The Grant Impact: How the Peter Frates ALS Foundation Transforms Lives

ALS is devastating enough on its own—and then comes the crushing cost of care. It can feel like one gut punch after another at a time when you're most vulnerable.

That's why the work our VB Gives Back partner does is so important. The Peter Frates ALS Foundation provides grants to help cover the overwhelming costs of at-home healthcare that insurance won't cover—from adaptive equipment to specialized therapies to round-the-clock aides.

"People are choosing to die rather than put their family in that kind of financial situation," says Nancy Frates, who founded the nonprofit in honor of her son Peter. "You're looking at $250,000 to $300,000 a year for the bill."

These grants are more than just a check; they make the impossible manageable, giving families hope and the ability to stay home, together. To date, the organization has supported over 200 patients across 35 states, delivering over one million dollars where it matters most.

Here, meet three such recipients whose lives have been transformed—and see the difference your support makes.

Tesla Davis

A lifelong athlete, Tesla Davis never worried about her health. So when, shortly after giving birth, she hit the jogging trail and her foot began to drag, she brushed it off as postpartum weakness. Then one day, she suddenly fell and knew she needed to see a doctor. The diagnosis: familial ALS, due to a mutation in her SOD1 gene. Her daughter had just turned one.

 

As the disease progressed, she eventually faced a lengthy hospital stay, followed by a tracheostomy and feeding tube. When she returned home, she faced the daunting task of adapting her space to her new needs—until she received the news that she had been approved for a grant from The Peter Frates ALS Foundation.

 

"It came at just the right moment to alleviate some of her anxiety around paying and training these caregivers," wrote her friend Jill Thompson. The support allowed Tesla to spend what would be her final days where she wanted to be the most—in her own home, surrounded by the people she loved.

Sarah Nauser

"I was given a death sentence in a doctor's office at the age of 29. Tomorrow, I will be 37. To whoever needs to hear it, you are capable of doing hard things, you can defy the odds."

 

That was Sarah Nauser on her birthday this September. Diagnosed with ALS in 2018, her mobility is now limited, her breathing is weaker, and she uses a portable ventilator. But her spirit? It remains indefatigable.

 

In 2021, she spoke to legislators to push for the ACT for ALS bill, which grants patients ineligible for clinical trials access to investigational treatments—it passed unanimously. Today, she hosts fundraisers and gives motivational talks, even though she's lost the ability to speak. "ALS has quieted my physical voice," she says, "but, thankfully, because of incredible technology, it's louder than it's ever been." 

 

As her disease progresses, the Foundation has helped her manage the out-of-pocket home care expenses that come with this journey. "It's because of this unwavering support that I've been able to help carry Pete's torch," she says.  

Chuck Johnson

For Chuck Johnson, what began as a slight shake in his hands led to a sporadic ALS diagnosis less than a year later. It was already a fraught time for his family—his wife, Nicole, was pregnant with their third child. 

  

"Each day it's like you're losing something," said Chuck of his condition. "You never know the last time you'll be able to do something—hug anybody, shake somebody's hand, carry your kids, drive."

  

This April, less than two years after his ALS battle began, Chuck passed away. Nicole has continued to share their journey on Instagram and TikTok as both a resource and a reminder that, even on the toughest days, moments of joy persist. "We focused—and continue to focus—on the small wins each and every day," she says. 

Now through the end of December, VB Gives Back will be donating a portion of all VeronicaBeard.com orders to The Peter Frates ALS Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting ALS patients with the financial burden of home health care. Join us in ensuring they can remain where they belong: at home, with dignity, surrounded by their loved ones.

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