What We Do

Our Vision

The Hummingbird Fund intends to serve as an accelerator for innovation in ALS research, advocacy and overall functional support, via stable and sustainable partnerships that are patient/family centric and kind. The Hummingbird Fund has high aspirations and aims to be flexible, enduring, and tenacious in its mission, which is threefold:

access

Access

We hope to END care gaps for patients living with ALS in our region.
research

Research

We support research that is patient-centric and innovative.
Advocacy

Advocacy

We support advocacy, legislative action and research to END ALS!!!

Recent Partner Projects

The Hummingbird Funds intends to serve as an accelerator for innovation in ALS research, advocacy and overall functional support, via stable and sustainable partnerships, that are patient/family centric and kind.

ALS DART Clinic At UVA Health

Recent projects at the Richard R Dart ALS Clinic include a partnership to create a patient/family advisory council and an updated patient/family guide for ALS care.
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ALS Association, MD/DC/VA Chapter

The Hummingbird Fund is funding a local expansion of the ALS Association’s modular ramp program to make homes of ALS patients in our region wheelchair accessible.
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I AM ALS

I AM ALS is an advocacy organization that has a finger on the pulse of focused actions you can take to advocate for ALS patients and their families.
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Duke R.O.A.R. Clinical Trial

The Hummingbird Fund has partnered with Duke researcher Richard Bedlack MD PhD to support a new R.O.A.R (Replication of ALS reversals) trial in 2023.
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How the Fund Is Managed

The fund will be housed within the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, a 501C3 that provides oversight, assures that the fund abides by all of the legal and ethical and accounting standards of a charitable fund, and supports the necessary accounting and reporting functions. The Hummingbird Fund is designated as a ‘committee advised’ fund, meaning that the Plews-Ogan family and the Hummingbird advisory committee will be deciding how the funds are distributed, through a granting process.

Apply for Funding

Organizations may apply for funds through a simple grants process.

APPLY

Organizations We Support

I AM ALS

I AM ALS is a patient/caregiver led advocacy organization that provides critical support and resources to those living with ALS.
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Duke R.O.A.R. Clinical Trial

The Hummingbird Fund has partnered with Duke researcher Richard Bedlack MD PhD to support a new R.O.A.R (Replication of ALS reversals) trial in 2023.
Learn More

ALS Association, MD/DC/VA Chapter

The Chapter focuses primarily on providing services and support to those currently living with the disease and their families.
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UVA Health Richard R. Dart ALS Clinic

The Richard R Dart ALS Clinic at the University of Virginia Health System began in 1999 as the first multidisciplinary clinic in Virginia.
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