50th Anniversary Issue - National Multiple Sclerosis Society

50th anniversary issue!
5 reasons to hope... 2
Our annual report... 3
25 service successes... 4 Event superstars... 10
50 years of action... 6
Determined donors... 11
2004 #2
T
Northern California Chapter
The National MS Society...One thing people with MS can count on.
self-help
donors
programs
finances
$10 million invested in local MS research
3
his year, the National MS Society
has committed $32.5 million to
support 77 new research projects—
and more than $3.6 million of that is earmarked for scientists in Northern California!
These new grants bring the Society’s local
research investment to a record $9.8 million, proof that our area is an international
source of hope in the fight against MS.
Dr. Scott
Zamvil
Six new grants went to experts at the
University of California, San Francisco:
4
11
14
• Dr. Daniel Pelletier received
$612,478 to evaluate a molecule
that damages nerve cells.
Three scientists at Stanford University also earned new grants:
• Dr. Chen Gu received $564,824
to examine potassium channels
in myelinated axons.
• Dr. Lawrence Steinman received
$579,374 to explore the effects of
antihistamines on MS.
• Dr. Scott Zamvil received
$504,455 and Dr. Thomas
Prod’homme received $133,825
to further investigate how statins
modulate immune function.
• Dr. Jonah Chan received $568,744
to pursue myelin repair.
• Dr. Jorge Oksenberg received
$401,194 to continue mapping
the genes associated with MS.
• Dr. Victoria Beckner received
$133,825 to predict and treat
stress-related MS lesions.
• Dr. Shannon Dunn received
$150,800 to explore how processing fat affects immune response.
Other new grants involve top
scientists at Johns Hopkins, Yale
University, and the Mayo Clinic.
Your donations to the National MS
Society support these and over 300
ongoing MS research projects.
2004#2
© 2004
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Northern California Chapter
1-800-FIGHT MS or (510) 268-0572
[email protected]
www.msconnection.org
Chapter Headquarters
150 Grand Ave
Oakland, CA 94612
Sacramento Office
4225 Northgate Blvd, Suite 4
Sacramento, CA 95834
Central Valley Office
1320 East Shaw Ave, Suite 103
Fresno, CA 93710
Chairman: David Korn
Vice Chairman: David Hultman
Programs Chair: Paul Lauricella
Secretary: David Larson
Treasurer: Maureen Lucey Mihelich
Chapter President: Julie Thomas
Newsletter Editor: Terence Keane
The National MS Society is proud to
be a source of information about MS.
Information provided by the Society is
based upon professional advice, published experience, and expert opinion
but does not does not constitute therapeutic recommendation or prescription.
The Society recommends that all questions and information be discussed with
a personal physician.
The National MS Society does not
endorse products, services or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely
because they are considered valuable
as information. The Society assumes
no liability for the use or contents of
any product or service mentioned.
2
D
FROM YOUR CHAPTER
ear Friends,
On May 17, our chapter
marked its 50th anniversary. We can commemorate this moment, but we
will not celebrate until
the day we’ve cured MS.
“Fifty years is a long time,” you might
say. “Are we making progress?” The timeline
on page six shows that we are. Here are five
specific reasons that I have hope:
1. In 1900, the average life expectancy of
a person with MS was five years... Today
it’s nearly normal!
2. In 1946, the government had invested
only $14,000 in MS research... Today,
due to our advocacy, it invests more
than $60 million every year!
3. In 1948, we opened the first two MS clinics
in the country... Today there are more than
150 nationwide, including six in our area!
4. In 1970, the average time from your first
symptom to your diagnosis was seven
years... Today, thanks to new diagnostic
criteria issued by the Society, many people
find out in a matter of weeks—if not days!
5. Before 1993, not a single medication was
available to slow the progress of MS...
Today there are five FDA-approved treatments, and more are on the way!
Every advance is the result of teamwork.
In this issue, we acknowledge our progress—
and we thank our donors and volunteers.
We couldn’t do it without you!
With gratitude,
Julie E. Thomas, Chapter President
Toll-Free Number: 1 800 FIGHT MS
2003 ANNUAL REPORT
In Fiscal Year 2003, 76 cents of every dollar donated
to the Chapter went directly to our mission!
To fulfill our pledge of
better services for Northern
California, last year we
invested a record $2.8 million in programs for the MS
community (see page four).
The Chapter also funneled
$629,560 into the National
MS Society’s relentless,
international research effort.
We are proud that our fundraising and management
costs remain low.
Economically, 2003 was
a challenging year for our
nation and for Northern
California in particular.
