Kick off your summer
with the ALS Association!

For many people, June is a milestone month. Young adults graduate from high school and college and enter the next stage of their lives. Couples create an everlasting union with all of the many June weddings. And families go on vacation making memories that will last a lifetime. But for those living with ALS and their loved ones, every day is a milestone. Every day is precious.

Please take a moment and think about how you can further your partnership with The ALS Association this month and into the summer by attending one of our many chapter events. It's a great way for you and your family to get out of the house, enjoy some fresh summer air and support those living with Lou Gehrig's Disease.

In addition to Chapter hosted events, there are many third party events that our supporters set-up through the One Dollar Difference. You can even create your own fun and exciting event this summer and invite all of your friends and family. Go to the One Dollar Difference website to get started!

Maybe you rather become even more involved with one of our chapters besides attending an event. If you have some free time, please consider volunteering. This will give you a unique opportunity to learn more about what we do and become an important member of our team. This is a great way to utilize your skills and talents and fight ALS at the same time.

Thank you for everything you do for The Association. The impact of your support is felt by those living with ALS and their families. I wish you a safe and happy summer.

Sincerely,

Jane H. Gilbert
President & CEO

PUBLIC POLICY

More than 900 ALS Advocates. Nearly 90 people with ALS. Over 20 military veterans with ALS. One goal: to urge Congress to step up the fight for a treatment and cure. That was the scene at The ALS Association's 2012 National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference held in Washington, D.C. May 13-15. >> Read full story.

On May 18, the House of Representatives passed the FY 2013 Defense Appropriations Act and included $7.5 million for the ALS Research Program (ALSRP), a 17% increase! This is an important victory, especially considering that Congress is looking to cut and eliminate spending—not increase it.

It is clear that your outreach and your personal stories are making a difference. However, the fight is not over! The Senate still must consider its version of the bill, so we need to continue to tell our ALS story. We will keep you updated as the legislative process moves forward and let you know when your outreach can make the most difference.

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Research Update

The ALS Association’s TREAT ALS (Translational Research Advancing Therapies for ALS) Portfolio is a research endeavor enabling important global research to progress from the laboratory to the bedside. The focus of the program is to support novel ideas, build tools, partner with academia and industry to identify new potential therapies, and support the infrastructure for clinical trials with the goal to find meaningful treatments and a cure for ALS. The Association is pleased to announce seven new grants. These grants focus on understanding disease mechanisms, the development of induced pluripotent stem cell lines as model systems to test compounds, the development of mouse models, and approaches to treating the disease linked to the recently identified mutation C9orf72.

Click here to read the full article. >>

In the Community

Kudos to Pride Mobility for donating power wheelchairs to three of our chapters during ALS Awareness Month: the Florida Chapter, Keith Worthington Chapter & Western Pennsylvania Chapter, all of whom led the way in spreading awareness during ALS Awareness Month. We appreciate your generosity!

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How You Can Help

Since you first started working, you’ve been regularly reminded of the importance of saving for retirement. Now you may find that your retirement savings are more than adequate. In addition, retirement assets are one of the most heavily taxed assets we own. Without proper planning, retirement assets may be subject to both estate and income taxes after you pass away.

Donating all or part of a retirement plan to The ALS Association may be an attractive option. Since we are a charitable institution, we are exempt from paying the taxes that might otherwise be owed by your heirs, and you will also receive an estate tax charitable deduction. This tax-wise move makes other assets you own available for loved ones. Making us the beneficiary of a retirement plan is so easy to do. Click here for details.

Please contact our office for more information or if we can be of assistance.

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