ALSITH is Ready for Growth; Appoints Executive Director
It’s a new year, and it’s already an exciting one of support, hope, and growth for ALS in the Heartland.
ALS in the Heartland is an Omaha-based nonprofit in its 11th year of serving people impacted by ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), more commonly called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. An independent agency, ALS in the Heartland (ALSITH) is not a part of nor funded by any national association. Therefore, all money raised stays here to help Nebraskans and western Iowans living with ALS.
As part of the agency’s strategic plan for growth to increase their quality and quantity of services (made possible by a grant from the Fund for Omaha through the Omaha Community Foundation), ALSITH has decided to appoint an executive director.
This will be the first time in 9 years that the agency has had an executive director. So why now?
ALSITH is governed by a volunteer board of directors. They can often be seen at the agency office serving on committees, at events volunteering, and out in the community advocating for ALS. However, sometimes it’s a challenge to get all 15 busy philanthropic board members together to make important decisions with tight deadlines.
Explains founding member and Volunteer Board Secretary Shirlee Goaley, “As we begin our second decade, having an Executive Director on board allows us to take ALSITH to the next level of efficiency. Our choice was by a unanimous vote of the board. We have complete trust that she can make the important decisions and respond to matters in a timely fashion – so important to patients and their families. This disease progresses rapidly, and time can be measured by hours, days, and weeks.”
When appointing an executive director, ALSITH chose the obvious and most practical candidate: Tammy Stalzer. Tammy has spent the last 20 years in the nonprofit sector, and is approaching her 9th year with ALSITH. In that time, she has been involved in every aspect of the agency: as a coordinator then leader on the development (fundraising) side, and recently as an interim leader for patient services.
As executive director, Tammy’s actual work won’t change much. She will continue to be the main point of contact for staff, sponsors, and volunteers. But the move shows the community that ALSITH is serious about their commitment to grow their mission: to provide the highest quality of support and care for ALS patients and their families in Nebraska and Iowa.
Says Tammy, “I’m honored to continue to be a part of the growth of ALSITH. I have much hope for the future of our agency and ALS.”
Learn more about Tammy here.
Congratulations and best wishes to Tammy and ALS in the Heartland!