ALS Northwest Receives Grant from Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

 Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund Strengthens ALS Support Services 

Funds support ALS Northwest’s care services in 11 Oregon counties.

Portland, OR (April 17, 2025) — The Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund (STCCF) awarded ALS Northwest a $7,500 grant to strengthen care for people living with the progressively disabling neurodegenerative disease known as ALS (commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in Siletz’s 11-county service area. Siletz’s tribal region includes Lincoln, Tillamook, Linn, Lane, Benton, Polk, Yamhill, Marion, Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. 

ALS affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, taking away the ability to walk, speak, swallow, and ultimately breathe. The life expectancy of a person with ALS averages two to five years from diagnosis. There is currently no cure and no significant life-prolonging treatments for the disease. 

The STCCF grant will enable ALS Northwest to provide no-cost services that empower people with ALS to live independent, high-quality lives for as long as possible, even while experiencing these progressive disabilities. Items like loaned medical equipment, such as power wheelchairs, canes, and walkers enable continued mobility for people living with this disease. Communication devices and assistive technology, like speech-generating devices and eye-gaze machines, create avenues of connection as speech becomes more difficult. 

The costs of living with this disease are already exorbitantly high, and it is unfortunate that many of these tools are frequently not covered by insurance. 

Funds from STCCF will also enable consistent case management from ALS Northwest Care Services Coordinators, who provide resources and care coordination with partner ALS Clinics throughout the disease progression. ALS Clinics are multidisciplinary centers of care in which a person can see up to 12 medical specialists in a single visit, a model that preserves a person’s finite energy with this disease. Care Services Coordinators provide continuity of care and social context for these providers to ensure highest-quality care. 

Shelley Wright, a person living with ALS in Aloha, Oregon, is especially grateful for these Care Services Coordinators—like Amber Smith, who covers Washington County. “Amber has been so instrumental. She’s our guardian angel,” Shelley shared. 

“We are truly honored to continue our partnership with Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund,” said Amy Easton, Development Director at ALS Northwest. “The generosity of STCCF directly strengthens our programs, ensuring that individuals and families facing ALS receive the comprehensive services they need to navigate this challenging journey.”