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On the occasion of her 50th birthday, Glass, a member of the chapter’s board of trustees, and her friends at the chapter and in show business, organized a fundraising event that drew 500 people to the sold out Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, Calif., including approximately more than two dozen celebrities, who enjoyed “George Gershwin Alone.” The benefit performance, which starred Hershey Felder in the one-person musical, and culminated in his rousing rendition of “Rhapsody in Blue,” raised more than $200,000 for the chapter. The night was anything but a rhapsody in the blues for Glass, an advocate at the state and national level as well as the captain of her Dare with Denise Walk to Defeat ALS® team. Instead, the night was a testament to the power of never giving up, the mind set exemplified by Gershwin and Glass. “It is the Denise Glasses of the world that make The ALS Association the strong organization that it is,” said Gary A. Leo, the president and CEO of The ALS Association. “Fortunately, each one of our 41 chapters has someone just like her.” Fred Fisher, the president and CEO of the chapter, said Glass is dedicated to strengthening the chapter’s ability to serve families with ALS. “Denise gives everything she can in all ways that she can in an effort to help others with ALS and advance the mission and vision of The ALS Association,” Fisher said. “Denise is a woman of grace, character and poise. She is a role model for us all.” Glass arrived at the event by limousine, which circled the theater several times as friends and family waved. “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh,” said Glass, shortly after the paparazzi photographed her on a red carpet in front of the theater. “I’m so happy that everyone is here tonight. It is very, very important to raise money and awareness. I hope everyone will give generously.” Preceding Glass for a close up were such celebrities as actresses Kate Linder “This is an incredible evening because it is bringing more awareness to ALS, which is what we need,” Linder said. “The awareness will result in more people realizing that this is not an orphan disease. We have to find a cure for this.”
Garrett, a comedian, added some humor to his otherwise serious remarks about the outpouring of support for Glass and The Association. “It says a lot of folks are very concerned about finding a cure and that is why we’re here,” Garrett said. “We need to bring as much attention as we can to ALS, and this is a great way of doing it, and I’m honored to have been invited here. I’m rarely invited places, so I’m just trying to think who said ‘no,’ how did I get the call? Because there is a list you know, even at home there’s a big list. I figured maybe Jimmy Walker couldn’t make it.” It has been a busy year for Glass, which is in keeping with her lifestyle. Since being diagnosed with ALS in 2001, she has lived her dreams by traveling to Antarctica, Paris, Monet’s Garden in Giverney, Alaska’s winter carnival, and has gone hot air ballooning next to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. Her travels also have taken her to California, Canada, and Oregon to photograph the coastlines and sunsets. Last January she appeared on NBC’s “Today Show,” the first in a series of stories about the book she is featured in titled “Strong at the Broken Places, Putting a Face on Chronic Illness,” written by Richard M. Cohen. She also traveled to Sacramento in March to participate in the first California ALS Advocacy Day and to Washington, D.C. in May to participate in the National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference. When asked by the television pilot show “Giving Celebrity Style” why being a celebrity for the day was important, Glass responded: “To use that celebrity status for a good cause…to raise awareness for ALS and the chapter.” New Curt Schilling ALS Fundraiser |
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A portion of the proceeds ($1.25 per bottle) from each purchase will be donated to Curt’s Pitch for ALS. A bottle will cost $10 to $15 at most local retailers. The funds will then be distributed to chapters of The Association. Additional proceeds also benefit the Major League Baseball Players Trust. The program had already raised more than $100,000 for Curt's Pitch for ALS through May 22.
One of the chapters of The ALS Association that will benefit from the program is located in Massachusetts.
"We are delighted to tap into this new fundraising and awareness opportunity to support local patient and caregiver resources and fund cutting-edge research,” said Rick Arrowood, executive director of The Association’s Massachusetts Chapter. “The exceptional and continuing support of our Red Sox Nation, and now our new friends at Charity Wines and Longball Vineyards, continues to make a significant impact on our families in Massachusetts and throughout New England. In reality, we could not deliver on our mission of serving families and researchers without the financial contributions from corporations, foundations and private individuals.”
According to wine producer Charity Wines and sports marketing firm Charity Hop, who also teamed up with Boston Red Sox players Manny Ramirez and pitcher Tim Wakefield, who have their own philanthropic wine labels and respective charities, stores purchased more than 250,000 bottles in a three-week presale.
