About Our Chapter

The ALS Association Michigan Chapter has been committed to serving people with ALS and their families since 1988. Our mission is to discover treatments and a cure for ALS, and to serve, advocate for, and empower people affected by ALS to live their lives to the fullest.

On February 22, 1988, Gloria Mary Schanz R.N., M.A., founded The Michigan Chapter in Grand Rapids. Since then, the Chapter has grown to  support to the entire state of Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula. 

Every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS. The Michigan Chapter provides help to people with ALS and their families and give them hope for the future. The estimated out of pocket cost to care for a person with ALS is $250,000. To help ease the burden, The Michigan Chapter provides no-cost services such as support groups, durable medical equipment loan closet, ALS Association liaison at affiliated ALS clinics, respite program, assistive technology program and education through literature and workshops. 

The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS. The ALS Association covers all the bases - research, patient and community services, public education and advocacy; in providing help and hope to those facing the disease.

And lastly, no description of our Chapter would be complete if we didn’t mention our supporters. Our accomplishments in patient care and research would be impossible without them. From the smallest donation to the most generous gift, our donors give the ALS community hope for the future.