Ride For Life Inc

What Ride For Life Inc does

ALS Ride For Life Inc is a New York-based nonprofit organization, founded circa 1997 by Christopher Pendergast, that delivers direct patient service programs to individuals living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and their families. The organization's portfolio spans wheelchair-accessible van rental assistance, a mobility and equipment program, home modification grants, caregiver and bereavement support groups, an augmentative communication program (Sean's Song), end-of-life doula support, college scholarships, and emotional support grants — all provided free of charge to beneficiaries. It also operates the Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence in partnership with Stony Brook Medicine, anchoring clinical integration at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York.

The organization's revenue model is donation-driven and event-driven, with no commercial pricing. Funding flows from individual donations, corporate sponsorships structured in tiers from $2,500 Bronze up to a $20,000 Presenting Sponsor level, special event proceeds (memorial golf outings, the annual Honoree Recognition Benefit, bike treks, NYC Marathon team participation), branded awareness merchandise priced between $1 and $5, vehicle donations through the IAA Donation Division, and periodic grants such as the ALSFAC Mobility for All Grant. Programs are delivered directly to beneficiaries in the New York / Long Island region with a claimed nationwide service footprint.

ALS Ride For Life operates with 1-10 employees and is governed by a Board of Directors. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: marketing runs through earned media (News12 Long Island, NBC New York), an email newsletter, school and community speaking engagements, and recurring fundraising events. The founder Christopher Pendergast, who lived with ALS for 28 years, passed away in October 2020; the organization continues operations under board leadership with no disclosed successor in a dedicated executive role.

Name

Ride For Life Inc

Legal name

ALS Ride For Life

Website

https://alsrideforlife.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ALS Ride For Life is a New York nonprofit, founded circa 1997, that provides free mobility, home modification, communication, caregiver, and bereavement support programs to ALS patients and their families, funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ALS Patient Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Special Needs Transportation (485991), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Transportation-Integrated Adult Day Programs (Day Program + Non-Emergency Transport) (HLADAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreational Outings, Community Participation & Mobility Support (Non-Clinical) (HSABAAAI), Worksite Long-Term Care / Chronic Illness Riders (FSAIAMAM)

Keywords

• ALS patient services
• Caregiver support
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Mobility assistance
• Disease advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Stony Brook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting the ALS community, including memorial donations, one-time gifts, and recurring contributions through the organization's website and mail
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship tiers ranging from $2,500 Bronze to $20,000 Presenting Sponsor level, providing visibility at events and programs
3. Special Events: Revenue from memorial golf outings, honoree recognition benefits, bike treks, and NYC Marathon participation
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of awareness items including magnets ($5), wristbands ($3), bottle openers ($2), and pins ($1)
5. Vehicle Donations: Accepts donations of junk vehicles through IAA Donation Division and handicap vans for their loaner van program

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ALS Ride For Life is a nonprofit organization that supports the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) community by providing patient service programs, including wheelchair-accessible van rental assistance, home modification grants, mobility equipment, caregiver and bereavement support groups, communication assistance, and end-of-life doula services. The organization also raises funds through community events, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations to advance ALS research and awareness.

Product overview

ALS Ride For Life is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of patient service programs for individuals with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and their families. The core offerings include the Wheelchair-Accessible Van Rental Assistance Program for transportation support, Mobility Program for equipment and accessibility solutions, Home Modification Assistance for accessibility upgrades, and various financial grants including the Fred Bargetzi Caregiver Grant and Plan for Life Grant. The organization also provides specialized support services such as Sean's Song: Augmentative Communication program for patients who have lost speech, Caregiver Support Group, Bereavement Support Group, Emotional Support Services Grant, and End-of-Life Doula Support. Educational and community programs include College Scholarship Program and Speaking Engagements in schools and communities. The Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence, a healthcare partnership with Stony Brook University, provides comprehensive ALS care. ALS Ride For Life also offers branded awareness merchandise to support fundraising and ALS awareness efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence: A center of excellence providing ALS-related services and support.

