CRAWFORD CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT For ALS
The Crawford charity golf tournament has now raised over $1 million dollars for ALS research and therapy development.
The Crawford charity golf tournament has now raised over $1 million dollars for ALS research and therapy development.
2026 Tournament
We returned to Phoenix at the Raven Golf Club on March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) for the 2026 ALS Fundraiser Golf Tournament. An enthusiastic field which included current and former SF Giants players, along with ownership and front office representatives, broadcasters, and former NFL players (including several SF 49er alumni), took the course on a warm Arizona afternoon to support the cause for an ALS cure.
Due to the generous support of our sponsors (see below), benevolent donors, and auction participants (and the assistance provided by renowned auctioneer David Aahl of Auctions by David), over $100,000 was raised for our research partner, ALS Therapy Development Institute (TDI), the world’s largest nonprofit biotech organization dedicated solely to discovering and developing treatments for ALS. Proceeds will fund research at TDI and development of new candidate drugs and other therapies to slow, stop, or even reverse ALS disease progression. ALS TDI is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization (EIN: 04-3462719). Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
Low Gross Winning Team:
Jeff Lyman, JD McCormick, Moises Alou, Jr. and Razell Smart
Low Net Winning Team:
Bruce Meisenbach, Jeff King, T. Lamour and Roger Neef
Putting Contest: Chad Chop
Long-Drive: Jeff Lyman
Closest to the Pin: Brandon Crawford
Brandon Crawford was named the winner of the 2023 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. The Award is given annually to an MLB player who best exemplifies the giving Character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig.
We honored the memory and incredible legacy of Phil Green this year, who passed away on July 19, 2025. Phil attended school and played football at the University of Washington, and was a member of their undefeated, no. 1 ranked team (Coaches Poll) in 1991. He built a successful business career in developing technology solutions for brands such as Sony, HP and Home Depot. Phil was diagnosed with ALS in August of 2018. While fighting his own battle against ALS, Phil took on a role as one of the leading advocates in the country for all people with ALS. He was active with several ALS organizations, including I Am ALS, ALS TDI, Team Gleason, and Augie’s Quest, and was an inaugural member of the Lou Gehrig Day Committee that successfully lobbied MLB to establish an annual day to recognize Gehrig, and bring awareness and needed funding to the ALS cause. Phil’s incredible legacy includes the loving family he left behind, wife Jennifer and children Arianne, Hunter, Parker, and Whitney.
Andrea and Gary Green
Phil’s parents, Andrea and Gary Green, joined us as special guests at the post-golf banquet.
Andrea and Gary Green
Rob and Marci Preston
Rob and Marci Preston
Rob and Marci with their six children Dylan, Mariah, Kayla, Grayson, Addison and Ainsley
Rob Preston, his wife Marci and daughters Mariah and Kayla were also special guests at the post-golf banquet. Rob attended Idaho State University where he was a First-Team All-Big Sky Conference basketball player. After a brief stint in camp with the Houston Rockets of the NBA, he began a professional basketball career in Europe, playing for teams in Belgium, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands. After the conclusion of his basketball career, Rob and his wife Marci made their full-time home in Bonney Lake, Washington (about 15 miles from Tacoma), where he began a second career in the automobile industry. They began their family there, which eventually grew to a full home with six children, Dylan (23), Mariah (20), Kayla (18), and triplets Grayson, Addison and Ainsley (13). The family moved to Surprise, Arizona three years ago, trading the Washington rainfall for Arizona sunshine and a new job in the automobile industry with CNA National for Rob. After only about a year in Arizona Rob was diagnosed with ALS. He continues his work with CNA, and Marci and he stay busy raising their family- did we mention 13-year old triplets?! The Preston family is excited to celebrate Dylan’s wedding this month.
Victor Mendoza
Victor Mendoza made the trip from his Bay Area home to Phoenix to pinch-hit for his younger brother Osiel as one of our featured speakers at the post-golf banquet. Victor delivered a very impactful speech about Osiel, recalling their time playing sports together as kids and the pride he had in his “little” brother’s athletic and academic successes. He talked about an even stronger bond they share now even though ALS has altered their lives completely, and his admiration for the positive, selfless young man Osiel has become despite the ravaging impacts of the disease.
