National Multiple Sclerosis Society: South Central
Fiscal Year 2011 Update Rick, diagnosed in 1991
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. The Society addresses the challenges of each person affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, collaborating with MS organizations around the world, and providing programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move forward with their lives. The National MS Society serves more than 400,000 people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the United States. This includes nearly 35,000 people in the Society’s South Central states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. In 2011 alone, through its national office and 50-state network, the Society devoted $164 million to programs and services that assisted more than one million people. To move us closer to a world free of MS, the Society also invested $40 million to support more than 325 new and ongoing research projects around the world. Join the movement at nationalMSsociety.org.
Early and ongoing treatment with an FDAapproved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society online at nationalMSsociety.org or by calling 1-800-344-4867.
South Central Highlights of 2011 Advocacy • 402 South Central MS activists volunteered their time and talents to raise MS awareness and advocate for change to benefit persons with disabilities. Activists took part as advocacy spokespersons, Federal Public Policy Conference participants, Government Relations Committee members, State Advocacy Day participants, Story Bank contributors and more. Bike MS • Nearly 21,000 cyclists participated in the National MS Society’s nine South Central Bike MS fundraising rides in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas.
MS Clinics • Physicians and scientists at the Society’s network of clinics work to advance knowledge of MS to ultimately improve the quality of life for those living with the disease. Clinics offer convenient, comprehensive services to patients, caregivers and health care professionals. Services can include neurological consultation and disease management, wellness education, coordination of care, mobility assessment, spasticity management, clinical trials, MS-centric physical therapy, cognitive assessment and others. • Access to specialized MS care was facilitated through salary support for nurse and social worker MS
• The nine Bike MS rides raised $21.7 million in 2011. Camps • 506 children and adults affected by MS, along with their families, took part in South Central camps, annual getaways at accessible locations where everyone can enjoy all activities, regardless of abilities. Direct Financial Assistance • Approved Direct Financial Assistance requests rose 11% in FY2011. • Money spent on Direct Financial Assistance rose 6% from FY2010 to FY2011. • In 2011, the Direct Financial Assistance Program provided $389,598 to serve 754 people living with multiple sclerosis. Approximately 75% of requests were related to housing, utilities, durable medical equipment and medical supplies. Fundraising • In addition to funds raised through South Central Bike MS and Walk MS events, $1.16 million was raised through foundation and corporate donations, workplace giving, do-it-yourself events, tributes, and individual giving. • More than $530,000 was raised through Leadership Events and other activities in 2011, such as the annual Renaissance Dinner in New Orleans, La.; Dinners of Champions in Arkansas, New Mexico and West Texas; Uncorking the Cure in Tulsa, Okla.; trivia event in Oklahoma City, Okla.; and the annual Beef-a-thon in the Texas Panhandle.
How the Dollar is Sp Seventy-eight cents of every dollar spent funded Community Programs, MS Research, National Activities, Professional Education & Training, Programs & Services and Public Education.
Pecentages based on Fiscal Year 2011 Audited Financial Statements.
specialists in South Central MS clinics. These included clinics in Little Rock, Ark; New Orleans, La.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Austin, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; and San Antonio, Texas. • The total amount of funding provided in FY2011 was $550,000. • These clinics provided MS care to approximately 17,000 MS patients in approximately 29,000 visits to the clinics. MS Navigator • More than 5,000 individuals were served through MS Navigator, a service provided by skilled professionals to respond to the needs of everyone affected by multiple sclerosis.