Nonetheless, our wonderful
participants still generated
more than $2.6 million
through events such as the
MS WALK, Waves to Wine,
and the Top Hat Classic. We
also benefited from several
significant bequests.
The National MS Society
funds more MS research,
offers more services for
people with MS, and provides more professional
education than any other
MS organization in the
world. For a copy of our
audited financial statement,
call 1-800-FIGHT MS.
Local Services 44%
MS Research 17%
Nationwide Programs 15%
Management & General 4%
Fundraising 20%
Expenses: $4,632,712
Income: $4,507,262
Annual Campaign & Foundations 14%
General Contributions 7%
Bequests & Legacies 25%
Special Events 52%
Other 2%
Thank you for supporting the fight against MS!
Visit our Website: msconnection.org
3
PROGRAMS
A
Serving you all year round...
2004#2
t the start of Fiscal Year 2003, the
Mountain Valley Chapter and the
Northern California Chapter joined
forces—and we pledged to deliver better
services to the MS community. We’re
pleased to report our successes!
In 2003, the combined chapters
invested more than $2.8 million in programs, with a record $2 million of that
spent locally. We doubled the number
of programs delivered in Central California and tripled the total in Redding,
while keeping the program total steady
throughout the rest of our territory.
Information & education
We are proud of our ongoing role as the
most reliable source of MS information:
• We offered dozens of education programs and family activities last year.
More than 400 people benefited from
our workshops on symptom management, over 300 attended our research
seminars, and 175 were served by our
newly diagnosed programs.
• True to our promise, we offered several
workshops in counties where there had
never been a program before, especially
in the Central Valley and the Sierras. For
example, we held Town Hall Meetings
in Jackson, Sonora, and Tulare; we
brought new activities to Elk Grove and
Grass Valley; and we offered programs
by phone, by mail, and online for those
even further afield and those who cannot leave home.
• We also distributed more than 200,000
local publications.
4
Last year, the number of programs...
Doubled in Central California!
Tripled in Redding!
Held steady everywhere else!
Social programs
Social activities such as our annual holiday party in Oakland are very popular, so
last year we expanded on this theme:
• We organized MS Excursions for over
200 sports fans to five big-league games.
• Our annual MS Moonlight Cruise
attracted a record 125 revelers.
• A social program called Twilight Tuesday traveled to Chico, Elk Grove, Fresno,
Redding, Sacramento, and Visalia.
Physical activities
Physical exercise is an important part of
mental and physical health:
• Whether aquatics, Feldenkrais, t’ai chi,
or yoga, we arranged 60 series of exercise classes. We continued classes in the
Bay Area, Wine Country, and North
Coast while bringing new classes to
Fresno, Visalia, and Yuba City. Plus,
Toll-Free Number: 1 800 FIGHT MS
our training for new yoga instructors in
Sacramento helped build for the future.
• To help fund exercise programs in areas
where we don’t offer classes, we created
GET UP (Grants for Exercise Therapy in
Underserved Places).
• We sold out the first run of our popular
video on adaptive yoga, which allows
people with MS to exercise at home.
• We also offered three outdoor adventures: a day of adaptive cycling in Marin
allowed people with MS to pedal along
beside their children; our teen adventure
attracted youth from throughout
Northern California; and family rafting
in the Sierras proved so popular that we
had to add a second trip!
Direct services
In difficult economic times, our financial
assistance services helped many families:
• We funded over $15,000 in respite care,
providing 32 caregivers who look after
severely disabled family members the
rare opportunity for rest and relaxation.
• Disbursements from our equipment
fund were 175 percent of the previous
year’s total, helping 47 families acquire
essential medical equipment.
Emotional support
Our emotional support programs also
continued their excellence:
• We trained four new peer-support volunteers who joined our team of veterans
in responding to more than 2,500
requests for information and support.
• We held counseling groups led by professional therapists in Concord, Fresno,
and Napa, while the therapist on our
staff began offering counseling by
phone for individuals with MS
throughout Northern California.
• Our Phone Buddies and Nursing Home
Visitors continued to provide ongoing
support for our most isolated clients.
• More than 55 self-help groups met regularly, including new groups in Auburn,
Davis, Mariposa, and Sacramento.
Diverse outreach
We also started a new self-help group in
Oakland for Latinos affected by MS,
which brings us to our increased emphasis
on diversity:
• We presented a program called “African
Americans & MS,” our first workshop
specifically for this community.
• The African-American self-help group in
Oakland continued to grow, and we
introduced a group for people of color
in Sacramento.
