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Nonprofit supports children and young adults who have family members affected by ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) with free camp May 31, 2023 – Hope Loves Company (HLC), the only nonprofit in the country with the goal of providing both emotional and educational support to children and young adult caregivers who have or had a loved one battling ALS, is hosting a free camp. The media is invited. The camp in Illinois is happening Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4 at Camp Nageela Midwest: 26710 W Nippersink Rd. Ingleside, IL. Activities will happen between 6:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Hope Loves Company is also celebrating its 10 year anniversary! Camp HLC offers so many fun experiences. New this year, HLC will be hosting a 10 year anniversary Stepping with Hope Walk. There will also be a low ropes and obstacle course, team building activities, group therapy sessions, art and music therapy, fishing, boating, a talent show, a parent social, and campfire with s’mores! Even more important, children attending will all have something in common and can build new friendships and feel less alone in their challenges. HLC founder Jodi O’Donnell-Ames, HLC president Gary Bachrach, and their team have hosted 48 Camp HLCs across the nation since 2012. Thank you to our camp sponsors: The ALS Association, the Live Like Lou Foundation, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and Numotion Foundation. To learn more about Hope Loves Company’s other free programs for families affected by ALS, visit www.hopelovescompany.org, call 609-730-1144, or find us on social media. Facebook and Instagram: @hopelovescompany, Twitter: @hopelovesco. Who: Nonprofit Hope Loves Company to host children affected by ALS What: Free camp, which includes a low ropes and obstacle course, team building activities, group therapy sessions, fishing, boating, a talent show, a parent social, and a campfire with s’mores Where and When: Camp Nageela Midwest in Ingleside, Illinois, June 2-4, 2023 Contact: Michella Larch michella.larch@hopelovescompany.org 640-203-1322

(WHTM) — Tonight’s hometown heroes are on a bicycle journey to raise money and awareness. Jodi O’Donnell-Ames and her husband Benton founded “Hope Loves Company,” a non-profit that supports the children of patients with the debilitating disease ALS. Watch/Read the entire story at ABC27News.

A nonprofit worked this weekend to support families of ALS patients by providing a camp for kids. ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, causes limited physical functioning. Average life expectancy is between two to five years. Hope Loves Company provides a free camp for children and teens whose lives have been changed after a parent or family member is diagnosed with ALS or are living with someone who currently has it. One rainy Saturday did not stop the kids at the camp at Fairview Lake from having a good time, but that is what this particular camp is about --- turning rainy days into hope. Watch the entire story in News 12 New Jersey.

Hope Loves Company celebrates 10 years as a nonprofit in 2023 serving children, teens, young adults and their families affected by ALS across the country. Founder Jodi O’Donnell Ames and her husband, Benton, both of whom lost their previous spouses to ALS, are riding bicycles with family, friends and volunteers, from New Hope, Penn. to Love, Virginia to commemorate ALS Awareness Month. Read the entire article on Augusta Free Press .

(WXMI) — A Washington man plans to ride more than 450 miles next week to raise money and awareness for ALS. Hope Loves Company (HLC) says Dan Baier’s sister-in-law, Sally, was diagnosed with ALS late last year. She is a mother of two boys. Read the entire article on FOX 17 West Michigan

Wife and mother Julia Krispeal shares her ALS journey after losing her husband. She has attended Camp HLC in New Jersey with her two boys, and spreads the word about Hope Loves Company. Watch the full interview here.

Nonprofit supports children and young adults who have family members affected by ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) with free camp May 10, 2023 – Hope Loves Company (HLC), the only nonprofit in the country with the goal of providing both emotional and educational support to children and young adult caregivers who have or had a loved one battling ALS, is hosting a free camp. This camp in New Jersey is happening during May’s ALS Awareness Month. HLC is also celebrating its 10 year anniversary! The media is invited to camp, which is happening Friday, May 19 through Sunday, May 21 at Camp Fairview Lake YMCA: 1035 Fairview Lake Road, Newton, NJ. Activities will happen between 6:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, and from 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Camp Hope Loves Company (HLC) offers so many fun experiences. New this year, HLC will be hosting a 10 year anniversary Stepping with Hope Walk, ECO art, archery, a ropes course, campfire cooking, s'mores, music, boating, yoga, and so much more! Even more important, children attending will all have something in common and can build new friendships and feel less alone in their challenges. HLC founder Jodi O’Donnell-Ames, HLC president Gary Bachrach, and their team have hosted 47 Camp HLCs across the nation since 2012. Thank you to our camp sponsors: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, The ALS Association, the LiveLikeLou Foundation, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, the ALS Hope Foundation, Permobil, as well as Andrew O'Rhiley in memory of his late wife Joan, Deborah Neuman in memory of her late husband Jeff, and NJM Insurance Group. To learn more about Hope Loves Company’s other free programs for families affected by ALS, visit www.hopelovescompany.org, call 609-730-1144, or find us on social media. Facebook and Instagram: @hopelovescompany, Twitter: @hopelovesco. Contact: Michella Larch michella.larch@hopelovescompany.org 640-203-1322

