and imposes future costs on families, but also imposes significant costs on our long-term budgets,” said Steve Israel.  “As a private citizen, I am privileged to continue this fight on the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, and look forward to working to support families and caregivers, as well as initiatives that will end Alzheimer’s once and for all.”

 Israel is considered a leading expert in congressional dynamics. In fact, former President Bill Clinton called him “one of the most thoughtful members of Congress.”  The New York Times commended his leadership in middle class issues.  Foreign affairs called him a staunch hawk.

After the DCCC, Israel was elected to chair the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, where he served from 2015 to 2017.  In this role, he led the research and development of strategic brand messaging and communications strategies.

Israel is considered an expert in national and global security issues and a leader on infrastructure.  He is currently a strategic advisor to the Democratic Governors Association and Third Way.  He serves on the Boards of Long Island University, the Truman National Security Project, the Theodore Roosevelt Association, and the Civil War Trust. He is also a political commentator on CNN.

Congressman Israel was instrumental in securing passage of funding for the Defense Department to research Alzheimer’s and potential links to brain injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Israel is also a critically acclaimed author.  His novel, “The Global War on Morris” is a parody of Washington politics, published by Simon & Schuster. His second book “Big Guns” will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2018.

About Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA):

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, based in New York, is a non-profit organization that unites more than 2,600 member organizations nationwide in the goal of providing optimal care and services to individuals living with dementia, and to their caregivers and families. Its services include a national, toll-free helpline (866-232-8484) staffed by licensed social workers, educational conferences and materials, a free quarterly magazine for caregivers, the National Memory Screening Program, and “AFA Partners in Care” dementia care training for healthcare professionals. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit www.alzfdn.org, follow us on Twitter, or connect with us on Facebook or LinkedIn.