HOPE LIVES: ART FOR ALS
art that educates, activates and donates
Hope Lives: Art for ALS is an annual art exhibition, fundraiser and ALS awareness event that takes place each May during ALS Awareness Month in San Francisco, CA. It merges Melissa Stephens' artistic vocation with her desire to honor her sister's ALS journey. Lynn Giovannelli was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in July 2020.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that breaks down the communication between a person's brain and their muscles.
It steals their ability to walk, talk, eat and breathe. The average lifespan for a diagnosed person is 2 - 5 years. There are a few medications that may help slow the progression of ALS, but there is no cure.
But there is HOPE, and that is the springboard from which this exhibition launched.
New this in 2024, Hope Lives: Art for ALS artwork was featured at the 20th Annual Napa Valley Ride, Walk & Roll to Cure ALS on September 14th. Read more about this event here.
Three sisters, Melissa, Lynn and Susanne at the
2022 Hope Lives: Art for ALS exhibition.
A LITTLE ART GALLERY
Before Hope Lives: Art for ALS, Melissa Stephens opened her Little Art Gallery, where she sells small encaustic paintings at discounted prices to raise money for ALS research. A little art can do BIG things!
Fifty-five percent of sales from this Gallery is donated to the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI). When you buy artwork from this site, you make an impact for people with ALS.
These small paintings make great gifts for special occasions, holidays or just because. They are a wonderful addition to decor in your home, business or office.
As Lynn said in this 2021 video, "ALS is not incurable; it's underfunded." Buy art that gives more to you and the ALS community.
Lynn in 2022