Alison Jones Alison Jones is the Founder & Executive Director of Allie’s Kidney Beans Foundation (a non-profit 501c3 organization). The mission of Allie’s Kidney Beans Foundation, Inc. is to be a leading change agent in helping to reduce minority health disparities through proactive health care education and advocacy. Early in the year 2014, while propelling through a series of medical challenges and kidney failure, Allie’s Kidney Beans Foundation realized that minority health disparities (hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc.) were critically overshadowing a severely life-threatening illness/disability. At the young age of 16, Alison was formally diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease.
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In November of 2011, Alison joined the National Kidney Wait List. Kidney disease often goes undetected thus, leading to months and years of tremendous pain, swelling, and discomfort. Alison endured without not just one - but without “any” kidneys prior to receiving the transplant. On March 31, 2021, almost ten years after initially joining the wait list, Alison received her new kidney! Since that momentous day, rejoicing has not ceased. Alison and countless others jubilantly welcomed home the life-saving kidney. “Welcome Home New Kidney!!! Welcome Home!”
Alison Jones is a committed and dedicated advocate for kidney health in both local and global communities. As the Founder and Executive Director of Allie’s Kidney Bean Foundation, she believes that through the use of collective partnerships, we have the opportunity to create impactful change in kidney health medical outcomes and overall life expectancy. “Our goal is to create positive change in lifestyle behaviors & kidney health that will allow individuals to live longer & healthier lives.”
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Over the course of her professional career, Alison has worked as a High School/Young Adult Educator, as an Administrator of an International Learning Center (with over 750 centers worldwide), and as a Graduate School University Advisor. Alison earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Communication from Rollins College and a Master’s Degree in Non-Profit Management from Walden University. She is also a Certified Life Coach and Certified Trauma & Resilience Practitioner. Through it all, Alison continues to establish a community presence through public forums that focus on informing others how Hypertension, Heart Disease, High Cholesterol, Diabetes, and Obesity correlate to kidney function and failure.
Alison is a transformational servant leader with the ability to inspire and motivate others to make both positive and sustainable change. Her passion is evident in every undertaking, and she has made it her personal life imperative to serve & support others through education and advocacy. In addition to overseeing program operations for the foundation, Alison has volunteered & advocated on behalf of several entities including St. Agnes Hospital (breast cancer awareness), schools, municipalities, and small businesses throughout the southeast. She currently resides in Maryland.