Caring Companions Of Atlanta

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Making a Difference: The Center for Movement Challenges

One of the biggest and most pleasant aspects of switching from corporate America to owning a company was the ability to be more active in my community. I was so wrapped up in working and traveling in my prior career, I barely had time to use my vacation time. Volunteer?! Maybe once a year for the one-day Habitat for Humanity build day…which really meant a couple of hours of “work” and a lunch with co-workers.

Center For Movement Challenges

A huge surprise for me was realizing how satisfying giving is. Offering time to worthy causes not only feeds the soul, it does good and can help with business as well. No better way to build your brand than by “walking the walk!”

Since leaving sport marketing, the bulk of my time volunteering was spent at hospice and in the dementia area…then COVID hit. Pretty hard to volunteer actively when a pandemic locks everything down! I missed my volunteer “families” at hospice and Amy’s Place (dementia café) while on lockdown. But what can one do?

So, as the pandemic began to ease, I was eager to get back in the game. I’d heard through a number of people about an organization dedicated to helping people with movement challenges. So, with an introduction, I had the honor of meeting Denise Formisano who is the CEO of the Center for Movement Challenges (CFMC).™ CFMC™ is a remarkable organization that offers a variety of resources for people with Parkinson’s and related disorders. It all started by opening a gym to encourage PD patients to exercise (boxing) because exercise can slow the progression of the disease, increase quality of life and allow for better and safer mobility. Sounds like a trifecta to me!

Exercise, it turns out, is just the tip of the iceberg for CFMC.™ Look at some of the things they have going:

  • Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD) Mentoring program: Offers a mentor, a person diagnosed with YOPD, to help a person recently diagnosed with support, guidance, resources and insight as they live with PD
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Exercise & Wellness program: Similar to the Parkinson’s exercise programs this focuses on exercise and reducing fatigue
  • Veterans Exercise & Wellness program: Offers a restorative, therapeutic program for Veterans with movement and emotional challenges
  • The Wellness Center: The Wellness center is a hub of care resources built around a “Continuum of Care philosophy.” It offers partnerships with neurologists, a physical therapy clinic (Synapse NeuroRehab & Wellness, founded by ex-Emory physical therapists Amy Morse and Brittney Hooker), social work services, a functional nutritionist, a speech language pathologist and even a myoskeletal alignment massage therapist!

How’s that for a mouthful! This all took root thanks to the drive and vision of Denise and her husband Tom!

After offering to help with getting some speaking engagements and marketing the organization, I was honored by Denise to be asked to become a board member. It took me all of 30 seconds to say yes!

So, for all you people out there on “on the fence” about deciding if you can make the time to volunteer, I encourage you to say yes. It feeds the soul and does good.

Also, anyone that is interested in learning more about the Center for Movement Challenges™ feel free to reach out or visit www.centerforrmovementchallenges.org.  I am also happy to give you a tour or do a presentation about how you to can help people with movement disorders.

Happy volunteering!

Adam

 

 

Adam Seever, Owner
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About Adam Seever, Owner

The son of two social workers, Adam grew up in Chicago and lived there for over 30 years. He began his career at a Chicago-based marketing services agency determined to make his mark in the industry. In 1997 Adam moved to Atlanta while working for the Coca-Cola Company, where he spent 8 years in their sports marketing division. Adam left Coke in 2001 to join Clear Channel Entertainment and later went on to work both domestically and internationally for the World's largest sports agency, International Management Group. Adam eventually worked as a consultant and spearheaded numerous high profile projects including the building of Coke’s iconic Coke bottle at Turner Field in Atlanta. While Adam always felt lucky to have worked in the exciting world of marketing, he also felt the need to participate in something with more of a connection to the community. That quest eventually led him to earn his CNA degree and become an owner of Caring Companions of Atlanta, LLC.
Adam is married and he and his wife have two younger children. The family shares their home with two cats and two hermit crabs. The kids are working hard to get mommy and daddy to add a puppy...time will tell! They live in Sandy Springs and are active in the senior community.