I’m Leeza and I’ve had an extraordinary opportunity to live the life of my dreams as a TV journalist, speaker and author. I love telling the stories of people’s lives. The biggest story in my life happened when my mom got Alzheimer’s disease. Her mother, my granny faced the same fate. By watching these important women show up with such grace and dignity as they battled the thief of memories, I learned that there is great power in facing our fears and great humanity when someone opens up to receive the help of others. Mom asked me to tell the story of our family’s journey and to “make it count”. That is part of why I created LCC. To make sure those who are forgetting will not be forgotten and to honor the courageous caregivers who stand by someone they love. My dad learned to summon his strength when he cared for my mom until her death and now, through Leeza’s Care Connection, I get to share with many others who have found courage they never knew they had. I am profoundly grateful for this blessing and honor. It is a treasure in my life, a daily reminder of the power of the human spirit and a great “story to tell.”

Fueled by purpose and unapologetically heart forward, I’m a nonprofit leader who believes community care is the ultimate power move. As Chief Operating Officer at Leeza’s Care Connection, I help turn vision into action, leading with both strategy and soul to create programs that give caregivers space to exhale and reconnect with their own strength. My background in counseling and nonprofit leadership taught me that real change only lasts when people feel seen and supported. Whether developing innovative respite programs or helping our team lead with clarity and compassion, I bring purpose, momentum, and a steady dose of optimism to everything I do. At home, I’m happiest with my husband Will, our son Coleman, and a rescue dog or two nearby, constant reminders of what it means to care and be cared for.

Since joining LCC in 2022, I have been deeply inspired by our organization’s role as a lifeline for families facing a diagnosis and have fallen in love with its sense of community, something so ingrained in my culture as a daughter of Filipino immigrants. While a gap year from the University of South Carolina led me to work focused on supporting victims of violence for much of my early career, I feel I have found a beautiful intersection of my passions. Using my knowledge of trauma informed care with my B.A. in Public Health to support the unsung heroes who are carrying out one of the deepest forms of love, caregiving. Working with sexual assault and domestic violence survivors, taught me how non-linear our experiences and feelings can be as we weather life’s storms, but having someone to walk alongside you and remind you aren’t alone can make all the difference. I am so proud to serves as the Managing Director of the SC center and be recognized Certified Dementia Practitioner. As a New Orleans girl turned SC native, I have called the Midlands home since 2014. Recently married to my college sweetheart of 8 years, I am finishing my M.A. in Clinical Counseling and Rehabilitation at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, but I find my down time with my two Persian cats, curling up with a good cozy mystery novel, and playing my violin!

I am honored to serve as the Managing Director of the California chapter of Leeza’s Care Connection, where I bring nearly a decade of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, ranging from hospitals and startups to agencies and nonprofits. My passion for gerontology and caregiving was kindled by growing up with four incredible grandparents, all of whom were advocates and activists in their own right. One of the most meaningful roles in my career was working on the memory care unit at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Hospital. There, I supported families navigating the complexities of Alzheimer’s and dementia diagnoses. In my other work, I’ve had the privilege of running volunteer and grassroots community engagement programs. I’ve also leveraged strategic communications and digital marketing to deploy social impact campaigns. I earned my BA in sociology from UC Berkeley and my MSW from Columbia University. During the pandemic, I had the honor of becoming a Coro Women in Leadership Fellow. Currently, I serve on the Advisory Committee for the Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children.

I earned a Bachelors of Science from the University of South Carolina. I have volunteered and worked with individuals dealing with various forms of Dementia for the past 15 years. Working with these individuals and their families has shown me I am doing what I was put on this Earth to do. I have a strong passion for helping provide respite care for families, working to improve the quality of life of my clients, and being the best patient advocate I can be.

Service is at the core of who I am. With a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and an MBA, I have spent over 20 years building a career in marketing. Throughout that journey, my passion has always remained rooted in public service and public health, where I am driven to uplift communities and improve overall well-being. Through both professional and volunteer experiences with organizations such as Girl Scouts, Meals on Wheels, and AmeriCorps, I have find a deep fulfillment in connecting with people in the community and providing support where it is needed most.

I am incredibly lucky to be the Program Coordinator at Leeza's Care Connection in California. I graduated with my bachelor's in psychology from UCLA and have since been devoted to serving my community throughout my career and volunteer opportunities. I was previously a college advisor at an underserved high school where I supported hundreds of students in pursuing postsecondary education. I have also been a volunteer crisis counselor for the past five years, which sparked my interest in supportive services. Working at Leeza's Care Connection has led me to pursue my MPH, and I am currently a student at California State University, Northridge in their Applied Epidemiology program. Being an advocate for caregivers has been very rewarding work, and I hope to continue making a difference in those who have been impacted by a chronic illness.

Anita Atwood is a SC Licensed Master Social Worker who graduated from the University of South Carolina. She retired from state governmment and has over 35 years of expertise in the areas of social services, social work adminstration, health and human services, and aging. She is a passionate advocate for all populations, especially for seniors and caregivers. Previously, Anita was a family caregiver for her mother which motivated her to serve on several local and statewide committees to help improve public policies and programs, state and local services, and community resources. She served as a volunteer for the South Carolina Vulnerable Adult Guardian Ad Litem Program, Lexington County Juvenile Arbitration, Meals on Wheels, and the SC State Museum. She continues to support her local church and community activities. She enjoys antiquing, traveling, home entertaining, and college sports. Beyond her personal and professional accomplishments, she is excited to join a dynamic team that demonstrates compassionate, caring, and creative connections.

