Tis the Season of Giving

Thanksgiving heralded the start of the giving season. People began purchasing their Christmas or Hanukkah gifts or planning as to how they will be spreading holiday cheer to support their favorite charities.

Members of the ALS community generously gave to The Association in 2012 to help advance The ALS Association’s vision of creating a world without ALS. Of every dollar given, 80 cents was spent to serve the ALS community. This included funding more than 90 scientific research projects valued at more than $15 million and assisting those with this disease and their loved ones through more than 100 affiliates, including our nationwide network of chapters, clinics, and Certified Centers of Excellence.

Individuals can again support The Association and those living with Lou Gehrig’s Disease this month through participating in GivingTuesday™ or by making a year-end contribution.

On Tuesday, December 3, The Association will be one of more than 5,000 non-profit organizations taking part in GivingTuesday, an online movement designed to bring awareness to the importance of helping individuals in need during the holidays. According to its website, the GivingTuesday serves as a “national day of giving to kick off the giving season added to the calendar on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.” Participating partners have the opportunity to promote their cause on social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter. In using these forums, partners can use the hashtag “#GivingTuesday” to signify their involvement in this special day.

Giving Tuesday began in 2012, and during the movement’s first year, more than 2,500 non-profits joined the cause. This year, participation has doubled.

Aside from partaking in the 2013 Giving Tuesday campaign, The Association will be accepting contributions through December 31 for year-end fundraising. Individuals can make a tax-deductible donation to fund global ALS research, care services programs that benefit people with the disease and their families, and public policy endeavors to keep ALS a legislative priority.

We’re grateful for the ongoing support that we receive from the ALS community year-round and especially during the holidays,” said Jane H. Gilbert, President and CEO of The Association. “Every dollar collected has a meaningful impact on programs created to support those living with ALS and funding vital research and advocacy programs.”