The Vito Mazza Salon Keeps Hope Alive by Supporting the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig MDA/ ALS Research Center On Sunday October 19th, the Vito Mazza Salon and Spa in Woodbridge , NJ hosted a fundraiser for the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS Research Center at Columbia University . This effort was organized in honor of Iran Anderson, a patient of Dr. Hiroshi Mitsumoto and father to Abby Anderson who was responsible for proposing the idea to host the ALS day at the spa. The event was a great success in raising necessary funds to support active research at Columbia University , increasing awareness of ALS and to support and acknowledge a special person and his family. The community spirit on the streets of Woodbridge was everywhere you turned. Waiting at a red light near the salon, staff members of the ALS Center observed friends and family of Ira going from car to car seeking support for ALS. “Do you know we have a community member here in our town with ALS? You need to know because he and his family need our help as neighbors”. The Salon and Spa which is not normally open on Sundays, was open from 10 am to 5 pm and 100% of the proceeds generated that day from services and product sales were donated to the ALS Center . In addition to the generosity of the Vito Mazza Salon and Spa, local merchants donated gift items to be raffled off for additional funding. Ira was a merchant in Woodbridge for 7 years prior to being diagnosed with ALS. Ira's His greatest desire is to keep hope alive ~ there is so much to live for. The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS Research Team are thankful to the Anderson family and the Vito Mazza Salon and Spa for their generosity and goodwill.