NAC Have a Heart Foundation Raises $82K For ALS Research

The NAC Have a Heart Foundation's Queen of Hearts Masquerade Ball held earlier this month raised a hefty $82,000 for ALS research, the club announced.

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Development America, Inc. was the Premier sponsor of the event, donating $50,000. Other corporate sponsors included Customers Bank, Rick and Bridget Speranza, Inspire Credit Union, Rothman Institute, PBA Bensalem Township, Sysco, Philadelphia and Mark and Nancy Goracy.

In addition, several local restaurants donated food, including La Stalla, The Continental Tavern, Joey G’s Catering, Pineville Tavern, Rosebank Winery, Applebee’s, the Corner Bakery, Piccolo Trattoria, Vechhia Osteria, The Churchville Inn, Unik Cakes, Beam Suntory, Svedka Imported Vodka, Gretz Beer Company, and Chris Szagola.

Matt’s Mission, one of the main initiatives of the NAC Have a Heart Foundation, is now entering its third year of raising money for ALS Research. To date, the NAC and club owner Jim Worthington have raised a million dollars for the cause. This year alone the goal is to raise another million dollars, according to the NAC.

The cause was inspired by NAC member Matt Bellina. He is a 33-year-old former Navy pilot who was diagnosed with ALS in April 2014. He was given a two to five year life expectancy outcome.

"We will support the amazing work of the scientists for as long as it takes - not only for Matt, but also for all the other ALS patients in the world," said Worthington.

The NAC Have a Heart Foundation also supports advocacy work for the “Right To Try” bill, which would allow all terminally ill patients in America to try experimental drugs that have passed Phase 1 FDA trials.

All the funds raised from the Queen of Hearts Ball will go to the ALS TDI (Therapy Development Institute), a cutting-edge bio tech non-profit research facility in Boston.

"If 7 million dollars is raised this year, they will have a promising drug ready for trials in less than 12 months. This is the closest we have ever come to a cure to date and the experts now say it is not if, but when we get a cure," the NAC said in an announcement about the event fundraising totals.

For more information about these initiatives, visit www.NACHaveaHeartFoundation.org.

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