This hybrid event will have both in person and virtual attendees from across the chapter joining in for this fun event. The evening will include a live and silent auction, art on the green, wine, delicious food, and most importantly, information & awareness about ALS and its devastating impact on our patients and their families. Join us in the fight in doing whatever it takes to make ALS a livable disease and ultimately, find a cure.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you cannot attend in person, you don’t have to miss out! We will be livestreaming parts of the gala on our YouTube channel. Starting at 6:30 PT we’ll be live. Presentations start at 7:00 PT.  

Live further away, but still want to bid on auction items? Sign up for mobile bid and participate. We will have limited delivery to Tri-cities, Spokane/CDA and Missoula, MT. Contact Amara at amara.bates@als.org to arrange delivery.

SILENT AUCTION CLOSES AT 7PM JULY 14

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The ALS Association is closely monitoring national government health agency guidance on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Our first priority is the safety and well-being of people with ALS, their families and caregivers, and our volunteers and staff. To help minimize the risk of COVID-19, we ask that attendees at ALS Association events follow these guidelines.

Our Presenters:

Dr. Ileana Howard is a rehabilitation medicine physician and serves as the medical director of a local ALS Association-certified ALS Center of Excellence. She is passionate about improving quality of life through symptom management and interdisciplinary care for persons with ALS, as well as through the education of health professionals in ALS-related care. She has received local and national accolades for service to persons with ALS, including the Clinical Excellence award from the Paralyzed Veterans of America in 2018, and national Advocacy award by the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine in 2021.

Kuldip Dave, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Research at The ALS Association, has experience directing research and drug development programs and managing complex preclinical and clinical programs in the neurodegenerative disease space. As the former director of research programs at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, he worked for nine years developing and implementing an ambitious research vision in the biology of Parkinson’s. He worked in biotech/ pharma industry for 5 years prior to joining the non-profit philanthropy world. Dr. Dave received his undergraduate degree in biology from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in pharmacology and physiology from Drexel University College of Medicine.

An avid skier, cyclist, and hiker, Father Jim, has been a pastor at St. Michael’s Parish in Olympia, Washington for over 20 years. With members of the church community, he has traveled to numerous countries for both missionary work and recreational trips. A few years ago, he began having difficulties with muscle twitches, upper body weakness, and leg cramps.  Before long he was diagnosed with ALS. Father Jim describes getting his diagnosis, “When I was first diagnosed with ALS in November 2017, I was quite overwhelmed. I knew little or nothing about ALS. When I went to the ALS Association website, I was both shaken with fear and encouraged by the work that had already been done.” As he sat alone at his favorite pub eating a Rueben sandwich and drinking a beer, he realized he “could not do this on my own. Not only would I need my closest priest friends, I would also need a group of people around me who loved me and would help me through this. I thought my journey would progress quickly, so I wasted no time in asking people to help.”