Privacy Statement
The Gayle Wells Foundation for Early Onset Alzheimer’s & Care (GWF) values your trust, and we understand the importance of protecting your privacy. We want to make sure that you understand how your information is collected and used by the GWF. This privacy statement (“Privacy Statement”) describes what information we collect about you, including when and how we collect it; how we use it; with whom we may share it; and what choices you have regarding our use of your information.
What types of personal information we collect about you
When you engage with the GWF or use our Services, we collect a variety of information. In general, the type and amount of information we collect on you will depend on how you choose to interact with the GWF. For instance, if you are a patient or care partner contacting us for assistance, we will need different information to assist you than if you are using our website to gather information on early onset Alzheimer’s disease or donate to the GWF.
The GWF collects information that identifies you as an individual or information which is linked or linkable to you as an individual, which will collectively be referred to throughout this Privacy Statement as “Personal Information”: including contact information, demographic information, health and financial information, as well as call recordings and transcripts.
Contact Information and Preferences. We may request contact information such as your name, mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address, and your preferences for how you would like to be contacted by the GWF.
Demographic Information. We may request limited demographic information such as your gender, race or ethnicity, marital status, geographic location and/or primary language.
Health Information. We may request limited health information about you such as your relationship to early onset Alzheimer’s disease, or, if applicable, your type of dementia, date of diagnosis, or current treatment. For instance, this information may be needed to assist you if you contact the GWF seeking information or requesting support from the GWF. If you register to participate in a GWF event, we may ask you about your relationship to early onset Alzheimer’s so that we can let you know about special activities for care partners, families, and children. . This health information may be transmitted electronically for the uses and/or disclosures described in this Privacy Statement.
Financial Information. If you make a donation to the GWF, we will collect payment information such as your credit card number to process your transaction. We may use a third-party payment service to process payments made through the Services. We will retain your credit card information only for as long as necessary to process the transaction.
How we collect personal information about you
The GWF may collect Personal Information in a variety of instances. For example, we may collect information about you in the following circumstances:
Patient Support Services. The GWF offers free programs and services to help early onset Alzheimer’s patients and their care partners manage the disease and find the emotional support they need. If you contact the GWF to utilize these support services, we may ask you for contact and demographic information as well as limited health information.
Donations. If you make a donation to the GWF, we will collect Personal Information from you that may include: your name, address, telephone number, and/or e-mail address so that we can send you a receipt and thank you for your donation. We may also collect limited financial information to process your donations.
Volunteer Participation. If you or volunteer for the GWF, we will collect information related to your role. If you are volunteering to provide peer-to-peer support for those impacted by early onset Alzheimer’s disease, we may ask about the languages you speak.
Event Registration. If you register to participate in a GWF event, we may also ask about your relationship to early onset Alzheimer’s disease, but you are not required to provide this information to participate in GWF events. This information, however, is useful for event purposes and helps us let you know about special activities for care partners and their families.
Health Provider, Health Plan or Care Partner Referral. Your healthcare provider or health plan may put you in touch with the GWF if they believe we have information or resources that can assist you with your care and early onset Alzheimer’s disease journey. If you are referred to the GWF through a healthcare provider or health plan, we will receive contact and demographic information, as well as limited health information from the healthcare provider or health plan.
Third-party Fundraising Campaigns, Promotions or Events. We may use or interact with third-parties to conduct fundraising campaigns, promotions or events. In these instances, we may receive access to donor reports which includes donor name, contact information and donation amount. We also may receive your Personal Information if you respond to a cause-related marketing campaign or other promotion benefitting the GWF that is conducted by a corporate partner. Information that may be received from third parties will not be used or shared with anyone knowingly.
How we may use your personal information
We and our service providers may use Personal Information for the following purposes:
Mission Delivery and Support Operations. We will use your Personal Information to respond to your inquiries and to provide you with the information, resources and support services you request. We may use your Personal Information to help us better understand the individuals we serve, to better communicate with you, and to better serve you and your community with relevant programs, services and information. We may also use your Personal Information to develop, evaluate and improve our programs and services. For instance, we may contact you with a survey seeking voluntary feedback on services you have received.
We may use your Personal Information to keep you informed about early onset Alzheimer’s-related news developments, to notify you of GWF services that may be of interest to you, to invite you to upcoming GWF events in your area, to request voluntary time or monetary contributions to the GWF, or to request your participation in a GWF focus groups.
If you are referred to the GWF through your healthcare provider and/or health plan, we will use and disclose your Personal Information as necessary, including electronically, to provide you with the assistance, programs or services you have requested, as well as program follow up and evaluation.
If a patient referral is your first interaction with the GWF, we will limit our contact with you to the provision of services and follow up, unless you consent to receiving communication(s) regarding additional resources, opportunities or engagement. If you have an existing relationship with the GWF at the time of referral, we will maintain your current contact preferences and apply them to the information we receive from your referring provider or health plan. If you choose to later engage with the GWF in another way, like by participating in a GWF event, volunteering for the GWF, or donating to the GWF, we may use your Personal Information and/or contact you for purposes related to that engagement.
Data Analytics. We also perform data analysis and research activities to gain a greater general understanding of early onset Alzheimer’s disease, programs, support, and the related needs of patients and their care partners. This analysis can help us improve patient experiences, mission delivery, and support.
Other Business Purposes. We may use Personal Information for other business purposes, such as conducting audits, fraud monitoring and prevention, developing new services, enhancing, improving or modifying our programs and our Services, identifying usage trends, determining the effectiveness of fundraising campaigns and mission activities, and updating and expanding our business activities.
With your consent. In addition to the other uses described in this section, we may also use your information as you expressly authorize us to do so.
Social Media. You may share Personal Information with your friends associated with your social media account, to other website users and to your social media account provider, in connection with your social sharing activity. Please understand that the use of the information you share on social media sites will be governed by the social media provider’s privacy policy. Please note that any information you post within these public forums or social media pages may become public and may be read, collected, and used by anyone. Please exercise caution when deciding whether to disclose your Personal Information in these forums.
Your Consent. In addition to the other disclosures described in this section, we may also disclose your information as you expressly authorize us to do so.
Our data security protections
We seek to use reasonable organizational, technical and administrative measures reasonably designed to secure the information to protect Personal Information within our organization. Unfortunately, no data transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure, please contact us immediately.
Notices and Disclosures
Children’s Privacy. The GWF does not knowingly request or collect information from any person under 13 years of age without parental consent. If you believe that your child has submitted Personal Information to the GWF without your consent and you would like this info restricted or removed, please contact us using one of the methods provided in the “How to Contact Us” section below.
Information on Third-parties. If you disclose any Personal Information relating to other people to us, you represent that you have the authority to do so and to permit us to use the information in accordance with this Privacy Statement.
How to contact us
Privacy Questions and Requests. If you have any questions about this Privacy Statement, wish to notify us of any desired restrictions, or believe your privacy rights may have been violated, please contact us at:
Telephone: 832-470-9526
Postal Mail:
Gayle Wells Foundation for Early Onset Alzheimer’s & Care
P.O. Box 22437
Houston, TX 772
Email: laura@gaylewells.org
Updates to this privacy statement
The GWF may modify this Privacy Statement at any time. When changes are made, we will update the “last modified” section at the top of our Privacy Statement. Your use of the GWF’s Services following these changes means that you accept the revised Privacy Statement.