for people living with Dementia
Crown Oak Foundation has 501(c)(3) status as a private operating foundation headquartered in Miami, Florida.
Our work spans continents, connecting innovation with needs for people living with mental challenges.
Human dignity
does not decline.
with cognitive ability
Dementia is rising .
The world is not ready
We aim to spark innovation in mental health care with a bold and urgent focus on dementia and Alzheimer’s.
More than 55 million people worldwide live with dementia today. By 2050, that number will approach 140 million.
This is not just a healthcare issue. It is a societal turning point.
Crown Oak Foundation exists to lead that transformation — through training, community, and person-centered innovation.
Human dignity
does not decline with cognitive ability.
Why does Crown Oak exist?
In my career, I have faced many enemies. Most were visible. Identifiable. Strategically defined.
Mental health issues are silent adversaries. They do not attack borders — they infiltrate lives. They erode memory, identity, and independence from within. They strain families and overwhelm systems long before society realizes the scale of the threat.
And the numbers are rising.
The hardest enemy to defeat is the one you are not prepared for.
That is why we founded Crown Oak Foundation.
Preparation is our strategy. Training is our defense.
Community is our reinforcement.
We cannot fight mental health issues with outdated models or passive concern. We must equip professionals, strengthen communities, and protect dignity with the same discipline and resolve we would bring to any critical mission.
This is not a battle of fear. It is a call to leadership.
And leadership begins now.
Our Work :
What we do
Crown Oak Foundation is a forward-thinking organization dedicated to reshaping how society understands and responds to dementia and Alzheimer’s.
We do not accept outdated institutional models.
We pioneer success through person-centered care, professional education, and community-driven solutions.
Our work is rooted in one principle: Human dignity does not decline with cognitive ability.
Our presence in the field is by organising seminars & training for senior care and mental health professionals , facilitating mentoring & consultancy by professionals and exposing organisations to best practises & successes.
Training & Professional Education
The projected tripling of dementia cases demands a workforce prepared for complexity, compassion, and innovation.
Yet globally, there is a critical shortage of professionals trained specifically in person-centered dementia care.
We design and organize specialized training seminars, workshops, and professional development programs that equip:
- Healthcare professionals
- Care home leaders
- Community carers
- Social care organizations
- Family caregivers
Our seminars focus on:
- Relationship-based care models
- Environmental and therapeutic design
- Communication and behavioral understanding
- Ethical, dignity-centered practice
- Quality of life enhancement in acute dementia
Scaling this training is not optional. It is urgent.
Sharing innovation in care
We actively explore and promote best-practice international models that:
Replace institutional settings with enabling environments
Integrate daily life and care
Support autonomy and identity
Reduce isolation and stigma
We celebrate best practice sharing and bring innovative concepts into practical application.
A truly inclusive community allows people living with dementia to continue shopping, walking, engaging, and belonging.
Community is not an accessory to care.
It is care.
Community & Dementia
Building Dementia-Inclusive Communities
Dementia care does not begin and end in care facilities.
Isolation accelerates decline. Community strengthens resilience.
We work to foster:
- Dementia-friendly public spaces
- Community education initiatives
- Integrated housing and care solutions
- Family empowerment programs
Our impact in the field
Why Now?
Every day, millions of people across the world face mental health challenges — from dementia and Alzheimer’s to anxiety, depression, trauma, and cognitive decline.
The need for informed, compassionate, and skilled support is growing rapidly. Dementia alone is projected to affect nearly 140 million people by 2050, while mental health conditions are already among the leading causes of disability worldwide.
Without significant investment in professional training and community preparedness, care systems will fall behind demand.
We are acting now to:
Expand specialized mental health and dementia training
Raise professional standards in person-centered care
Improve quality of life outcomes
Strengthen community-based responses
Design environments that protect dignity and resilience
Because mental health is not an individual issue — it is a shared responsibility.
The future is
approaching rapidly.
Preparation cannot wait.