Jodi O’Donnell-Ames lost her husband to a neurological disease in 2001. After seeing at first hand the impact his death had on their daughter, she has dedicated her life to supporting other families similarly affected. Jodi’s husband Kevin first experienced symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, at the age of 29 and died aged 36 years, when their daughter Alina was eight years old. After later remarrying Warren Benton Ames, whose wife Tina had also died from ALS in 2000 leaving two children aged 11 and eight years old, Jodi saw the need for supporting children and young people who had been affected by ALS. Read the entire article on Neuro Rehab Times.

Jodi is a parent, educator, former caregiver, ALS advocate, and public speaker. Jodi’s husband was diagnosed with ALS when their daughter was just two years old. Jodi is the founder of Hope Loves Company, the only nonprofit in the U.S. dedicated to providing educational and emotional support to children and young adults affected by ALS. What was life like before your husband’s first symptoms? Before ALS, I was a teacher who was happily married to Kevin O'Donnell, and I was the proud mom of Alina, who was two and a half at the time of diagnosis. We were thinking about the things that parents and young couples think about at ages 29 and 30 – the next house, the next job, and maybe the next child. Read the entire article on Your ALS Guide

Teresa Celmer is the Chief Marketing Officer for BrightStar Care, a full-service healthcare staffing agency. April 10, 2023 – Hope Loves Company (HLC), the only nonprofit in the country with the goal of providing both emotional and educational support to children and young adults who have or had a loved one battling ALS, is excited to introduce its newest board member. Teresa Celmer is the Chief Marketing Officer for BrightStar Care, a national home care and medical staffing agency with more than 380 corporate-owned and franchised locations that provide medical and non-medical home care services. Her career spans brand, product, channel, and partnership marketing to build strong brand relevancy. Celmer says she is honored to be a Hope Loves Company board member. “Through a serendipitous encounter with the Board President [Gary Bachrach], my lifelong personal and professional experiences clearly synched with HLC’s mission to support families impacted by ALS. I was immediately overwhelmed by the love, support and commitment this organization gives families with camp adventures and ongoing engagement. I’m honored to be appointed a board member position, where I will be able to leverage years of brand building strategies and bring awareness to ALS programs that benefit family caregivers across the nation,” said Celmer. Recognized as one of the 50 CMO Game Changers in the franchise industry by Entrepreneur Magazine, Teresa is among the most influential men and women in the franchising industry who are representative of the all important marketing role. “We are thrilled to have Teresa join our board. Teresa brings significant strategic marketing experience with a record of developing long-lasting partnerships and building meaningful brands that demonstrate value. More importantly, Teresa is a compassionate and giving individual who fits Hope Loves Company’s culture of servitude and kindness to a tee. It says a lot about our purpose and the makeup of our board and staff that we could attract someone like Teresa to support our mission and the families we serve,” said HLC Board President Gary Bachrach. Celmer is committed to HLC and inspired to make a difference because of a beautiful young woman named Lindsey Stoefen who was not only her daughter’s best friend but her ‘third’ daughter who lost her life to ALS at 17. Hope Loves Company is a 501c (3) that offers free programs to kids and young adults across the country affected by ALS, including in-person and virtual camps, care packages, scholarships, and virtual group therapy sessions. To learn more about HLC, visit www.hopelovescompany.org or call 609-730-1144. Contact: Michella Larch michella.larch@hopelovescompany.org 640-203-1322

