Gretchen Piscotty, the mother of Oakland A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty, passed away on May 6, 2018 following a yearlong battle with ALS.The Oakland A’s are committed to raising awareness and vital funds for ALS research, in honor of Catfish Hunter, Gretchen Piscotty, Corey Reich, and all of the members of the A’s family who have been impacted by this horrible disease. ESPN produced a video reflecting on Gretchen's journey with Stephen by her side.The Oakland A’s Community Fund will again support the ALS community by donating all funds raised here to support the ALS CURE charity organization created by Mike and Stephen Piscotty. Please help the A’s reach the $10,000 fundraising goal to help find a cure for ALS.The A's will host their second annual ALS Awareness Day at the Coliseum on Thursday, Aug. 22 during the 6:37 p.m. game versus the Yankees. All of the fundraising proceeds will benefit ALS Cure’s collaborative project with ALS Golden West Chapter and ALS TDI. The three nonprofits are coming together with an aim to standardize sample collection in order to ensure data consistency from appointment to appointment. To purchase a special event ticket for ALS Awareness Day, visit athletics.com/als.Stephen's thoughts:“An ALS diagnosis is never one that you are prepared to accept. Unfortunately, last May, this is the exact challenge our family faced. After dozens of tests, multiple opinions, and no real improvement, my mom was diagnosed with ALS. We needed to prepare for the reality of what was to come, both practically and emotionally. We talked, we investigated, we read, and we rallied around my mom to ensure she was surrounded by the same love and support that she had always unconditionally offered us. We quickly realized that we were not the only ones.“Neighbors, friends, colleagues – an entire community of people who knew my mom did the same. Within weeks, the tasks that had fallen in priority since the diagnosis were all still being tended to. The lawn was mowed, the fridge was full, the house was cleaned, the laundry was folded, and our house was filled with the type of warmth that only friends and fond memories can bring. The outpouring of support stands as a testament to the person my mom is; not only to our family, but to so many she has touched along the way. We are so incredibly thankful to our community for all they do. With each and every act of service offered with a loving smile, they bring a smile to my mom's face and touch all of us to the core.”Stephen Piscotty (Gretchen's eldest son)All donations are tax deductible. To receive a tax deductible donation letter, please email