The Debra M. Williams ALS Fund
Our Inspiration​
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In December 2021, we discussed as a family some ways in which we might work to honor Deb's faith, courage, and inspiration in the ways she lived both before and after her ALS diagnosis. Before we said good-bye in March 2022, we established the Debra M. Williams ALS Fund to provide grants to organizations in the areas of care support for ALS patients and families and C9orf72 therapy research and development.
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Deb was compassionate and a woman for others who loved action. The fund will seek to aid organizations while serving as a rallying point for continued engagement and fundraising in the ALS community.
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Fund Management & Assessing Opportunities
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Deb's family reviews opportunities to support organizations aligned with our mission, while being mindful of the fund's resources and prior commitments, as well as leading new fundraising efforts where our family and friends can come together to raise future funding for ALS charities.
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The Fund is organized as a donor-advised fund (DAF) under the management of the Maine Community Foundation, invested for total return with a broad asset allocation in both marketable securities and private investments focused on long-term appreciation of invested capital.
12.01.2025 UPDATE
GRANTS
In February 2024, the Fund made an initial $10,000 grant to UMass Chan Medical toward their research on C9orf72, familial ALS.
FUNDRAISING
In June 2025, the Fund supported the raising of $17,500 for ALS/TDI, a dedicated ALS research organization at their annual Tri-State Trek.
FUND TOTAL IMPACT
Since inception, the Fund's Total Impact is $810,000, which includes direct grants, fundraising, and gifts-in-kind.
Our Mission
To use our experience with ALS to educate our friends and family about this disease, increase the support of organizations focused on therapies and the care of ALS patients and their families, and continue to honor our beloved Mom and Deb whom we lost on March 13, 2022.
Our Vision
Our words and intentions must become our actions. We have built this site to keep us all connected and accountable to each other. We want to invite our family and friends into our new reality, and we believe we will be richer from doing so.
Help us make an impact
We need your Time, your unique Talents, and your Treasures. Help us widen our impact by pointing us to new and additional resources for growth, joining us in activities to support fundraising, and considering ways you can make ALS causes part of your charitable giving each year.