Fundraising Events Archives

Jan 31

Augie’s Quest Partners with The Fitness Technology Summit to End ALS

By Gretchen Simoneaux Fundraising Events, Leaders No Comments

Mark Mastrov to be honored with the inaugural Augie Nieto Fitness Legacy Award

Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, a nonprofit driving breakthroughs in ALS research and empowering hope for a future without this devastating disease, is partnering with the Fitness Technology Summit.

The 12th annual Fitness Technology Summit is coming to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 21 – 24, 2024. Attendees will be invited to Augie’s Quest BASH to Fight to End ALS on October 22nd as part of their conference ticket. Ticket and sponsorship donations will also be available to any supporters.

The fitness industry rallied behind Augie when he was diagnosed with ALS in 2005 – because of the impact he had on the industry when he co-founded Life Fitness, and because ALS takes everything away that the industry stands for – strength, movement and health. The BASH represents an opportunity for the fitness industry to come together and celebrate advancements in ALS research made possible by their past support, and change the future for people with this devastating disease.

At the BASH, we will honor Mark Mastrov with the first-ever Augie Nieto Fitness Legacy Award. Mark is the Principal of New Evolution Fitness Company and Founder of 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Inc. and Crunch 2.0 Global. “Mark Mastrov was integral in launching our engagement with the fitness industry,” said Shannon Shryne, co-founder and President of Augie’s Quest. “When Augie was first diagnosed, Mark chaired our first BASH fundraiser, encouraged the global fitness industry to support our quest, and paved the path for our critical work. No one is more deserving of this honor.”

Al Noshirvani and Tara Levitt of Alta Technology Group and the Fitness Technology Summit hosts are happy to support Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS and the BASH by co-hosting the event and buying tickets for conference attendees. Al Noshirvani, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at ALTA Technology Group explains, “We are proud to support Augie Nieto’s legacy and the important work to find a cure for ALS’. Managing Partner, Tara Levitt adds “Every year, we align ourselves with initiatives that make a meaningful impact on the fitness community. Supporting Augie’s Quest is a natural extension of our commitment to causes that touch and enhance the fitness industry.”

In addition to meeting in Las Vegas and partnering with Augie’s Quest, The Fitness Technology Summit is also excited to launch a CEO track at the conference, allowing executives in the fitness industry to spend time collaborating and sharing strategies.

Through the past support of the fitness industry, the Augie’s Quest Translational Research Center was created to fund groundbreaking studies that are uncovering new insights and potential treatments. Augie’s Quest was the lead funder of a novel therapeutic that showed strong Phase 2 results for ALS, as well as other disease indications including kidney and liver transplants.

You can learn more about the Fitness Technology Summit

Founded by Augie Nieto, Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS is the unwavering force driving breakthroughs in ALS research, defying limitations, and empowering hope for a future without this devastating disease. Augie’s Quest is the lead funder of the ALS Therapy Development Institute, the world’s foremost drug discovery lab focused solely on ALS to bring new treatments and ultimately a cure for ALS. Ending ALS will require many treatments to meet the needs of every individual living with this disease, and Augie’s Quest will continue to raise the funds and awareness urgently needed to advance cutting-edge research, fast-track effective treatments and ultimately, find a cure for ALS. Incurable is unacceptable. Join the Quest at www.augiesquest.org.

Dec 13

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The Crawford Charity Golf Tournament raises over $226,000 for ALS Research

By Gretchen Simoneaux Champions, Fundraising Events No Comments

Thanks to the Crawford Family for choosing Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS as the beneficiary of their 2022 golf outing in August. Today, proceeds of $226,295 were granted to fund the Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS Translational Research Center at the ALS Therapy Development institute.

These funds are part of a larger $5.8 million grant from Augie’s Quest to ALS TDI through 2024 that was established to fund the discovery of new candidate drugs to slow, stop, or even reverse ALS disease progression. It will help to strengthen existing and future research efforts by aiming to dissect mechanisms of clinical ALS, and use the knowledge to develop new, more powerful drug discovery platforms and facilitate more effective drug development for ALS.