Products and services

• Wheelchair-Accessible Van Rental Assistance Program A short-term rental assistance program that provides financial support for wheelchair-accessible van rentals to help ALS patients and families with transportation needs.
• Mobility Program Provides assistance with mobility equipment and accessibility solutions for ALS patients to maintain independence and quality of life.
• Home Modification Assistance Grants to help modify homes for accessibility, enabling ALS patients to live safely and independently.
• Fred Bargetzi Caregiver Grant Provides financial support specifically for caregivers of ALS patients to help offset the costs associated with caregiving.
• Plan for Life Grant Grant program to assist ALS patients with planning and maintaining quality of life throughout their journey.
• Sean's Song: Augmentative Communication Program designed to restore communication abilities for ALS patients, offering free letter boards upon request. Named after Sean Bowler, a young teacher who first lost speech before paralysis.
• Caregiver Support Group Peer support group for caregivers of ALS patients providing emotional support and resource sharing.
• Bereavement Support Group Support group for families and partners of deceased ALS patients to help them cope with grief and loss.
• Emotional Support Services Grant Grant program providing emotional and psychological support services for ALS patients and their families.
• End-of-Life Doula Support Provides end-of-life doula support services for ALS patients and their families during difficult final stages.
• College Scholarship Program Scholarship program for students affected by ALS, supporting educational pursuits of children and families impacted by the disease.
• Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence A center of excellence named after the organization's founder, providing comprehensive ALS care and services in partnership with Stony Brook University.
• Speaking Engagements Educational outreach program providing presentations about ALS in schools and communities to raise awareness and inspire compassion.
• ALS Awareness Items Branded merchandise including magnets ($5), wristbands ($3), bottle openers ($2), and pins ($1) to raise ALS awareness.

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NBC - George to the RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerALS Ride For Life partnered with NBC's George to the Rescue program to provide accessible transportation solutions for ALS patients and their families. The collaboration resulted in video documentation of their joint efforts.
• Stony Brook MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization hosting the Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence and providing medical expertise and facilities.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): A large national nonprofit covering ALS alongside muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular diseases. Overlaps in patient-service provision (equipment, care coordination, advocacy) but serves a much broader disease portfolio.
• The ALS Association: The largest national ALS nonprofit in the US, funding research, advocacy, and care services for ALS patients and families. Directly comparable in mission and beneficiary population, but operates at vastly greater scale and across all 50 states.

Direct peers

• Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS): A regional ALS nonprofit providing direct family support, equipment loans, and bereavement services — a near-exact service-model match for ALS Ride For Life's wraparound approach, though based in New England.
• ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI): A nonprofit biotech focused on ALS research and treatment development. Comparable as an ALS-dedicated nonprofit with both research and patient-support activities, though heavily research-oriented.
• Les Turner ALS Foundation: A Chicago-based ALS nonprofit providing patient services, support groups, and research funding. Closely comparable in service portfolio (support groups, equipment loans, home modifications, grants) and regional-nonprofit structure.
• ALS Finding A Cure (ALSFAC): A research-focused ALS nonprofit that has directly funded ALS Ride For Life via the Mobility for All Grant. Highly comparable in mission and target population; the most direct peer as an active grant-making partner.
• Project ALS: A research and patient advocacy ALS nonprofit that funds translational research and care programs. Comparable in ALS-specific mission and grant-making role, though more research- than services-focused.
• LiveLikeLou Foundation: An ALS-focused nonprofit supporting families and research through grants and community engagement. Comparable as a smaller, mission-driven ALS nonprofit with similar family-support programming.

Others

• Stony Brook Medicine: The academic medical center hosting the Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence. Not a direct competitor but a strategic clinical partner whose growth and ALS research priorities directly influence ALS Ride For Life's program pipeline.

Emerging players

• Answer ALS Foundation: A research consortium and nonprofit driving large-scale ALS data and precision medicine programs. Comparable ALS focus and nonprofit structure, but emphasizes research data infrastructure over direct patient services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/als-ride-for-life

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ride For Life Inc