Tell us about your organization:
• Mission:
Rise and Shine Corporate Sponsor Breakfast
Who: ALS Association of Arkansas
What: Breakfast, Tony Rogers
When: 7-8:30 a.m. May 7
Where: Pinnacle Country Club
Tickets: Sponsorships are available
Information: (479) 621-8700 or als-arkansas.org
To lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global, cutting-edge research, and to empower people with Lou Gehrig's Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.
• Services provided:
Equipment loan programs, grant programs, dreams to realities, professional counseling, case management services, support groups, assistive technology, advocacy, resource and education.
• Service area: State of Arkansas
• Average number of people served annually: 150
How is your organization's mission unique? Our mission is unique in the sense that our disease is not as common as other diseases that receive a lot of recognition and publicity. There is no known cause or cure for our disease. We truly have to lead the fight of empowerment to support the afflicted and be resourceful to give them all they need and deserve and make sure people know how devastating ALS is.
Why do you work for a nonprofit organization? I approach my work as a ministry, and in nonprofit work you should serve with your whole heart. I always have loved helping others from a very young age. I knew when I retired from my corporate career that I wanted to do nonprofit work. You are able to make a positive impact in lives every day.
Do you have a personal connection to the mission? If so, what is it? My personal connection is through two really good friends that I knew of loving one of their friends through her journey with ALS. In the early 2000s, their friend was diagnosed and there were no resources in the state for people living with ALS. Sue's request of her five friends (known as her angels: Susie's Angels) was to bring awareness and help people living with ALS and their needs. My two friends along with Sue's husband founded our board and are keeping Sue's legacy alive every day. The commitment made to their friend, Sue, and the fact that they've not let the commitment go by the wayside truly touched my heart. It's so easy to make commitments, but it's amazing when they are lived out. Commitment is the key to loving well and living well.
What part of your job fills the most of your time? Care services, awareness and advocacy, engaging in our communities to bring awareness of our disease and the need for support and fulfilling our mission of compassionately loving our people through their journey.
What have you learned on the job that you didn't expect? I'm helping people far beyond what I ever realized was possible when you are up against the barriers people living with ALS are faced with.
What challenges face your organization? Making people aware of ALS and the need for support for people living with ALS and their families. These people need anything and everything we can give them. The disease is not only physically debilitating but also financially. We are the lifeline for our pALS (person living with ALS and their families) -- they depend on us.
Are there volunteer opportunities in your organization? What are they? Yes, we have volunteer opportunities all of the time. With our events, we have many opportunities for volunteers to help support the event. If interested in volunteering, reach out to me for a volunteer packet.
What upcoming fundraisers and/or other events does your organization have planned?
May 7 -- Corporate Sponsor Breakfast, 7 a.m., Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers.
Aug. 9 -- ALS Sam's Club Golf Tournament, 1 p.m., Lost Springs in Rogers.
Aug. 12 -- ALS Sam's Poker Tournament, 6 p.m., Ruth's Chris in Rogers.
Aug. 17 -- ALS Legacy Gala, 7 p.m., Thaden Field in Bentonville.
Aug. 24 -- NWA Walk to Defeat ALS, 9:30 a.m. registration; 10:30 a.m. ceremony and walk, Compton Gardens in Bentonville.
Sept. 10 -- Brits in the Ozarks, 9:30 a.m., Agri Park in Fayetteville.
NAN Profiles on 04/21/2019