Want to Give at the Office?
Making a contribution through an employer’s charitable giving program is a convenient, easy way to help us move toward a world free of MS. These programs offer employees the opportunity to make an annual pledge to charity, choosing organizations from a list—and choosing an automatic per paycheck deduction, or a one-time personal check.
The federal government and companies nationwide will soon be kicking off their 2012 campaigns. It’s a good time to ask about how to give at your own workplace.
For public sector employees
The nation’s largest workplace giving campaign is the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). It is open to federal, military and postal employees. Last year, more than a million people took part, giving more than $281.5 million to thousands of charitable organizations. The National MS Society is in this pool. If you participate, use the code CFC #11409 to designate your donation to the Society.
For private sector employees
Last year, employees from such companies as UnitedHealth Group, American Express, Ameriprise and Toyota helped the Society with their strong participation in workplace giving campaigns. If your company participates, the National MS Society should be listed in your company’s campaign materials under the heading Community Health Charities. If not, ask your human resources department why! (Visit www.healthcharities.org/Our-Charities for more information).
Get creative
Your company doesn’t offer an employee giving program? More than a third of the nation’s employees work in corporations that do offer a giving program. Talk to your benefits administrator about getting in on this. Or call us to see if we can help.
Recent Event Re-caps
MS Challenge Walk - Sept. 9-11
The tenth annual MS Challenge Walk was a success and included 606 walkers, more than 200 crew and 50 one day volunteers! The walkers enjoyed great weather and together raised more than $1 million.
Bike & Hike the Berkshires – Sept. 24
The 2011 Bike MS season ended with Bike & Hike the Berkshires. Riders and hikers joined together to enjoy the beauty of the Berkshires, and raised more than $100,000.
Climb to the Top – Boston – Sept. 17
We returned to New England’s tallest building, the John Hancock Tower in Boston, for our second annual Climb to the Top. We raised more than $100,000 as climbers raced up 61 floors. Elite climbers finished in less than eight minutes. Thanks to Normandy Realty Partners and Boston Properties for their support.
Falmouth Road Race - August 14
The New Balance Falmouth Road race draws runners from all over the world to Cape Cod. The MS team of 25 runners raised more than $32,000. Thanks to the New Balance Falmouth Road Race for our continued participation.
Link Up for MS - Sept. 20
The Link Up for MS Golf Tournament was packed with great golf, fun activities, and a chance to network. Bob Halloran from WCVB-TV5 hosted the evening festivities and award presentations, with raffles and a live auction.
Fall Walks - Sept. 24-25
The fall Walk MS season wrapped up with 10 walks in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Close to 600 walkers raised more than $63,000 while celebrating hope for the future.
Fashion Plates - November 18
The annual Fashion Plates Luncheon and Fashion Show was attended by 400 participants -- the largest Fashion Plates to date. This unique combination of support for women with MS and fundraising raised more than $60,000.
Boston Volvo 5k Road Race - November 24
On Thanksgiving Day the fourth consecutive Boston Volvo 5K Road Race hosted 1,300 runners, who woke early to run, raise funds, and work up an appetite. The first runner finished in 15:01! Thank you Boston Volvo and the Village Auto Group for covering all the event expenses.
Join Us on a Journey of Hope
Funds raised from Journey of Hope are distributed directly to participating MS Clinical Centers that are formally affiliated with the Chapter.
May 12
Massachusetts Journey of Hope, Natick
To Register:
- www.walkMSgne.org
- 800-344-4867
- walkMSgne@nmss.org
BC Field Hockey
On September 2 the Boston College community women’s field hockey team hosted it’s fifth annual fundraiser to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The event honors Boston College alum and field hockey player Kathleen Murphy, who was diagnosed with MS in 2007. The has raised nearly $40,000 to help create a world free of MS.
Dennison Family Honors Memory of Sister with Multiple Sclerosis
Ride With Us In 2012
- Saturday, May 5 - Martha’s Vineyard High School Vineyard Haven, MA
- 15, 30 & 60 mile scenic routes featuring quaint charm and beautiful ocean views
- Saturday, May 19 - Bar Harbor, ME
- 15, 30 & 60 mile routes in Maine’s scenic vacation spot
- Saturday-Sunday, June 23-24
- UMASS Boston to Provincetown, MA
- 75 & 100 mile route options on Saturday,
- 75 miles on Sunday
- Largest MS Ride in New England with more than 2,000 riders
- July 14 - Concord District Court, Concord, MA
- 25 & 60 mile route options through Metro-West towns
- Saturday-Sunday, August 4-5
- Saint Joseph’s College, Standish, ME
- Saturday Routes include 25, 50, 75 & 100 mile options
- Sunday choose between 50 & 75 miles routes
- Saturday-Sunday, August 11-12
- University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
- Saturday Routes include 20, 40, 75 & 100 mile options
- Sunday choose between 40, 75 & 100 mile routes
- August 18 - Stratham Hill Park, Stratham, NH
- Route options include 25 & 60 mile options
Bike & Hike the Berkshires
- September - The Berkshires, MA
- Ride 25, 50 or the 100 mile Mt. Greylock challenge route
- Or choose between 2 hiking trips to the summit of Mt. Greylock
To Register:
www.bikeMSgne.org or 800-344-4867
From Broken Back to Cycling Across America for MS Cure
Cape Cod resident Dave Nowlan, who broke his back in a sledding accident just two years ago, is planning to ride from Encinitas, Calif., to Cape Cod, Mass., in an effort to raise money to help fund research for a multiple sclerosis cure.
