Meet Emily Gamble

How long have you been working for the Alzheimer’s Association?
I have been with the Miami Valley Chapter since April 2016.

What is your professional background?
I graduated from the University of Dayton in 2014 with a degree in marketing and Spanish. After graduating, I moved home to Cincinnati and worked as the Chaos Coordinator for BowTie Cause, a social enterprise which sold custom-made bow ties for non-profits to use to drive fundraising and awareness to their causes. While with BowTie Cause, I worked as part of a two-person team on development, where my passion for special events and fundraising were a great asset.

Why are you drawn to the Alzheimer’s cause?
My grandmother suffered a massive stroke when I was in college, and, as a result, developed vascular dementia. Grandma Max, as I affectionately call her, passed away in October 2015; her passing lit a fire within me to take action and find a means to get involved with the Association. It just so happened there was a job opening in Dayton, my home-away-from-home, and I went for it. The rest is history!

What has been your favorite thing so far about working for the Alzheimer’s Association?
My favorite thing about working for the Alzheimer’s Association is the volunteers. Our volunteers are some of the most passionate, most dedicated people I have ever met, and their drive to find an end to Alzheimer’s disease only motivates me further. I could not be more thankful for the work our volunteers do and the support they provide; we’re like one big family!

What are you most looking forward to while working for the Miami Valley Chapter?
While working for the Chapter, the thing I look forward to most is being a part of finding the first survivor of Alzheimer’s. Everything we do, from Walk to support groups and beyond, is leading us to finding that first survivor, and the thought of having a part in that is so inspiring.

If you could give one piece of advice to families affected by Alzheimer’s, what would it be?
One piece of advice I would give to families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease is to utilize our HelpLine. Our Clinical Services staff is amazing and they are so insightful. I wish my own family had taken advantage of the services provided by our social workers while my Grandma was alive.

What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
My favorite thing to do in my spare time is to spend time with my niece, Ellie. She’s almost three years old now, and has a BIG personality. She’s a big “Finding Dory” fan, so we spend a lot of time reading books about Nemo and Dory, and watch “Dory” far too much. 

Anything else you want us to know about you?
I have a younger brother in the Marine Corps, and as a result, have made it my mission to thank every veteran or current Armed Forces member that I meet for their service. If you’re a member of the Armed Forces, thank you for your nobility in serving our country!