The Foundation provides New England area patients and their families with the best possible financial and emotional support through their unique ALS journey. Family Charitable Foundation of Bourne, MA was co-founded by family members of ALS patients with the belief that once you are affected by this terrible disease, you become part of our family. Mary Ann (Sciaba) Singersen lost her father Edward
J. and Donna Jordan lost her brother Clifford Jordan, Jr. far too soon to this disease. The two women met volunteering in the ALS community and decided to form our Foundation AND continue the Walk that Cliff (the Walk is named after him!) started years earlier and honor their loved one’s memory by helping others. The “Cliff Walk” is also held in memory of Janice Ferrara, as her family members, Lenny and Tony Ferrara have generously sponsored the Walk every year and remain deeply committed to our cause. This Foundation puts our ALS families first in everything we do. Our in-house programs (http://www.alsfamily.org/index.php/patient-support/our-programs); are open to New England area families and are designed to alleviate some of the financial and emotional burdens of living with ALS. Over the years we have watched our families come and go, each new diagnosis strengthening our resolve and commitment to our motto, “Until there is a cure, there is the A.L.S. Family Charitable Foundation”. A diagnosis of ALS is one of the worst things that can happen to a person. They lose their health, independence and financial security. And as we know all too well, when one family member is diagnosed with ALS, they all live it. That is where we come in. Our Foundation helps in a way that these families really need. We help keep the lights and heat on for the family; we help send children of our patients to college; we help the patient get as good a night’s sleep as they are able to; we help families take what often times is their last vacation together to make some wonderful memories; we take away the fear of not having enough to make the holidays joyous and back to school shopping fun; and we make sure that caregivers are able to take time to take care of themselves, and so much more. And of course, we also fund research efforts to find better treatment options and a cure.
