Oct 27, 2009
Musical Moments Fundraiser Supports People Who Have MS and Research Toward a Cure
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Announced as Headline Act for MS Fundraiser
Oakhurst, NJ – New Jersey philanthropists and Musical Moments Co-chairs Murray and Lee Kushner announce that the legendary Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons will be this year’s featured performer at Musical Moments, a benefit concert for multiple sclerosis (MS), on Wednesday, November 4th at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).
Lee Kushner, who is co-chairing the event with her husband, was diagnosed with MS in the mid-1990. Her vision for a high-profile MS event paired with her husband’s fundraising expertise made Musical Moments for MS a reality. “This will be our 8th benefit gala”, says Kushner. “We have had several previous galas and they have been fantastic; I expect this one will be incredible.”
In order to expand the reach of the concert, the Kushner’s have partnered with the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society. In total, Musical Moments has grossed close to $9 million to support the National MS Society’s research programs as well as statewide MS Centers and MS Wellness programs. Some of the critical National MS Society research being funded through Musical Moments is being conducted at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). This year’s goal is to raise $1 million
“This event is truly special and has an enormous impact on people who are living with MS,” says Mike Elkow, President of the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the MS Society. “The funds raised from this year’s Musical Moments event will be earmarked for national research as well as our local MS Centers and MS Wellness Centers.
The 2009 special honoree are: Mr. Ron Boire, Vice Chair, National MS Society Board of Directors as the Leadership Honoree; Mr. Stephen K. Jones, President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital as the Humanitarian Honoree; and, Suhayl S. Dhib-Jalbut, M.D., Chair, Department of Neurology, and Director, UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Center for MS as our Medical Excellence Honoree.
Sponsorships are available and are critical to the success of the event. Tickets start at $500 a piece and several sponsorship packages are available.
For more information, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/NJM or call Gina Murdoch at 732.660.1005.
About MS
Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease.
About the National MS Society
The National MS Society is a collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS now—to move together toward a world free of multiple sclerosis. MS stops people from moving. We exist to make sure it doesn't.
We mobilize people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS through our 50-state network of chapters. The Society helps people affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, and providing programs and services that help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.
For more information, contact the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National MS Society at: 732.660.1005 or online at www.nationalMSsociety.org/NJM
About Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons:
Frankie Valli’s career as a solo artist and with the Four Seasons has produced 19 top ten hits and sold over 100 million records world wide. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and named longevity champ of the rock era by Billboard Magazine.
Frankie Valli's earliest performances were informal affairs; he sang doo-wop to passers-by on Newark street corners. In the early fifties, Frankie Valli joined Nick Massi and Tommy DeVito in performing with their Variety Trio. The Four Seasons later signed Valli on as a full member and began making a name for themselves while touring the East Coast.
Frankie Valli has continued to woo audiences throughout the world both with his recordings and live performances for almost four decades, truly making him one of rock and roll's most enduring performers.
Musical Moments Event Details:
Musical Moments will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2009.
The VIP reception begins at 6:00PM and concert at 7:30PM at NJPAC in Newark, NJ.