Don’t Miss MSAA’s Art Showcase Deadline!

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Diana Cruz

Every year, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) highlights the artistic talents of the MS community in our digital Art Showcase. We have received many wonderful submissions from individuals with MS across the country and are delighted to invite the community to participate once again in MSAA’s 2025-2026 Art Showcase.

Now until January 10, 2025, individuals with MS are encouraged to submit up to three works of visual art along with their personal stories to be highlighted in MSAA’s 2025-2026 Art Showcase. We welcome various types of art including paintings, drawings, photography, and more. To participate, please visit MSAA’s Call for Submissions webpage, or email us at showcase@mymsaa.org.

Eligibility:

To enter, you must have a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and provide a doctor’s verification of your diagnosis. Please note that if you are a returning artist for MSAA’s Art Showcase, you can disregard this step.
Participants must be 18 years of age or older as of the date of entry and must be legal residents of the United States.
All entrants must submit a signed Release Form. This can be completed online or printed and emailed to showcase@mymsaa.org.

Please be sure to read through all Art Showcase rules and release form requirements prior to submitting your work.

Eligible submissions will be featured on MSAA’s website beginning in March 2025 in recognition of MS Awareness Month. Throughout the year, 12 artists and their work will be highlighted as Artists of the Month. To view submissions from previous Art Showcases, please visit our online gallery.

MSAA’s 2024-2025 Art Showcase recently won a Silver Digital Health Award! To learn more about this accomplishment, please read MSAA’s Latest News article.

A Global Day of Giving: Today is Giving Tuesday!

Posted on December 3, 2024 by MSAA

Today, Tuesday, December 3^rd, MSAA honors Giving Tuesday – a global initiative that promotes generosity and community engagement for nonprofits and charitable organizations. Days like today are critical for MSAA, as they promote support of our organization so that we may continue to provide free programs and services to the MS community.

During this busy time of year, members of the MS community need MSAA’s help more than ever – from assistive equipment for safety and mobility, to support and resources through MSAA’s Helpline specialists. In addition, MSAA’s educational programs, publications, webinars, videos, and podcasts provide a great deal of information on a wide range of topics, from symptoms and treatments, to physical and emotional wellness, and so much more. Our mission of Improving Lives Today is ongoing, and it is made possible due to the generosity of our donors.

Giving Tuesday is the perfect time to make a meaningful donation to MSAA. Your gift truly helps to support those affected by MS. If you would like to make a donation today, please visit mymsaa.org/donate. We greatly appreciate your support!

MSAA Focuses on MS at All Stages of Life During MS Awareness Month

Posted on March 1, 2023 by MSAA

March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month and MSAA is excited to present four full weeks of valuable and inspiring resources, programs, and strategies for all ages! We are dedicated to spreading awareness, education, and support to individuals, families, and care partners in the MS community, and this month is no different. Our MS Awareness Month initiatives focus on “Life with MS: Different Stages of the Journey” and include a multitude of programs that address MS management in all life stages.

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DIY: Do-It-Yourself Fundraisers are Integral to Supporting MSAA Programs

Posted on August 31, 2022 by MSAA

As summer is winding down, we reflect on the fun we had with family and friends relaxing and trying to stay cool – backyard barbeques, trips to the beach, ice cream cones, and time spent poolside. But for individuals living with MS, staying cool during the summer can be a challenge. That is why the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America provides free cooling vests and accessories to qualified individuals with MS, throughout the summer and all year long.

As you can imagine, symptom-management products such as cooling vests come at a significant cost. MSAA relies on a community of supporters stepping up to make a difference. Our DIY fundraising platform makes it easy for anyone to set up an MSAA donation page for their fundraising event or campaign.

In fact, setting up his fundraising page was the easiest thing Richard Core did all summer, who raised $6,000 for MSAA with his Richard’s Ride Across America.

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MSAA’s Art Showcase – Celebrating the Work of Artists Living with MS

Posted on June 10, 2019 by MSAA

This month, we asked our guest bloggers to share about the artists or artwork they feel speak to their own personal experiences. MSAA has long celebrated artists in the MS community through our Art Showcase initiative. This year, MSAA is recognizing ten years of beautiful artwork shared with us from members of the MS community!

