Pathways of Promise produces fundraising events in Sacramento with one goal: To fund a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The event was started by the McWilliams Family after losing their twins to SMA type 1 in 2007. In May 2007, Glenn and Colleen McWilliams received news that their beautiful 3 month old twins were diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a genetic degenerative neuromuscular condition. Almost immediately after the diagnosis, Glenn and Colleen began work to develop a regional organization dedicated to supporting the nationally-based Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (FSMA).

FSMA was founded in 1984 by a small group of families determined to find a cure and treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. Since that time, FSMA has grown to become the primary fundraising organization for SMA, and to date has raised over $43 million dollars to fund research, and to provide essential support and services for families affected by SMA.