Our Initiatives
Seminars & Symposia
Crown Oak Foundation designs and delivers its own seminars and symposia—carefully curated around the themes that matter most to us. By leading our own initiatives, we ensure that every detail aligns with our values, and that outcomes are fully focused, purposeful, and measurable.
Our dedicated team handles every aspect of these events, from concept to logistics to delivery, creating high-impact experiences that inform, inspire, and ignite action.
We warmly welcome collaboration. Foundations and partners who share our vision are invited to join us—either as silent supporters or as active members of the planning and delivery team. Together, we can shape conversations that matter and create space for ideas to flourish.
We believe that lasting change begins with shared experience and bold ideas. That’s why Crown Oak Foundation was proud to launch our work with a powerful 5-day seminar for key professionals & senior carers at the world-renowned Hogeweyk Dementia Village in the Netherlands — a place that has redefined dignity, community, and quality of life for people living with dementia.
This was more than a seminar — it was an immersive journey. Participants had not only seen the model in action but also learnt directly from local professionals who have pioneered its success.
Attendees were able to exchange experiences and co-create new plans to transform their own services back home. The result? Practical, inspired strategies rooted in proven best practice — and infused with the creativity that comes from global collaboration. This is one of the paths which Crown Oak Foundation is taking forward.
Our Board & Team
Crown Oak Foundation is guided by a dedicated volunteer board—individuals who not only lead with purpose but give from the heart. As a family foundation, our roots are deeply personal: board members contribute their time, expertise, and personal resources to bring our mission to life.
In addition to internal support, the foundation is backed by an external capital fund, enabling us to extend our reach and impact through thoughtful, long-term investments in people, ideas, and partnerships.
Our board’s approach is hands-on and values-driven. From strategic direction to program design, they play an active role in shaping the foundation’s work while upholding transparency, integrity, and a deep commitment to the communities we serve.
Our Board
In addition to our here below named board members, Crown Oak Foundation is also supported by individuals who choose to contribute quietly, without public recognition. These anonymous supporters play a vital role in our work—offering strategic input, financial backing, and personal commitment behind the scenes.
We deeply respect their preference for privacy and are grateful for their unwavering belief in our mission.
Their silent generosity helps us move with purpose, humility, and strength.
Senior team
Mariano A Schlimovich
Executive Vice President
Mariano brings over 30 years of experience in the field of not for profits, with proved leadership in education, community development, capacity building, and social welfare to his role as Executive Vice President at the Crown Oak Foundation. Originally from Argentina, he began his journey in cultural and community work with Jewish Community Centers and through involvement in the Conservative and Liberal movements.
Fluent in English, French, Spanish, Hebrew, and Italian, he has dedicated his career to creating and delivering innovative projects across Europe bringing on board of his projects several foundations and private donors.
Most recently, Mariano served as Executive Director of the European Council of Jewish Communities (ECJC), where he oversaw programs in Jewish education, welfare, community engagement, and youth work. Based near Bologna, he frequently travels across Europe and US to learn what are the new challenges in the field and to strengthen potential new partnerships for the Foundation’s programs
At Crown Oak, Mariano uses his strategic insight, multicultural background, and operational expertise to shape and deliver innovative philanthropic initiatives. His commitment to collaboration, ethical leadership, and measurable impact ensures our investments truly resonate and drive lasting change.
Get Involved
Partner With Us
Transforming the stigma of Mental Health and dementia care at scale requires committed partners.
Your partnership and support enables us to:
- Organize advanced training seminars for professionals
- Develop new person-centered education programs
- Expand community-based initiatives
- Reach more carers, families, and institutions
By supporting Crown Oak Foundation, you are not funding an abstract cause.
You are investing in:
Dignity
Professional excellence
Community resilience
A higher standard of living for people challenged by Mental Health or living with dementia
The growth of people living with mental health
challenges and dementia is inevitable
How we respond is a choice
Join us in shaping a future where care evolves as fast as need.
Whether you are a healthcare leader, policymaker, donor, or community advocate, we welcome collaboration.
Together, we can pioneer a new standard in mental health suffering and dementia care.