Osiel was diagnosed with ALS in October 2016 at the age of 21. At the time, he was finishing college at the University of Oregon in his senior year, building a career in the sports industry and striving to accomplish goals and see dreams become reality. ALS interrupted his aspirations and changed life for Osiel over the nine years since he was diagnosed. He shares his story, not in search of pity, but to pursue a future without ALS by raising awareness and advocating for research. Osiel is a member of the Lou Gehrig Day Committee that successfully lobbied MLB to initiate Lou Gehrig Day, now an annual event raising ALS awareness and fundraising. He is an amazingly positive and selfless ALS warrior, and was honored by the Giants at their third annual Lou Gehrig Day on June 2, 2023.
Victor Mendoza
Osiel and Victor Mendoza
Victor and Osiel in their younger years on the soccer field.
Melissa Payne
Melissa with husband Jay and their sons, Cal and Abe.
Melissa Payne
Melissa Payne spoke about the devastating impact of familial (genetic) ALS on her husband Jay’s (and her) family. Although the consequence of 24 family members being diagnosed with ALS is unimaginably tragic, Melissa was also able to talk about progress and the promise offered by tofersen, a new drug approved by the FDA to treat the SOD-1 gene mutation, the specific genetic form of ALS that has afflicted the Payne family. Melissa is a former elementary school principal whose life changed when her husband, Jay, was diagnosed with ALS in 2007. He was a high school administrator, coach, devoted Chicago sports fan, and committed husband and father—Jay’s world revolved around his wife and two boys. He first sensed something was wrong when he could no longer play basketball as he once had; his calf muscle had nearly disappeared. Because ALS ran in his family, Jay knew what was happening and became the 22nd person in his family diagnosed with familial ALS. Until his passing in 2022, Jay lived with extraordinary purpose and a deep commitment to helping others. Inspired by the courage, grace, and intention he showed every day, Melissa carries his legacy forward through her work as Development Director at ALS TDI.
MVP Sponsors: San Francisco Giants and BiRite Food Service Distributors
Gold Glove Tee Prize Sponsor: Brandon Crawford
Give ‘Em Heller Hole-In-One Sponsor: Harmony Capitol LLC
Putting Contest Sponsors: Adobe and Group Manufacturing Services
Closest To Pin Sponsor: Bob & Jan Paul
Long Drive Sponsor: Multi-Pro Roof Solutions
Beverage Sponsor (Cocktail Hour): Gerrit & Amy Cole
Beverage Sponsor (On-Course): OHSO BREWERY + DISTILLERY
Hole Sponsors: Network Technologies International, Harry’s Hofbrau, Marc Poortinga, WL Butler Construction Company and Tito’s Vodka
In-Kind Sponsors: OHSO Brewery, Ike’s Love & Sandwiches, Tiny Turnip, X-treme Apparel, Titleist, Hotel Via San Francisco and Alps Awards, the San Fransisco 49ers, the Golden State Warriors
We honor the memories of those whose lives were tragically cut short by ALS, and whose family members and friends have joined us for previous tournaments.
Bob Paul, Sr. | Dwight Clark | Gretchen Piscotty | Kevin Heller| Liz Bodine |Pete Hinojosa | Pete Frates | Vince Murray | Nancy Sallaberry | Jim Hilliard | Jim Poole | Dan Carrozzi | John Arthur Macpherson | Augie Nieto | George Brokenshire | Nic Bonoto | Phil Green | Jay Payne
ALS, or amyotrophic laterals sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. A-myo-trophic comes from the Greek language. “A” means no. “Myo” refers to muscle, and “Trophic” means nourishment – “No muscle nourishment.” When a muscle has no nourishment, it “atrophies” or wastes away. “Lateral” identifies the areas in a person’s spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located. As this area degenerates it leads to scarring or hardening (“sclerosis”) in the region.
Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe. The motor nerves that are affected when you have ALS are the motor neurons that provide voluntary movements and muscle control. Examples of voluntary movements are making the effort to reach for a smart phone or step off a curb. These actions are controlled by the muscles in the arms and legs.
There are two different types of ALS, sporadic and familial. Sporadic which is the most common form of the disease in the U.S., is approximately 90 percent of all cases. It may affect anyone, anywhere. Familial ALS (FALS) accounts for approximately 10 percent of all cases in the U.S. Familial ALS means the disease is inherited. In those families, there is a 50% chance each offspring will inherit the gene mutation and may develop the disease. French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot discovered the disease in 1869.
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