I've spent 15 years as a hospice Chaplain working extensively with families facing terminal illness by providing emotional and spiritual support. I'm trained as a facilitator of HealthRHYTHMS®, an evidence-based wellness program utilizing group drumming and rhythm to help reduce stress, boost the immune system, and inspire creativity. I'm passionate about empowering caregivers through compassion, connecting families to resources, and encouraging self-care. I'm grateful to be a valuable member of Leeza’s Care Connection in SC since inception, leading group drumming sessions for caregivers and their loved ones. I've also provided my healing rhythms as a facilitator for various programs.

I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BA degree in Early Childhood Education. Following graduation, I taught Kindergarten and Second Grade for a brief period of time. I was employed with Eastern Airlines as a Flight Attendant for 16 years, I worked for Delta Airlines for 4 years in Customer Service and Marketing. After 20 years of employment with the airlines I made a career change to pharmaceutical sales. I was employed with Sanofi Pharmaceuticals as a Senior Sales Professional. I called on Specialty Physicians in the state of South Carolina and parts of North Carolina promoting and selling oral agents and insulin for patients with Diabetes.I retired from Sanofi after a 20 year career. Following my retirement I served as a Caregiver for my sweet Mother who was diagnosed with Dementia. It was a challenging and stressful time; however it was a Joy to care and Love her during this time. Two years ago I was presented with the opportunity to be a Facilitator at Leeza Gibbons Care Connection, What a Blessing it is to support, love and encourage family members who are taking care of a loved one with Dementia/Alzheimers.I am thrilled to have recently joined the Leeza Gibbons Care team serving as a Care Specialist.

I started my healthcare career after years of being a carpenter in the Washington DC area. I couldn't see myself doing construction my entire career, so I went back to school to become a mental health professional, earning an MSW from the University of MD at Baltimore. Also, I wasn't making enough money as a carpenter and thought I'd become rich by becoming a social worker. I had been doing a lot of lay counseling in my church while working construction and developed a real passion for helping people who were struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Eventually, my wife, 5 kids and I moved to Colombia, SC for a counseling job opportunity right before 911. By this time I had become licensed for doing counseling ( LISW-CP). From there I made my way into hospice social work, frequently working with persons with dementia and their loved ones. It was during my hospice years that I fell in love with the elderly and came to appreciate the richness of their lives, their histories, and their unique needs. A few years later I became a hospice bereavement coordinator and discovered that I derived much enjoyment helping people navigate their way through the struggles and challenges of the complex grief journey, whether it was after suffering a loss or the anticipatory grief that one experiences as they lose their loved one gradually, as with dementia. Outside of work, I have been married for nearly 43 years, have six beautiful children, and am an artist.

I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BA degree in Early Childhood Education. Following graduation, I taught Kindergarten and Second Grade for a brief period of time. I was employed with Eastern Airlines as a Flight Attendant for 16 years, I worked for Delta Airlines for 4 years in Customer Service and Marketing. After 20 years of employment with the airlines I made a career change to pharmaceutical sales. I was employed with Sanofi Pharmaceuticals as a Senior Sales Professional. I called on Specialty Physicians in the state of South Carolina and parts of North Carolina promoting and selling oral agents and insulin for patients with Diabetes.I retired from Sanofi after a 20 year career. Following my retirement I served as a Caregiver for my sweet Mother who was diagnosed with Dementia. It was a challenging and stressful time; however it was a Joy to care and Love her during this time. Two years ago I was presented with the opportunity to be a Facilitator at Leeza Gibbons Care Connection, What a Blessing it is to support, love and encourage family members who are taking care of a loved one with Dementia/Alzheimers.I am thrilled to have recently joined the Leeza Gibbons Care team serving as a Care Specialist.

Hi, my name is Collin, I’m currently working toward becoming a high school history or English teacher because I enjoy learning about the past and sharing that with others. I’m someone who really enjoys spending time with stories in all kinds of forms. I love reading classic literature, watching movies, and playing video games, and I’m also really interested in photography and film. When I’m not doing that, I like playing electric guitar and listening to music, especially anything from the 80s through the early 2000s. I’m also a huge cat lover, so if there’s a cat around, I’ll probably end up talking about it.

I am grateful to be interning with Leeza’s Care Connection during the summer of 2026. I first became involved with this organization for the spring semester of 2025 and felt that this mission had personal importance to me. My grandmother whom I spent the majority of my formative years with was diagnosed with dementia, and this experience has given me a deeper understanding of the challenges families can face when caring for loved ones with neurological illnesses. This organization gives me the opportunity to support caregivers and give back to them and their families in a meaningful way. Outside of work and academics, during my free time I enjoy baking, karaoke with my friends and traveling with my family. I am currently pursuing a Bachelors of Arts and Sciences in Biological Sciences with a Business Administration minor at the University of South Carolina, and hope to eventually attend dental school to become a dentist!