In 1990, Claire Nowlan, Dave’s wife, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Julia Ide, Dave’s oldest child, was also diagnosed with MS in 1997. Claire and Julia are both extremely positive people and have not let MS deter them from their goals. Julia ran the Boston Marathon in 2009, and Claire expresses her love of music and children by continuing her work as a voice teacher. Plus, she walks three miles a day despite the effects MS has on her body.
Dave is cycling across the country to call awareness to MS and raise money to help find a cure and additional therapies for people living with the effects of this disease. Claire will be driving the support vehicle and helping Dave on this 3,350-mile adventure. He’ll be blogging and posting pictures and videos on the web throughout his journey to keep friends and supporters updated with his daily progress. Dave is seeking financial assistance for his ride across the country. To help, contact dave.nowlan@dialogic.com or missclaire@Verizon.net for additional information.
Accept the Challenge
3 days. 50 miles.
September 7-8-9, 2012
(Two-Day Option, Sat. & Sun.)
REGISTER Today!
www.MSchallengewalkcapecod.org
800.344.4867
We unite together during the three-day, 50 mile Challenge Walk MS on Cape Cod to keep us moving toward a cure.
Register today & begin fundraising
As soon as you register, you’ll have access to our online fundraising tools, making fundraising easier and more convenient than ever! A minimum fundraising goal of $1,500 is required, but we’ll be with you every step of the way.
Forming a Challenge Walk MS team is an opportunity to share a great experience with friends, family members or co-workers — all while moving us closer to a world free of MS.
Start location
Hyannis Village Green
- Friday (3-day start): Walkers start in Hyannis and make their way to Brewster via Yarmouth—seeing ocean, commerce, and kettle ponds.
- Saturday (2-day start): Walkers travel through Eastham and Orleans, then back to Brewster, enjoying lunch at historic Coast Guard Beach.
- Sunday: Walkers head to Dennis for the “pre-finish,” with massage and barbecue, and a chance to say goodbye to friends met along the way. Everyone completes the Challenge with a parade down Main Street, Hyannis.
Joey’s Story
In 2010, I went around my school, asking for donations for MSS. I raised around $100 dollars, I decided, this was not all I could do. At our house, we have a granite garden, originally 12ft by 12ft. This year, I asked my parents to expand it, they did. The garden is now 3 times as big. So as the weather warmed, my mother and I worked, and we worked hard. My mother was like the bees on the flowers, any spare time, she worked on the garden. Of course I helped, but it was her who had a green thumb.
During our first sprout, we were exuberant. The bees started to swarm for all our flowers on both our plants, and our flowers. The lettuce grew taller and taller each day, the vines from the peas jetting up higher and higher. At one point the peas became so heavy, the poles and string holding it up began to bend under the new weight. The stand was a simple one; we had an old discarded table, patched with duct tape. We placed a table cloth on it, to hide all the deformities.
 Christine and Joey at 2011 Bike & Hike the Berkshires |
We put a big blue collapsible tent over it and made signs and put out the veggies. My sister made bouquets while I managed the stand, picked lettuce and general things. While my mother worked in the garden, I worked at the stand. At first, business was slow, people didn’t stop, and they just drove by slowly. They just stared at our stand, like they were afraid to stop. After a while a few people began to stop.
I met neighbors I never knew, the ones who I had never met, but they lived across the road. After a while, I got some repeat customers. They always stopped by any day we were open, getting lettuce or peppers for their salad. They just kept coming, but after a while the flow of people slowed. The winter was drawing near, the people thought we would slow, but we kept going.
On September 23, my mom picked me up from school and we drove 3 ½ hours to the Berkshires. When we got there we had raised over$6,500 dollars with $500 coming from our garden sales. Next year my goal is going to be higher, and higher. As the goal rises, I work harder, and the goal will not end till MS is as bad as a common cold. Whether you think you can raise money or not, just remember the kid who sat at a stand selling veggies, herbs, and flowers.