Nonprofit supports children and young adults who are caregivers to their family members affected by ALS April 4, 2023 – Hope Loves Company (HLC), the only nonprofit in the country with the goal of providing both emotional and educational support to children and young adult caregivers who have or had a loved one battling ALS, is excited to announce its plans for May as part of ALS Awareness Month. HLC is also thrilled to be celebrating its 10th year as a nonprofit. The media is invited to cover all of these events. Hope Loves Company is hosting a free camp for kids, teens, young adults, and their loved ones in New Jersey. It will take place May 19-21 at Camp Fairview Lake YMCA: 1035 Fairview Lake Road, Newton, NJ 07860. Camp HLC offers so many fun experiences - including swimming, boating, fishing, yoga, music, games, s’mores, group therapy sessions, parent socials, and more. More importantly, all children attending will meet peers going through the same challenges as young caregivers. HLC founder Jodi O’Donnell-Ames, board president Gary Bachrach, and their team have hosted 47 Camp HLCs across the nation since 2012. O’Donnell Ames and her current husband Benton, who also lost his wife to ALS, are riding their bikes with family and friends, from New Hope, PA to Love, VA at the end of May to commemorate ALS Awareness month. The nearly 400 mile ride will raise funds for HLC programs and services, and is expected to take 9 days, with a tentative start date of Wednesday, May 24th (weather depending) at 9 AM EST from the Delaware Canal at New Hope, PA on E. Bridge Street. There will be several stops along the route for the media to conduct interviews, take video and pictures. The ride will end with a party at Love Ridge Mountain Lodging on June 2nd at 1 PM EST. One of HLC’s largest fundraisers of the year, the ALS Awareness Month 5K is happening the entire month of May, and is looking to raise $25,000 to support children who are caregivers to their loved one with ALS. Participants are asked to join for free by creating a fundraising page, to run or walk 3.1 miles any day from Monday, May 1st through Wednesday, May 31st and raise money to support children and families affected by ALS. To learn more about Hope Loves Company’s other free programs for families affected by ALS, visit www.hopelovescompany.org, call 609-730-1144, or find us on social media. Facebook and Instagram: @hopelovescompany, Twitter: @hopelovesco. Contact: Michella Larch michella.larch@hopelovescompany.org 640-203-1322

Nonprofit supports children and young adults who have family members affected by ALS March 16, 2023 – Hope Loves Company (HLC) is celebrating its 10th year as a nonprofit, serving children, teens, young adults, and their families who are affected by ALS all across the country. HLC’s founder Jodi O’Donnell Ames and her current husband Benton, who also lost his wife to ALS, are riding their bikes, along with family, friends, and volunteers, from New Hope, PA to Love, VA at the end of May, to also commemorate ALS Awareness month. The nearly 400 mile ride will raise funds for HLC programs and services, and is expected to take 9 days, with a tentative start date of Wednesday, May 24th (weather depending) at 9 AM EST from the Delaware Canal at New Hope, PA on E. Bridge Street. There will be several stops along the route for the media to conduct interviews, take video and pictures. The ride will end with a party at Love Ridge Mountain Lodging on June 2nd at 1 PM EST. “We’re biking to celebrate 10 years of Hope Loves Company. I ride for those who can’t. To do something hard, which is what our families do every day, I am committed to spreading awareness, raise money, and to celebrate this milestone,” says Jodi. ALS is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. People eventually lose the ability to speak, eat, move, and breathe. Most individuals who receive news of ALS live two to five years after the onset of symptoms. Jodi learned about ALS in 1995 when her then husband Kevin O’Donnell, at the age of 30, received the diagnosis. Kevin lost his battle with ALS at the age of 36 in 2001. He was vented, paralyzed, speechless and dependent on a feeding tube. Their daughter, Alina was 8 when Kevin passed and Jodi, a former school teacher, searched for grief programs for her child to no avail. As a result, she founded Hope Loves Company, the only nonprofit in the U.S. that provides both educational and emotional support to children and young adults who had or have a loved one battling ALS in their lives. HLC provides numerous free programs to children and their families around the nation. One of HLC’s campers last year expressed, “Until this camp, I had never met another kid affected by ALS. When I was down, I got multiple hugs and kind words. HLC gathered a group of strangers who are all experiencing the pain of ALS. We were brought together like a family and shown that we aren't alone. It became a safe place for me as well as for everyone.” Thank you to our Chase Car Sponsor, who donated $1,500: David Brown. Thank you also to our mile marker sponsors, who donated $150-$999: Mary and Don Damico, Deb Foster, Regina Brassil, Maureen Pierce, Michelle Needham, and Abbe Ames. To learn more about HLC, visit www.hopelovescompany.org or call 609-730-1144. Contact: Michella Larch michella.larch@hopelovescompany.org 640-203-1322