Donations to the National MS Society, Lone Star Chapter go to support a wide range of activities, including promising new research, educational programs, direct assistance, support services, wellness activities, and scholarship programs. You can make an outright donation to support general activities, or you can make a restricted gift to support a specific program of interest to you. Listed below are a sampling of programs for which we are currently raising money to support. If you are interested in making a restricted gift, or if you would like more information on any of the programs mentioned below, please contact Kristen Stubbs at 713-394-2991, or toll-free 1-800-344-4867 (press 2), or kstubbs@nmsslonestar.org
Financial Assistance:
• Financial Assistance: In a recent study of more than one thousand working age people living with MS, nearly 30% reported a high level of stress related to financial concerns, with many spending less on things like food, heat and other necessities to be able to afford medical care. The Lone Star Chapter has long provided financial assistance to people with MS who meet certain criteria. We prioritize interventions that create sustainable results, address significant threats to health, safety and independence, and for which no community or government resources exist. Price Tag: $150,000+ depending on resources and need
• College Scholarships: MS should not get in the way of education. Unfortunately, the financial pressures caused by employment interruption and high medical costs put college tuition out of reach for many people with MS and their children. The National MS Society has established a scholarship program to help people with MS and their children pursue full time post-secondary college or technical school education. Price Tag: $90,000 per year
Research:
In addition to the ongoing research funded by the Society, Promise: 2010 is a dynamic, assertive commitment to promising new and targeted research in the movement to end multiple sclerosis, focusing on four areas:
- Pediatric MS Centers of Excellence: Although commonly thought of as an “adult disease,” there are now 10,000 children who have been diagnosed with MS. For this reason, the National MS Society is establishing regional pediatric MS centers to set the standard for pediatric MS management and care and offer optimal medical and psychosocial support to children and their families. The centers will also create the framework to conduct critical research – both to understand how best to treat childhood MS, but many believe that studying MS in children holds great promise for unlocking the mysteries of MS in adults. Price Tag: $13 million
- Nervous System Repair and Protection: This bold new initiative for tissue repair and protection in MS sets the stage for translating basic lab discoveries into clinical efforts to restore nerve function in people with MS. Interdisciplinary teams will develop non-invasive tools and models, and design clinical trials to pave the way for clinical testing to restore function in people with MS. Price Tag: Up to $1 million per year for every project supported
- The Sonya Slifka Longitudinal MS Study: The first study of its kind in the United States, the Sonya Slifka Longitudinal MS Study is a repository of in-depth information about the lives of people with MS. This study integrates clinical information, health care practices, and socio-economic data to learn what happens to people with MS over time and what factors influence the long-term course of MS. Price Tag: $300,000 per year
- The MS Lesion Project: This international collaboration seeks patterns in the MS damage seen in brain tissue and attempts to correlate those findings with actual clinical signs, symptoms, and responses to therapy. This effort provides vital information on the underlying pathology of MS and the impact of specific treatments. With this knowledge, we can map out better ways of treating people who exhibit specific patterns of disease. Price Tag: $400,000 per year
Support Services:
- MS Navigator: Coping with MS begins with information about the disease, but living successfully with MS requires more than just information. When someone with MS or their loved one calls the National MS Society, they are connected with a highly skilled professional (an “MS Navigator”) whose job it is to help navigate the challenges of living with multiple sclerosis. Price Tag: $113,000 per year
- Self Help Groups: Self-help groups bring together people who share a common life experience for support, education and mutual aid. Members share a belief that positive personal change happens through individual efforts with the support of others. Meetings incorporate speakers and topics that provide new information and strategies for confronting life issues. Price Tag: $98,000 per year
Clinical, Educational and Social Programs:
- Wellness Programs: Eight-week sessions held once a quarter in each major region, focusing on memory, depression, inclimate weather preparedness, diet and exercise, Tai Chi, aquatics, yoga, Pilates, art, and more. Price Tag: $10,000 - $15,000 per program
- Professional Programs: Created to educate professionals in the medical community, offering CME and CEU credits. These programs educate professionals on a variety of topics, including diagnoses, new therapies, symptom management, sociologic trends, research initiatives, and psychological support. Price Tag: $80,000 - $90,000 per year
- Long-Term Care: A new initiative within the Chapter, this program can include care management, achievement centers, nursing homes, adult day care, in-home skilled nursing, and respite for the family. Price Tag: Could be upwards of $1 million per year, depending on the number of programs offered
Learn more about the programs, services, and research supported by the National MS Society.