Started in 2009, the MSAA Art Showcases are comprised of two categories: the MS Ability Art Showcase and the Four Seasons Art Showcase. Artists with a diagnosis of MS are invited each Fall to submit their best oil, watercolor, acrylic or Continue reading →

Annual AAN and CMSC Meeting Highlights

Posted on July 27, 2016 by MSAA

Every year, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) hold meetings to present on topics of interest to the multiple sclerosis community. This year, the annual AAN meeting was held in Vancouver, Canada in April and the CMSC meeting took place in Maryland at the beginning of June.

After each meeting, MSAA condenses all of the information presented at these meetings, which is meant for medical professionals, to easy-to-read articles to keep you informed about what is new in the world of multiple sclerosis.

Both meetings this year covered a range of topics, but here are a few items highlighted in MSAA’s annual review of these meetings:

Updates on a sampling of approved and experimental treatments
Trial results for new symptom-management treatments and programs
Interesting studies on pediatric MS, risk of MS, and children of parents with MS
Various other topics, such as gut immunity, the effects of poor sleep, and gaps in public awareness about MS

Read the full article on MSAA’s Latest News section to see more topics presented at this year’s meetings!

Highlights from the 2015 Annual Meeting of the CMSC

Posted on July 15, 2015 by MSAA

MSAA has posted a new online article providing highlights from this year’s Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers’ Annual Meeting held in Indianapolis, Indiana in May. MS experts from around the country attended this exciting conference where the latest findings in MS research, treatments, symptom management, and patient care were presented.

Topics highlighted in this article include updates on MS disease-modifying therapies and findings from several cognitive and psychosocial studies. Various lifestyle factors such as diet, nutrition, and exercise are addressed in detail as well. The article also provides information on other topics of interest, such as diversity in multiple sclerosis, caregiver stress, gut microbiome, and more.

Read the full article on highlights from this year’s Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers’ Annual Meeting.

If you missed MSAA’s article summarizing data presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 2015 Annual Meeting in April, please check it out here.

MSAA is Moving!

Posted on June 15, 2015 by MSAA

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is moving to a new location!

As of Wednesday, June 24, 2015, the address for MSAA’s National Headquarters will be:

375 Kings Highway North

Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08034

Please note that MSAA’s phone number, email address, website URL, fax numbers, and regional office contact information (other than the Northeast Regional office) will all remain the same.

Please update your records with our new address and continue to stay in touch with us!

Highlights from MSAA’s Improving Lives Benefit in Washington, DC

Posted on May 1, 2015 by MSAA

On April 22nd, MSAA held the second annual Improving Lives Benefit at The Pavilion at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. It was a wonderful evening filled with good food and fun – all in support of a great cause! The funds raised from the event directly support MSAA’s free, vital programs and services.

(Pictured from left: MSAA President & CEO Doug Franklin, Honoree Kristen Adams, MSAA Board Chair Sue Rehmus, and Honoree Dr. Randall Schapiro)

This year, two special people were honored as MSAA champions for their accomplishments, commitment, and support of the MS community.

Dr. Randall Schapiro, MS neurologist and member of MSAA’s Healthcare Advisory Council, was honored for his dedication and contributions to the MS community. Among his many notable accomplishments, Dr. Schapiro founded the first comprehensive MS center in 1977, participated in numerous research studies, and helped to develop two MS organizations. Through his years of service, he has come to recognize the importance and impact a “team approach” can have in helping the MS community.

“That’s the way we’re going to make progress. That’s the way we have success in dealing with a difficult disease. So I’m appreciative, very appreciative, of accepting this award on behalf of my team; all of the team; all of the people that have been involved with me and helped me.”

–Dr. Randall Schapiro

Also honored was Emmy award-winning network producer and writer, Kristen Adams. Diagnosed with MS in 2008, Kristen serves as an inspiration to all who hear her story. In early 2014, Kristen played a major role in helping to launch MSAA’s Why I Swim initiative by producing and starring in nationally broadcast videos to inspire others to share their stories.

“I can be a good example. And I know now why that is important and why I continue to do that. And I am deeply grateful to MSAA for allowing me the opportunity to do that. Thank you.”

–Kristen Adams

This year’s Improving Lives Benefit would not have been a success without the support and generosity of our donors. With the help of our supporters, MSAA was able to raise more than $115,000 – which will make a tremendous difference in helping to provide vital programs for so many people affected by MS.

Thank you!

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