5.31.10 | Huntington Beach, CA | Alzheimer's Family Services Center (AFSC) is pleased to announce that board member Steve Francis of Steve Francis & Associates has been appointed as Chair of AFSC's Board of Directors for Fiscal Year 2010-2011. Steve Francis & Associates is a supplier to the Architecture & Design industry with a longstanding commitment to providing quality services for the Southern California Design Community. For 25 years, Steve has invested his time, energy and talents in a variety of ways, all focused on helping the design community grow and prosper. He has served on the International Interior Design Association's (IIDA) Southern California Chapter Board in numerous roles, including Membership and City Centers.  In 1998, he chaired the chapter's successful membership drive held at Warner Brothers Studios. Immediately following, his peers voted him 'Board Member of the Year.'  Steve went on to speak at the IIDA International Meeting at NeoCon World's Trade Fair, North America's largest design exposition and conference for commercial interiors, on membership marketing, with continuing education credits for chapter presidents.  IIDA presented Steve with the IIDA Worldwide President's Commendation Award and the Southern California Chapter with the 'Chapter of the Year' Award.  Steve also served on the 2009 IIDA Southern California 'Chapter of the Year' board. Steve has been quoted on industry trends in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, and is a regular contributor to officeinsight, a weekly newsletter focused on interior design and architecture. In 2006, Steve was presented the "Spirit of Volunteerism Award" from the Volunteer Center of Orange County and the Orange County Register Newspaper for his commitment to supporting families dealing with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia. 

Approximately five years ago, Steve realized that he could combine his love for Alzheimer's Family Services Center with his passion for the design industry.  He led the effort to launch a new industry-specific fundraising event for AFSC, Design 2 Care, in 2006. To be held for the 4th time on October 7, 2010 at the Santora Building in Santa Ana, Design 2 Care has grown into a very well-known and respected fundraiser that is expected to attract more than 200 guests.  As Steve is now chairing AFSC's Board of Directors, he has handed down the reigns to two very capable AFSC board members, David Oh, Studio SA and Margot De Ramirez, OM Workspace, to take the event to the next level. "I am very excited to be serving as board chair for AFSC. I believe so strongly in our mission to improve the quality of life for families facing dementia. I am also ecstatic to have recruited two industry leaders to grow Design 2 Care and ensure it continues to bring in much needed funds for the agency. I know they will do a terrific job," commented Steve. Cordula Dick-Muelhke, Ph.D., AFSC's executive director shared, "We are thrilled to have Steve taking on this new leadership role with AFSC. He has been a driving force in bringing in new funding streams for AFSC as well as really building awareness, not only of the agency, but also of Alzheimer's disease."

Affiliated with the Hoag Neurosciences Institute, Alzheimer's Family Services Center, an independent non-profit agency, is the only Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Center in Orange County. The agency fulfills its mission to improve quality of life for families challenged by Alzheimer's disease or another dementia through services tailored to meet individual needs. AFSC offers a comprehensive set of critical services, including dementia-specific adult day health care, caregiver support, and education. To learn more, please call 714-593-9630 or visit www.AFSCenter.org.

Our mission is to improve quality of life for families challenged by Alzheimer's disease or another dementia through services tailored to meet individual needs.