"A Love Story" Gala
On April 14, 2023, Lynn and Gino Giovannelli, Kevin and Tessa Geraghty, and Lori Larson Heller hosted a gala in our home town of Minneapolis, MN to support the work of ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) in Boston. The gala, titled
"A Love Story"
Benefitting ALS TDI, Where Love and Science Come Together
was aptly named due to the enormous love palpable in the worldwide ALS family, as well as the love that emanates from everyone involved with ALS TDI.
While we as hosts worked hard too, this gala and our level of success could not have happened without the most outstanding committee ever. Our committee members included Betsy Joyce, Becky Wemer, Jane Knudsvig, Sarah Skillrud, Clay Ahrens, Jana Johnson, Colleen Langford, Rachael Hansen, Patty Beadle, PK Kriha, Alison Smith, Lindsay Polyak, Susanne Miller, Kathy Parten, Kim Cameron, Anne Kreiser, Erin Fitzgerald, Kaley Schliep, and Stacy Johnson Lufkin.
Despite the fact that this was our first gala ever, and despite being told that we would be doing great if we were able to secure 250 guests, we far exceeded all expectations and had 650 guests and brought in over $750,000! The event was emceed by Lori Larson Heller, and the audience heard stories of ALS patients Clay Ahrens, Kevin Geraghty and Lynn Giovannelli. A seated dinner, live auction, moving program, call to action, and live band were all part of the evening. All funds were given to ALS TDI to continue their work of finding effective treatments and a cure for ALS.
ALS TDI is the world's foremost drug discovery lab focused solely on ALS. As a non-profit biotech, they operate without regard to profit or politics. Led by drug development experts and people with ALS, its Watertown, MA-based lab is funded by a global network of supporters unified to end ALS.
Clay Ahren's Story
Clay Ahren’s Story