Up Front
By Douglas G. Franklin, MSAA President and CEO
MSAA has experienced explosive growth in the delivery of our programs and services. When I first started with MSAA in 1999, the charity had distributed 100 pieces of equipment the previous year. During the last fiscal year (July 2005 — June 2006) we distributed more than 10,000 pieces of equipment. Our toll-free Helpline is averaging 1,200 calls per month — that's over 14,000 calls for the year! We performed 149 home modifications in 36 states last year. We are doing all that we can to help more people with MS in more places in meaningful, sustainable ways. The quality of our services is second to none and we are very proud of that.
Like any charity, MSAA depends on the kindness and support of its contributors. We are very fortunate to have many individual and corporate supporters believe in what we do and give generously to help us fulfill our mission. We cannot, however continue to grow without significant increases in the number of donors and the amount of support.
We are pleased to provide our services for free, but we can only do this if everyone reaches out to their own networks of friends, family, coworkers, and community members to help MSAA help others. Donations make our work possible. All donations are important and every dollar counts. We simply can't do it without your support.
To follow are just a few quotes taken from actual letters received by MSAA:
"I wanted to send you a note of thanks for the cooling equipment you sent to me this summer at no charge. It really made a difference in the way I felt when I attended outdoor events. This program of yours is truly appreciated so a big THANK YOU to you!!"
— L.C. from Pawleys Island, North Carolina
"I just want to thank you for all of the equipment I received from your wonderful program. I just want you to know that the items have allowed me to do things I have not been able to do on my own in a long time. Thank you just doesn't seem like enough."
— R.W. from Westminster, Colorado
"Thank you for assisting me with funds for modifying my bathroom, cooling equipment, and all of the educational articles in The Motivator. My quality of life has intensified. I feel empowered and in control of myself and adversities I may encounter. I can't thank you enough."
— N.M. from Erie, Pennsylvania
Please help MSAA "enrich the quality of life for everyone affected by multiple sclerosis." Help us be a "lifeline for a lifetime!" To make a donation to MSAA or to inquire about volunteering or fundraising, please contact MSAA at (800) 532-7667, extension 159, or visit our website at www.msaa.com.
Doug Franklin joined MSAA as President & CEO in 1999. He has a distinguished career in association leadership and is a former national trainer in strategic planning for the Peter Drucker Foundation. A published international expert in the field of social marketing, he is a graduate of four universities. He currently serves on the National Board of the Key Philanthropic Organizations Committee of the American Society of Association Executives and serves on the Executive Committee of Health First — America's Charities Board in Washington, DC.
Meet MSAA Board Member Annette M. Howard
Annette M. Howard, MD, is the most recent addition to MSAA's Board of Directors. Prior to her election to the Board this past May, Dr. Howard became involved with MSAA through Dr. Jack Burks, MSAA's vice president and chief medical officer. "I first joined MSAA as a member of MSAA's Healthcare Advisory Council (H.A.C.). Dr. Burks came to me and asked if I would be a member," says Dr. Howard. "From there, I was able to see first-hand the wonderful programs and services my patients have been talking about."
After medical school, Dr. Howard found neurology to be very interesting. She explains, "With neurology, there were a lot of questions and not a lot of answers. I always thought I would be learning if I stayed in this field." Following her residency at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Howard took over the practice of a neurologist who specialized in MS. "My patients were the ones who were teaching me that MS is more than just a person experiencing symptoms — there is a heart and soul inside that body," says Dr. Howard. "My patients taught me compassion and understanding, helping me to figure out that MS is my niche."
In 2001, Dr. Howard opened her clinic, the Multiple Sclerosis Institute of Texas, with the idea of treating the whole patient and taking care of the patient over his or her entire lifespan. She recognized that MSAA is a good fit for this type of care. "I see MSAA as an organization that provides services to patients for their lifetime," says Dr. Howard. "MSAA provides the bridge that gets the person from being newly diagnosed, to living and excelling in their daily lives with MS."
Dr. Howard is originally from Houston, Texas and still resides there today. She enjoys spending her time doing service-oriented activities and reading. Dr. Howard is a self-proclaimed "news junkie," as she is always tuning in to see what is happening on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox news shows.
— Amanda Bednar
Back
