Paint For A Cure, an Arizona-based ALS nonprofit, raised $220,000 during its third annual Hues of Hope event held on April 1.

Hosted at the home of Paint For A Cure Founder Eric Weinbrenner, the event united 125 guests for a live art auction, dinner and music, with proceeds to fund assistance grants for dads and moms battling ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, according to a press release.

Paint For A Cure will be able to help more than 50 families with the funds raised from the event, providing critical gap-funding for assisted living expenses, including bathroom and bedroom remodels and the addition of handrails and ramps to allow parents living with ALS to maintain their independence and dignity for as long as possible.

“This disease not only strips away your independence, but unfortunately, it’s extremely expensive,” Weinbrenner said in the release. “I hope to help families worry less about finances and more about spending quality time with their loved ones when they receive a grant through Paint For A Cure.”

Since 2019, Paint For A Cure has helped more than 90 families across the country with grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Dads and moms with ALS helped by the nonprofit most often have young children and are at or under middle age, adding additional pressures to an already devastating disease.

Through family grants focused on “supporting independence and dignity” for those diagnosed, Paint For A Cure’s grant program stands out by filling the gap of what’s not covered by insurance or supported by other ALS organizations.

For three years, the Hues of Hope event has raised funds for family grants through its signature live art auction. This year’s event featured paintings from talented artists including Jesse Pierpoint, David Giribaldi, Dr8 Love, Danny by 1, Earl Lindeman and Weinbrenner himself.

When Weinbrenner was first diagnosed, he took to painting to cope with the devastation of his diagnosis, and shortly thereafter formed Paint For A Cure to help others, the release stated. As his disease rapidly progressed, he shifted from panting with a hand-held paint brush to splatter paint, then using the wheels on his wheelchair dipped in paint.

The quick progression of his disease in less than 36 months is captured through his shift in technique from 2019 to 2021 when he fully lost his physical mobility. Likewise, Weinbrenner’s perseverance is also shown through his work, demonstrating his drive to live and to also contribute to others.

For more information on Paint For A Cure, visit paintforacure.org. Connect with Paint For A Cure on Instagram @PaintForACure and Facebook @PaintForACureALS.