Bates hand delivers donation to Curt Schilling

Manchester philanthropist/WEEI listener Ralph Bates
 hand delivers a $300,000 donation to Curt Schilling for 
Curt’s Pitch to ALS

February 22, 2010 (Maynard, Mass.) -- Manchester businessman Ralph Bates paid a special visit to Curt Schilling in Maynard this morning to hand deliver a personal donation of $300,000 for Curt’s Pitch to ALS (Click here for video).  The former Sox star also presented Bates with a Red Sox jersey with the name “Bates” and number “1” on the back as a gesture of appreciation.  The meeting, which took place at Schilling’s 38 Studios office, was arranged by WEEI Sports Radio.

Bates is an avid ‘EEI listener and Red Sox fan who three years ago made a $1,000,000 donation to The Jimmy Fund following the station’s annual Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon.  Bates’ sister is currently suffering from ALS, which prompted this generous donation in her honor.

“I’m very fortunate to be in a position to be able to make this donation,” said Bates. “ALS has affected my family very personally so it’s important to me to support the work and research of the ALS Association.”

“Exceptional times call for exceptional measures,” said Schilling. “There’s no need to explain the dire financial crisis this country is facing. That’s what makes Ralph Bates and his actions so incredible. Mr. Bates is personally donating $300,000 to the ALS Association after being personally affected by this horrible, devastating and still incurable disease. I’m honored to be able to accept his check, honored to be able to call people like Mr. Bates a friend. If the world were full of people that thought, and more importantly, acted as he is, well, it would be a much better place. Words honestly cannot express our gratitude and thanks, and on behalf of all families impacted by ALS I say thank you and God Bless.”

Schilling and Bates were joined by representatives from the Massachusetts Chapter of the ALS Association, including President Debra Sharpe and Co-Chairs of the Board of Directors Thomas J. Riley, III, and Jonathan Dietz.

The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter is a Norwood-based nonprofit organization that raises funds for ALS research worldwide and patient care throughout Massachusetts.  Its mission is to lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global, cutting-edge research, and to empower people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. 

“We at The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter are thrilled by the generous contribution being made by Mr. Ralph Bates,” said Debra Sharpe, President of The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter.  “As the largest single gift ever made to the Chapter, Mr. Bates’ contribution, made in honor and in celebration of his sister Lynn Dowell, will help support our patient services and research efforts here in the Commonwealth.  Mr. Bates is truly a beacon of hope to all of our patients and families.  On behalf of the entire ALS community, our board of directors, staff and volunteers, I extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Mr. Ralph Bates, for his generosity of spirit and his kindness and support to all of those affected by ALS.”

About ALS:
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a fatal neuromuscular disease. Within an average of two to five years from initial onset of symptoms, victims weaken into a state of complete paralysis.  As they lose the ability to walk, move, talk, swallow, and breathe on their own, their mind and senses usually remain unaffected and intact.  They become “trapped” in their bodies.  There is no known cause, cure, or effective treatment to this day.