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“Charity Hop is pleased to add the Longball Vineyards initiative to its growing list of successful charitable ventures,” said Mike Lembo, Charity Hop co-founder and director of operations. “It is always a pleasure to work with Curt Schilling on these types of endeavors as his passion for philanthropy and willingness to go outside the box is unmatched. The Schillings’ dedication to The ALS Association continues to inspire us, and we are ecstatic to be able to help facilitate such a substantial fundraising project.”
“Estate-grown and hand-crafted, the unoaked chardonnay shows lively flavors and aromas of apricots, apples and tropical fruits. Crisp and medium bodied, this well-balanced white pairs well with salads, pasta, fish and chicken,” reads the bottle’s label. The bottle also features an illustration of the pitcher.
“Curt and Shonda always have a new wrinkle up their sleeve in the fight against Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” said Gary A. Leo, president and CEO of The Association.
“They frequently come up with their own ideas and are always more than open to taking the suggestions of entrepreneurs.”
Schilling Schardonnay can be purchased online at www.charitywines.com.The ALS Association has become part of the TV lineup courtesy of ION Media Networks.
Since spring 2007, representatives from four of The Association’s chapters have appeared on the network’s “ION Cities” show, which airs on Tuesday and Saturday mornings in most communities. Participants include executive directors, chapter board personnel and chapter staff from the Florida Chapter (“ION Tampa”); Greater Los Angeles Chapter (“ION Los Angeles”); Michigan Chapter (“ION Detroit”); and Minnesota Chapter (“ION Minneapolis”).
The goals of these appearances are to motivate citizens to become involved with the chapters in their respective markets, to increase awareness about Lou Gehrig’s Disease and to inform those living with ALS that assistance is available in their area.
“I hope those affected by ALS will turn to the ALS community and the Florida Chapter for the help we can provide,” said David L. Smith, the chapter’s immediate past chair who appeared on “ION Tampa” in early April. “It is important that they know they are not alone.” During the show’s taping, Smith discussed the emotional and financial impact ALS had on his wife, Ann, who passed away from the disease three years ago, as well as the integral support services the chapter provided to Ann during her illness. Smith works as the city attorney for the City of Tampa and served on the chapter’s board for more than a decade since Ann received her diagnosis in 1985.
The Minnesota and Michigan chapters’ representatives explored similar issues during their appearances on ION. They also discussed the multi-tiered components of their organizations including patient care, advocacy and support for research to find a cure.
“We hope that anyone whose life is touched by ALS, no matter how close or distant they are to the disease, will benefit from the knowledge that is so well described by The Association’s representatives,” said Joseph Koker, ION Media Network’s director of operations. “Unmasking the truth about any disease is the first major step to providing resolve and help to those afflicted. ION Media Networks is proud to provide a platform for this knowledge.”
“This is a fantastic opportunity for us,” added Gary A. Leo, the president and CEO of The Association. “The ALS Association thanks ION Media Networks for giving our chapters a forum to discuss The Association’s role in serving the ALS community.”
To date, ION has broadcast shows in Detroit, Los Angeles and Tampa; “ION Minneapolis” is scheduled to air this September. ION Network owns and operates more than 60 stations in major markets across the country.
A schedule of the Walk to D’Feet ALS® sponsored by The ALS Association’s Greater New York Chapter and a baseball with The Association’s new logo are featured on a Duane Reade drug store electronic billboard located at 50th and Broadway in New York City. The Walk is The Association’s national signature fundraising event. The store is approximately 10 miles from Yankee Stadium where the New York Yankees and the 248-store drug store chain launched the Strike Out ALS campaign in late April. The purpose of the campaign was to increase awareness about Lou Gehrig’s Disease and raise funds for services and programs offered by the chapter to people with the disease and their families and research into new treatments and a cure.
Cast members from “The Sopranos” (beginning third from left to right) Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnut), Max Casella (Benny Fazi), Dan Grimaldi (Patsy Parisi) and Jeff Marchetti (Petey) and members of Team Poppy at the Walk to D’Feet ALS® sponsored by The ALS Association’s Greater Philadelphia Chapter. The Walk was held along the Boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J., and raised $155,000. The Walk is The Association’s national signature fundraising event. The cast signed autographs and posed for pictures for a donation to The Association. Various cast members have attended the Walk for years because of a connection with Walk co-chair Mike Rubbinacci who is Marchetti’s uncle.
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