Dear Friend,
This year marks my third as CEO of the Les Turner ALS Foundation. Every day, I’m in awe of the courage, resilience, and hope of people living with ALS and their families—like Cecil and his wife, Grace.
Please take a moment to watch their short video below. You’ll hear Grace share a favorite African saying: “The heart does the giving—the fingers just let go.” Their story captures why your support matters so deeply.
We are the Midwest’s leading ALS organization, providing direct services across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Our small but mighty team of fifteen includes seven Support Services professionals—nurses, social workers, counselors, and a speech-language pathologist—who walk alongside families from diagnosis through end-of-life and beyond.
Here’s how your generosity shows up for families like Cecil and Grace:
- Personalized care coordination, financial assistance, and equipment loans. So far this year, we’ve completed over 5,121 engagements.
- High-touch, individualized guidance that helps families navigate clinic visits, assistive devices, insurance questions, home care, and mental health referrals.
- Virtual support groups for people living with ALS, caregivers, spouses, children, young adults, and those grieving a loss—reducing isolation, especially in under-resourced or rural communities.
- Education for families and professionals, including free webinars, guides, decision tools, and provider training used by clinics, hospitals, and hospices across the globe.
- My ALS Decision Tool™, the first interactive, online decision support tool in the U.S. designed specifically for people living with ALS—to explore treatment options, plan ahead, and have informed conversations with providers.
Demand for our services grows every year. If you’re able, please make a gift at the highest level you can by December 31 to sustain and expand this critical work. If you’ve already given, thank you—and if your circumstances allow, please consider an additional stretch gift this season.
Or mail to: Les Turner ALS Foundation, 5550 W. Touhy Ave., Suite 302, Skokie, IL 60077.
As Grace says in the video, “The heart does the giving—the fingers just let go.” Thank you for opening your heart to families facing ALS. Wishing you a safe and hopeful holiday season.
With gratitude,
Laura Freveletti
Chief Executive Officer
Les Turner ALS Foundation
P.S. Please remember to receive a tax credit for your gift in 2025, your gift must be made by 11:59 PM on December 31, 2025.