On the Move Luncheons • In 2011, 800 people attended South Central On the Move Luncheons in Dallas, Houston and Oklahoma City, raising MS awareness and $202,802 to support Society services. PlanningWise • 113 people have been served since the creation of the PlanningWise program, which offers one-to-one consultations on career coaching, financial planning, insurance benefit counseling and COBRA assistance. Research • South Central funded more than $7.5 million to drive
• Scholarship amounts ranged from $1,000 to $3,000 per award. Self-Help Groups • There are 82 Self-Help Groups in the South Central states. These groups, which are open to anyone impacted by multiple sclerosis, provide fellowship, information and support. Volunteering • 8,301 volunteers kept participants moving in South Central’s annual Bike MS and Walk MS fundraising events. • 224 volunteers served in leadership capacities, including the Board of Trustees and committees for government relations, clinical advisory, finance, longterm care, scholarships, Walk MS, Bike MS, On the Move Luncheons, major gifts and more.
pent 29% MS Research 16% National Activities 17% Programs & Services 18% Fundraising 7% Community Programs 7% Public Education 4% Administration 2% Professional Education & Training
research and treatment to stop disease progression, restore function and end MS forever. The Society supports and funds activities spanning all research stages, including early discovery research, translational research that brings promising ideas forward into actual therapeutic solutions and clinical trials. Scholarships • In 2011, the Society awarded a total of 118 scholarships to college-bound South Central students who have MS or have a parent with MS. There were 62 new scholarships awarded and 56 renewals for previouslyawarded students. • More than $190,000 was awarded in South Central scholarships in FY2011.
• 58 volunteers assisted with accounting, information technology, project development and administrative needs. • 1,286 South Central volunteers pitched in to assist Programs and Services, including MS Ambassadors, Self-Help Group Leaders and more. Walk MS • 20,763 people stepped out at Walk MS events across Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. • More than $3 million was raised through South Central’s 2011 Walk MS. Wellness and Exercise • Wellness and exercise classes offered to South Central residents living with MS included adaptive yoga, aquatics, art therapy, assisted physical training, Pilates, Tai Chi and therapeutic horseback riding. • There were more than 10,000 wellness interactions in 2011.
About Multiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable and often disabling disease of the central nervous system; it interrupts the flow of information within the brain, as well as between the brain and body. MS can cause extreme fatigue, blurred vision, paralysis, loss of balance, tremors, numbness, poor coordination, slurred speech, memory problems, concentration issues, blindness and more. These problems may be permanent or may come and go.
The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances are being made in research and treatment. While most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, MS can appear in children and teens, as well as in senior adults. At least two to three times more women than men are diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the United States and 2.1 million worldwide.
South Central Offices Oklahoma
Oklahoma City 730 W. Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 103 Oklahoma City, OK 73116 Phone: 405-488-1300
Arkansas
Little Rock 1100 N. University, Ste. 255 Little Rock, AR 72207 Phone: 501-663-8104 Louisiana
Metairie/New Orleans 4613 Fairfield St. Metairie, LA 70006 Phone: 504-322-3790 New Mexico
Albuquerque 3540 Pan American Fwy NE, Ste. F Albuquerque, NM 87107 Phone: 505-243-2792
Tulsa 4606 East 67th St., Ste. 103 Tulsa, OK 74136 Phone: 918-488-0882 Texas
Amarillo 6222 Canyon Drive Amarillo, TX 79109 Phone: 806-468-8005 Austin 9600 N. Mopac, Ste. 150 Austin, TX 78759 Phone: 512-340-2700 Dallas 2105 Luna Road, Ste. 390 Carrollton, TX 75006 Phone: 469-619-4700
MS STOPS PEOPLE FROM MOVING.
WE EXIST TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN’T. JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Fort Worth 4086 Sandshell Drive Fort Worth, TX 76137 Phone: 817-306-7003 Houston 8111 N. Stadium Drive, Ste. 100 Houston, TX 77054 Phone: 713-394-2900 Lubbock 3610 22nd St., Ste. 301 Lubbock, TX 79410 Phone: 888-999-7992 Midland 1031 Andrews Highway, Ste. 201 Midland, TX 79701 Phone: 432-522-2143 San Antonio 9830 Colonnade Blvd., Ste. 130 San Antonio, TX 78230 Phone: 210-694-3200
nationalMSsociety.org