A School Community Comes Together for Touched By ALS
Some weeks leave you with memories. Others leave a lasting impact that reaches far beyond the people and events that made them special. JL Mann Spirit Week 2026 was both.
Throughout September, students, faculty, families, local businesses, and the greater JL Mann community came together for a week of school spirit, creativity, generosity, and a shared commitment to supporting individuals and families affected by ALS. This year, the JL Mann Student Council chose Touched By ALS as its nonprofit beneficiary. What followed was an extraordinary show of community support, resulting in an incredible $508,752.35 raised for Touched By ALS.
We are still taking it all in, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
More Than a Week of School Spirit
Spirit Week brought together an entire community around a cause that touches so many lives. Through student-led events, community gatherings, local business partnerships, profit shares, auctions, donations, and countless other acts of generosity, the JL Mann community found meaningful ways to get involved.
We had the privilege of spending time alongside these students throughout the week, attending events, seeing their creativity firsthand, and watching their enthusiasm grow as the community rallied behind the cause.
It was especially meaningful to see young people take ownership of something bigger than themselves. Their willingness to give their time, energy, and talents demonstrated what can happen when people come together with a shared purpose.
An Incredible Impact for ALS Families
When the final fundraising total was revealed following the football game, the number was almost hard to comprehend.
$508,752.35
That generosity will help Touched By ALS continue walking alongside individuals and families throughout Upstate South Carolina who are navigating the financial, physical, and emotional challenges of ALS. Behind every dollar raised is an opportunity to provide meaningful assistance, connect a family with needed resources, offer encouragement, and remind someone that they are not facing this journey alone.
While the fundraising total is remarkable, Spirit Week’s impact extends well beyond the amount collected. It represents thousands of people choosing to care, get involved, and support families in their own community.
Thank You, JL Mann!
So many people made this week possible, and we know no single thank-you could fully express our appreciation.
To the JL Mann Student Council, students, faculty, families, sponsors, local businesses, volunteers, and everyone who donated, attended an event, participated in a profit share, bid in the auction, or helped spread the word, thank you.
A special thank-you goes to the students who chose Touched By ALS as the beneficiary of their hard work. Thank you for welcoming us into your Spirit Week experience, sharing your enthusiasm, and giving so much of yourselves to this effort.
You didn’t just raise money. You helped bring attention to ALS and the families who live with its challenges every day. You reminded us that compassion has no age limit and that young people can make an extraordinary difference in their communities.
A Week We Won’t Forget
As we look back on September 2026, we will remember the excitement, the events, the friendships, and the incredible generosity of the JL Mann community. More than $508,000 was raised. Countless memories made. And a lasting impact on individuals and families affected by ALS.
To everyone who helped make JL Mann Spirit Week 2026 such a success, please know how much you mean to us. We are truly honored to have been chosen, and we are forever grateful.
With heartfelt thanks,
Touched By ALS
