Jun 09, 2009
New Office Hours Announced
New Office Hours, Effort to Cut Expenses
June 8, 2009 - HONOLULU, HI—The National MS Society’s All America Chapter announced recently that in an effort to reduce salaries and operating expenses, the Chapter’s offices, including the Hawaii Office, will be closing at noon on Fridays from June 5th through September 25th.
All America Chapter President Pam McElrath said, “The National MS Society is committed to addressing the challenges of each person whose life is affected by multiple sclerosis, and we will continue to provide quality programs and services for those diagnosed with MS, and their family, friends and employers in spite of these uncertain economic times.”
Programs and services provided by the All America Chapter’s Hawaii Office include a financial assistance program for qualifying individuals with multiple sclerosis; self-help groups and peer support services; a medical equipment loan program; educational meetings; newly diagnosed programs; information on MS and community resource referrals.
Lyn Moku, Hawaii Office Manager, said the National MS Society serves nearly 800 people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and 4,800 others affected by MS in Hawaii. Moku says this has been a difficult year in terms of fundraising, but the Society continues to help people with MS move their lives forward.
“Through direct service like our financial assistance program,” Moku says, “the National MS Society has helped individuals repair scooters, pay for incontinence supplies, and take care of other emergency needs – things that help people to maintain personal health, safety, and independence. There has been an increase in financial assistance requests on both the Hawaii and All America Chapter levels. The Chapter anticipates it will fulfill more than $120,000 in financial assistance requests before October.”
McElrath added that for last fiscal year, the Society’s All America Chapter had a fundraising ratio of 16 percent, well-below the industry standard of 25 percent. This year, the Chapter has made substantial adjustments to spending, and has been seeking out in-kind event and office donations when many cash sponsors were unable to contribute.
The National MS Society’s All America Chapter Hawaii Office will close at 12:30 p.m. on Fridays from June 5th through September 25th. During this time, the Hawaii Office’s regular hours will be Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
For more information about supporting the National MS Society and our vision to create a world free of MS, contact Lyn Moku at 808-532-0806.
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the All America Chapter
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS. In 2007 alone, through our home office and 50 state network of chapters, we devoted over $136 million to programs that enhanced more than one million lives. To move us closer to a world free of MS, the Society also invested over $50 million to support 440 research projects around the world. We are people who want to do something about MS NOW. Join the movement at nationalMSsociety.org.
The All America Chapter is the largest National MS Society chapter, serving the largest population, territory and number of persons living with MS. Offices are located in Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada (Reno and Las Vegas), Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, West Virginia, Vermont, Kansas (Wichita), and Texas (Amarillo, Midland and Lubbock). Our 15 Offices work together as one Chapter to increase awareness of multiple sclerosis to the public; establish a stronger, more active volunteer base, and utilize their unique talents; and enlist the support of our communities to Join our Movement.