Whereas amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord; Whereas motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body; Whereas the progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death; Whereas when the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost; Whereas people with ALS live, on average, just two to five years after diagnosis; Whereas established in 1985, the ALS Association is the only national nonprofit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s disease on every front; Whereas by leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, the ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure; Whereas, as the preeminent ALS organization, the ALS Association leads the way in research, care services, public education, and public policy, giving help and hope to those facing the disease; Whereas the ALS Association’s nationwide network of chapters provides comprehensive patient services and support to the ALS community; Whereas the mission of the ALS Association is to lead the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support; Whereas the ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter (referred to in this preamble as the Chapter ), founded in August 1977, covers eastern Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey, and all of Delaware, supporting approximately 1,000 people with ALS at any given time