ALS Alert Newsletter | August

Packard Center Events – Collaboration at Work

A look at the partners who help raise funds to support the Packard Center's mission.

Events around the country seek to stomp out ALS and benefit the Packard Center.

The Packard Center was built on the idea of bringing together scientists in the field of ALS research and having them work collaboratively with one clear goal – finding a cure. This sense of collaboration also extends to the friends and partners who help raise funds to support the Center’s mission.

Throughout the year and throughout the country, Packard Center supporters stretch their resources, connections and creativity to plan fun and interesting events that help to raise awareness and money for the Packard Center. “Events are held on our behalf all the time,” states Milan Karol, Packard’s senior associate director of development. “It is often a family’s way of attacking ALS or remembering a loved one who suffers from the disease.”

These events come in all shapes and sizes - from a large-scale golf tournament to the family-run wine tasting. But whatever their size, each event is key to the Center’s success. “They battle ALS by raising money for research, and they choose the Packard Center as the place to invest those resources. They are placing their hope and trust in us, and that is something we take very seriously,” notes Karol. “Individuals and groups who fundraise on our behalf are incredibly important allies in our efforts,” says Karol. “Our fundraising friends really are our partners in collaboration,” he adds with a smile. Karol estimates twenty-five events were held in the Center’s honor last year alone.

Here are a few that are happening this Fall.

Team BeAChamp Bull Roast

Bill Beauchamp was diagnosed with ALS in August of 2009, and has been living with complications of this disease for the past two years. Team BeAChamp has been a successful team in the Packard Center’s Fiesta 5K for the past two years. Taking the momentum built on their race team, friends of the Beauchamp family have organized a bull and oyster roast on Friday, September 30, 2011 in Baltimore to help supplement the Beauchamp children's educational fund and to raise funds for the Packard Center. To learn more about this event, or to purchase tickets, please visit: www.teambeachamp.com.

JT Walk & Beach Party

In 2007, a group of young men that had been raised together in Virginia Beach decided they wanted to find a way to give something back to the community and formed the Virginia Gentlemen Foundation. When Chris Thompson, a founding member, received news that his brother, Josh, was diagnosed with ALS, the Virginia Gentlemen decided to make the fight against ALS their goal as well. The JT Walk and Beach Party is the group’s largest fundraiser. Held this year on October 9, 2011 in Virginia Beach, the event raises money for ALS research grants (including the Packard-funded investigators), ALS patient services and the creation of JT's Grommet Island Beach Park & Playground. To form a team, join a team or sign-up to walk, visit the event website, www.jtwalk.org.

Wings over Wall Street®

MDA’s Wings Over Wall Street® started as a tribute to a loved one living with ALS: in this case, it’s Warren Schiffer’s beloved wife, Tony Diamond, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2000. The gala event originally took another name. Schiffer, a Packard Center board member, and Diamond created Wings of Hope — playing on the fact that the two were both airline employees — to raise funds and awareness for ALS research. But the next year, when Michael Beier, a Wall Street equity trader, was also diagnosed with ALS, the three New Yorkers and their families, working with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, merged their efforts into Wings Over Wall Street.

Now in its eleventh year, the hugely successful—and fun—gala has raised close to $10M for the Packard Center, the MDA’s ALS research and that of Columbia University. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, September 22, 2011 at New York City’s famed Gotham Hall. To purchase tickets or to find more about the organization, visit their website at www.wingsoverwallstreet.org.

The Julian Golf Classic 2011

Jeff Julian was a PGA golfer stuck down with ALS at the young age of 42.  A foundation, named in his honor, was formed to raise money for ALS research and to help those with the disease living in southwestern Missouri. Their primary annual fund raising event is The Julian Classic, a Pro-Am golf tournament and auction to be held on Monday, September 19, 2011 at the Ledgestone Country Club in Branson, Missouri. Funds raised support local ALS patient care in the Ozarks as well as the research efforts of the Packard Center. To register, visit their website at www.julianfoundation.org.

Host your own Packard Center Event

Here are a few helpful tips to help get the process started:

Let us know your plans. The Packard Center website has information about how to start an event with contact information to help you get started.

Let us help you. The Center will be glad to promote your event via our website and social media sites. Packard representatives are also available (schedule permitting) to attend events and often times we send promotional materials so guests can get a true sense of our mission.

Share your results. The Center is always looking for success stories. Send us your photos, highlights from your event and we will be glad to share your good news with our constituents.

For information about how you can start your own event, contact Suzie Connelly at  sconnel6@jhmi.edu or 410-735-7676.

– Suzanne Connelly