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Mrs. Ana Magalee, Founder and Executive Director Queens Parent Resource Center (QPRC) was established in 1992 by a group of concerned parents of sons and daughters with mental retardation and developmental disabilities, under the leadership of Ana Magalee, Founder and Executive Director. Ana Magalee has dedicated her life to advocating for those persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities and their families. Mrs. Magalee is the mother of a daughter who was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome. She is one of the pioneers who collaborated with professionals, researchers, geneticists and government agencies in an effort to ensure that Prader-Willi Syndrome is recognized among the spectrum of developmental disabilities by insurance companies, service providers, clinicians and the community. Mrs. Magalee has served on numerous boards and committees. She is the Queens County representative at the (New York State) Office of Mental Retardations and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) Family Support Council. Mrs. Magalee has served as Vice-Chair of the Queens Developmental Disabilities Council from 1989 to 1994, and served as Co-Chair from 1994 to 2000. Mrs. Magalee is also a member of the Minority Professionals Development Institute (MPDI) and an active member of the Regional Minority Network. In 1993, Mrs. Magalee was appointed by the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council to represent the state in Chicago, Illinois along with thirteen other state representatives to develop a National Family Support Bill which was introduced in Congress and passed the following year. Ana Magalee formed the Parent Federation of Queens in 1998, a support group within QPRC, for the purpose of teaching families the skills required to be effective advocates for their developmentally disabled family members. Mrs. Magalee has received numerous awards and commendations. She received the 2000 Queens Borough President’s Citation of Honor for her contributions to persons with disabilities. She also received citations from The State of New York Executive Chamber and the City of New York Office of the Mayor for her commitment to enhancing the lives of those with developmental disabilities and their families. Mrs. Magalee is the 1994 recipient of the New York State Governor’s Hispanic American Award for Service to People with Disabilities. Mrs. Magalee is a former Junior High School Spanish, Math and Social Studies Teacher.
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