ALABAMA'S FIRST LADY PATSY RILEY

Introducing Patsy Riley, First Lady of Alabama

First Lady Patsy Riley joined Leadership in 2003. She has brought her dedication to addressing the issues facing our Nation's youth to the Leadership initiative. Mrs. Riley participated in SAMHSA's  2004 and 2005 Reach Out Now National Teach-In by leading teach-ins for 5th-grade classes.

As Alabama's First Lady, Mrs. Riley strives to expand programs that teach conflict resolution skills to teens. Her plans include implementing programs that encourage teenage girls to stay in school and delay having children and that work to reduce violence in public schools. In addition, she supports issues surrounding foster care; helping women and children in abusive homes or those who are homeless; and boosting the efforts of Kid One Transport Services, a nonprofit organization that arranges free transportation for critically ill children and expectant mothers who would otherwise forgo medical care.

Mrs. Riley serves as an honorary chairperson for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Alabama. She also works to raise women's awareness of cancer. She has coordinated Ashland's Bicentennial Celebration over the years, served as a Sunday school teacher, and organized a small community theater. In addition, in the 1990's she started the annual Christian Women's Luncheon in Clay County. The luncheon has become a tradition that hundreds of women look forward to every year.

The Rileys have four children and three grandchildren.