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Change what it means to live with ALS.
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating and always fatal neurodegenerative disease that presents with progressive muscular weakness and wasting. Since motor functions become severely limited, many daily life activities become extremely difficult or impossible.
Our primary mission at A Lasting Strength is to raise the public's awareness of ALS with community outreach and to help pALS (people/patients with ALS) change what it means to live with this disease by providing resources and grants. In addition, we contribute funds to organizations dedicated to the ongoing research to defeat ALS and to providing ALS patient support and advocacy.
Funding
We are funded by contributions from people like you.
Programs-
ALS Patient FundWe support and encourage patients diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) to continue to live meaningful and productive lives through outreach and by providing online resources and monetary support in the form of grants. These funds are to be used to purchase equipment or other assistive devices and technology that will improve their quality and longevity of life. The funds may also be used to have a life experience that would otherwise be unattainable with this disease.
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ALS Donor FundThe ALS Donor Fund provides small grants to other independent 501(c)3 organizations dedicated to ALS patient support, care, advocacy, or furthering research. We want to encourage cooperation and collaboration among these organizations through mutually beneficial relationships and financial support. A small percentage of contributions made to A Lasting Strength is allocated to the Donor Fund.
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Mobility Access ProgramWe are dedicated to providing a free or low-cost solution to those needing assisted mobility through a mobility access program. This program is available to residents of San Diego County.
| Target | Percentage |
|---|---|
| ALS Patient Fund | 65% |
| General Fund (Administration/Fundraising) | 20% |
| Mobility Access Program | 10% |
| ALS Donor Fund | 5% |
| TOTAL | 100% |
Read the 2022-2023 Annual Report
A Lasting Strength, Inc.
Why A Lasting Strength?
ALS robs its victims of physical strength but not their mental or spiritual strength. We chose this name to change what ALS takes away into a force of hope and extra-physical strength. Read or listen to the stories of those who live with and have fought ALS, and you can see they all have something in common—a lasting strength.
Stephen J. Lu
Stephen J. Lu, EMBA, SHRM-CP
Stephen is a social entrepreneur focused on promoting better leadership in the forensics industry and supporting and improving the lives of people diagnosed with ALS through collaborative, innovative communication and technology solutions. He leverages strong analytical and interpersonal skills to drive positive change in local communities and organizations.
In September 2021, Stephen became the Executive Director of A Lasting Strength, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and improving the lives of people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Stephen also serves as a community member of the Patient and Family Advisory Council at UC San Diego Health.
In February 2022, Stephen founded the Forensic Leaders Training Center®, a leadership training and coaching company for forensic practitioners. He is a 2023 FBI San Diego Citizens' Academy graduate and served as a member of the San Diego County Sheriff's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council from 2022 to 2024.
Stephen has 17 years of forensic experience, including Forensic Biology, Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction, and Firearms Analysis. He has testified as a qualified expert witness in courts in Arizona and California and in front of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. As an active member since 2007, he has served as the Regional Director South and Lead Webmaster for the California Association of Criminalists. In these roles, he increased public visibility by transforming the website and guiding the leadership through the transition to online training during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before his career in forensics, Stephen worked for six years as a published research scientist. Under Dr. Michael Wells at the University of Arizona, he studied protease regulation in the Yellow Fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. He also completed an internship at the National Institutes of Health/NIDDK, studying neutral lipid trafficking in Niemann-Pick Type C disease under Dr. E. Joan Blanchette-Mackie.
Stephen holds an Executive MBA with Honors from Quantic School of Business and Technology and a Bachelor of Science with Honors, magna cum laude, in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona. Stephen is also a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).
In his free time, Stephen enjoys website design and coding, electronic music composition and production, and playing with Aries, a stubborn Siberian Husky. He has also authored memoirs about his time as a Crime Scene Investigator, entitled CSI to CEO.
Michael Ficklin-Badaloni
Michael Ficklin-Badaloni
Proud USMC Veteran trained in time management, organization, teamwork, professionalism, communication, and efficiency.
Experienced in talent coordination, offer management, visa management, and partnership with a range of entities: military officers, non-commissioned officers, hiring managers, and recruiters.
A former tutor and student teacher, Michael believes in the value of learning and the student mentality. Peer-learning and team development lead to the betterment of the individual as well as the team.
Kyle Ficklin-Badaloni
Kyle Ficklin-Badaloni
Kyle's current employer is University of California San Diego Health. Initially making his way into this company via their Help Desk, Kyle learned that working in an enterprise environment is a bit different from working in small and medium businesses. UC San Diego Health employs over 20,000 people, so there is quite a variety of issues and personalities.
After 6 months of working there, he applied for and landed a new position, providing concierge mobile app support for medical providers (MDs, NPs, etc) and patients. This position allows Kyle to go to various hospital locations and provide in-person support. He is also working to bring in volunteers and student workers from the UCSD campus to help expand this program.
Program Description
We support and encourage patients diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) to continue to live meaningful and productive lives through outreach and by providing online resources and monetary support in the form of grants. These funds are to be used to purchase equipment or other assistive devices and technology that will improve their quality and longevity of life. The funds may also be used to have a life experience that would otherwise be unattainable with this disease.
Program Eligibility RequirementsBefore requesting support, please review the following eligibility requirements carefully:
- The applicant must provide documentation of a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or a related form of motor neuron disease (MND).
- The diagnosing physician, practicing or retired, must have been certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Physician certification will be verified during a review of the application.
- Due to our currently limited resources, we request that other avenues of financial or material support have first been explored or attempted (e.g., loan closets, medical insurance, Medicare).
- We want to tailor our support to the applicant’s specific situation, need, or desire. Please be prepared to explain specifically how we can support the applicant. If you have an estimate of the total cost of the need or experience, please provide that as well.
- Please allow us at least two weeks to review the applicant’s submission.
Program Description
The ALS Donor Fund provides small grants to other independent 501(c)(3) organizations dedicated to ALS patient support, care, advocacy, or furthering research. We want to encourage cooperation and collaboration among these organizations through mutually beneficial relationships and financial support. A small percentage of contributions made to A Lasting Strength is allocated to the Donor Fund.
ALS Donor Fund Eligibility RequirementsWe seek out eligible 501(c)(3) organizations to receive small grants from the ALS Donor Fund. If you represent an independent 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to ALS patient support, care, advocacy, or research, and you would like to be considered for this program, please email Kyle or Stephen.
Program Description
We are dedicated to providing a free or low-cost solution to those needing assisted mobility through a mobility access program. This program is available to residents of San Diego County.
Program Eligibility RequirementsBefore requesting support, please review the following eligibility requirements carefully:
- The applicant must provide a detailed explanation of their current need.
- Due to our currently limited resources, we request that other avenues of financial or material support have first been explored or attempted (e.g., loan closets, medical insurance, Medicare). At this time, we are able to supply only manual wheelchairs.
- Please allow us at least two weeks to review the applicant’s submission.
ALS Supportive Organizations
- ALS Therapy Development Institute
- Augie's Quest
- axeALS Foundation (Stevens Nation)
- Her ALS Story
- I AM ALS
- Paint for a Cure
- Synapticure
Know about a person or organization that should be listed? Please email us
