FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Independence, Ohio, February 20, 2020 – Cleveland Construction Attorney and Hahn Loeser Partner Andrew J. Natale was honored by The ALS Association at the annual Hero Awards Dinner held in Charlotte, NC on Wednesday, February 19. Andy was one of four recipients selected for the 2020 award.
The Hero Award, which is the highest honor given by The Association, was established to recognize and pay tribute to people living with or who have lived with ALS and who have made “an indelible impact on The ALS Association and the community-at-large.” Those honored with the award have inspired the ALS community as they have promoted awareness of ALS (often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease) and have sought to improve the lives of those with ALS.
Since his diagnosis of ALS in November 2016, Andy has been an incredible advocate and fundraiser for those living with ALS in Northern Ohio. He has served as Honorary Chair of the Cleveland Walk to Defeat ALS®, resulting in a 300% increase in sponsorship revenue and 30% growth in the overall Northern Ohio Chapter Walk program. He regularly promotes the Association’s legislative priorities with his congressional leaders and encourages his network to support them as well. He actively reaches out to those living with ALS wherever he has contacts to ensure that they are connected with their respective Chapters and are aware of the Association’s vast programs and services. Andy faces his disease with a fierce determination, and translates that into an action plan to help The ALS Association achieve its goals.
When asked about the award, Andy said: “This honor is a tribute to the great support, generosity, love, and compassion that surrounds me every day from clients, Hahn Loeser, the Ohio construction industry, family, and friends, which is a terrific blessing that makes an incredible and lasting difference for so many; and for that I am most grateful.”
About ALS
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Eventually, people with ALS lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which often leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis. For unknown reasons, veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS as the general population.
About The ALS Association
The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting ALS on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. The Northern Ohio Chapter serves persons living with ALS and their families throughout 33 counties, including Cleveland, Akron, Toledo and Youngstown. For more information, visit www.als.org/northern-ohio.