“We’re grateful to the Crawford family for their dedication to funding ALS research,” wrote Augie Nieto, Chairman of Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS. “We know ALS is curable, and the more champions that support our critical mission, the closer we will get to a cure.”

Sponsors from the tournament included the San Francisco Giants, BiRite Foodservice Distributors, Fragomen, Wasserman, the Brandon Crawford Baseball Camp, the Heller Family, the San Francisco 49ers, Pure Storage, Bitwise, Holmes Helping Hands, the Golden State Warriors and Harmony Capital, LLC. Special thanks to Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS board member Paul Sallaberry and his wife, Nancy, for their sponsorship and involvement in the tournament.

The highlight of the event was the engagement from those living with ALS. Thank you to Osiel Mendoza for sharing his story Read it here

May 26

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Celebrate the Inaugural Lou Gehrig Day with Augie’s Quest

By augiesquest Fundraising Events

A Major League Baseball legend becomes an early ALS pioneer

It was a day die-hard Yankee fans were going to witness an unknown first baseman come off the second string bench to earn his starting lineup place in Yankee history. The second day of June in 1925 marked baseball legend Lou Gehrig’s start of his 2,130 record-breaking consecutive MLB game streak, forever recorded in American baseball history.

After an incredible 17-season career, Gehrig was forced into retirement from the early onset of ALS symptoms. It would ironically be on that exact same date sixteen years later that “Iron Horse” Lou Gehrig would die after a three-year battle with ALS, at the young age of 37 on June 2, 1941.

Major League Baseball takes a historically brave stance against ALS

The Lou Gehrig Day committee of ALS families, caregivers, patients, and MLB players from ALS families, are celebrating Major League Baseball’s decision to officially designate June 2 each year as Lou Gehrig Day. This is major news in the ALS community as 30 MLB teams have endorsed the decision, which will bring major-league awareness to ALS and the fight for a cure.

“The Los Angeles Dodgers are proud to partner with Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS in the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease. As we remember Gehrig’s legacy and all those lost to ALS during Major League Baseball’s inaugural “Lou Gehrig Day” on June 2, the Dodgers remain committed to raising awareness and funds for research to cure this devastating disease.”
– The Los Angeles Dodgers Organization

MLB’s decision, coming 80 years after Gehrig succumbed to the disease in 1941, marks a landmark commitment from a major American sports league to work to find a cure. Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS is proud to partner with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels for this special celebration recognizing Lou Gehrig and honoring those whose lives have been touched by ALS.

“The Los Angeles Angels are proud to support Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS at Major League Baseball’s inaugural Lou Gehrig Day. Orange County is home to Augie’s Quest founder, Augie Nieto, who is helping to change the lives of people in our community living with ALS. Angels Baseball looks forward to helping Augie’s Quest create a future without ALS.”
– The Los Angeles Angels Organization

June 2, 2021: The inaugural celebration to raise awareness and funds for the fight

The inaugural MLB recognition of Lou Gehrig Day kicks off a festive two-day celebration at all home ballparks across the league. Each home team plans to host ceremonies raising awareness for the disease along with displaying Lou Gehrig Day branding throughout stadiums, on uniforms, and on all MLB items throughout the day.

“The San Diego Padres are proud to partner with Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS to create awareness for the ALS community.” – Erik Greupner, CEO, The San Diego Padres

When Augie Nieto was diagnosed with ALS over 60 years after the passing of Lou Gehrig, he quickly understood the bleak reality that ALS lacked the critical support or widespread research needed to find treatment and cures. Augie set his sights on defeating his disease and began his new life’s work — Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS. From the very start, our mission was clear and simple: to find a cure for ALS.

Join Augie’s Quest and our friends in Major League Baseball on June 2 and 3, in celebrating the inaugural MLB recognition of Lou Gehrig Day, as we bring awareness to ALS and our continued fight for a cure, by making a donation today.

Nov 20

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