• MS Learn Online offered its first webcast
in Spanish, and with two native speakers on staff, we increased our responsiveness to the needs of California’s largest
minority.
• Finally, we produced a special edition of
this newsletter on the theme of diversity.
As you can tell from these ambitious
activities—and due to your dedication
and support—last year, the National MS
Society proved once again that it’s one
thing people with MS can count on. As we
search for the cure, we are committed to
bringing better services to the local MS
community. Be a part of it: call 1-800FIGHT MS and volunteer!
Visit our Website: msconnection.org
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2004#2
YOUR CHAPTER
O
Looking back at 50...
n May 17, 1954, National MS
Society volunteers signed the
charter for the first chapter in
Northern California. The subsequent 50
years proved that the Society is the prime
mover in the fight against MS... and we’ll
keep at it until we find the cure! Here are
some highlights from our history:
The fifties...
• 1954: Volunteers in Northern California
found the local chapter. The Society
offers the first fellowship program for
MS scientists and introduces its first
service, a guide entitled How to Help.
• 1955: We initiate a national newsletter
entitled Patient Service.
The sixties...
• 1962: Our membership totals 110,000.
• 1965: Society experts develop the first
precise criteria for MS diagnosis.
• 1967: We budget more than $1 million
to fund 94 research grants, and we provide direct services to 5,000 people.
Our founder, Sylvia Lawry, starts the
MS International Federation with 17
member agencies in Africa, Australia,
Europe, and North America. Shirley
Temple Black visits the Soviet Union
to interest Russian neurologists in cooperative research.
• 1969: We fund a study on the steroid
ACTH, which becomes the first drug to
speed recovery from MS relapses.
The seventies...
• 1974: The Society convinces Congress to
appoint a commission on MS, which
6
leads to a leap in federal funding for
MS research.
• 1976: The Society launches the
READaTHON and develops a course on
“MS Home Care” with the Red Cross.
• 1977: The Society organizes its first
formal self-help group and its first
aquatics program.
• 1979: We begin the Jacqueline du Pre
benefit concerts at Carnegie Hall.
The eighties...
• 1980: The Society funds the first large
trial of interferons, stimulating interest
in these potential treatments.
• 1981: The Society sponsors an international conference that establishes the
double-blind clinical trial as the gold
standard for testing MS treatments. We
also organize the first MS bike tour.
• 1983: The Society supports early studies
of a treatment for progressive MS, later
known as Novantrone. Inside MS, our
national magazine, debuts.
• 1984: We form our nationwide MS
Action Network for grassroots advocacy.
• 1986: We hold our first nationwide
education program by teleconference.
• 1987: The first MS Walk is held across
America. We establish pilot research
grants to test novel, high-risk ideas.
• 1989: Our advocacy helps pass the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
The nineties...
• 1990: We hold the first Issues & Empowerment Forum in Washington, DC,
Toll-Free Number: 1 800 FIGHT MS
a summit of volunteers from across
America focused on public policy.
• 1992: The Society initiates its targeted
research program on MS genetics.
• 1993: The FDA approves Betaseron, the
first medication that actually slows the
progress of MS. Our advocacy is key to
passing the Family Medical Leave Act.
• 1995: The Society provides direct services to one million people. We launch
our national website (nationalmssociety.org) and institute a nationwide
toll-free number:
1-800-FIGHT MS.
area raises public awareness by 175
percent. The Society helps ensure
passage of the Ticket to Work Act.
The new millennium...
• 2000: The FDA approves Novantrone
for worsening forms of MS, and the
Society initiates the MS Lesion Project.
The Society’s website tops one million
visitors annually, and we publish the
first national newsletter for the children
of people with MS.
• 2001: Our founder passes away; in her
memory, the Sylvia Lawry Center for MS
Research is established as a resource for
scientists worldwide. The Society joins
the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) in a unique $20-million
collaboration to fund research on
gender differences in autoimmune
diseases. The MS Challenge Walk
debuts in North Carolina.
• 2002: The FDA approves Rebif, making
five drugs available to treat MS. The
Northern California Chapter and the
Mountain Valley Chapter join forces.
The Chapter is the first recipient of
the Cavallo Award, a national honor
recognizing extraordinary and comprehensive service delivery at the local
level: we’re cited as the “best of the
best” in programs, advocacy, outreach,
and professional education.
• 2003: We successfully complete our
five-year advocacy effort to double the
research budget at the NIH. Our membership exceeds 600,000, and over four
million people visit our website. We
have more than two million volunteers,
and we invest $138 million annually in
MS research and services.
Happy 50th
Anniversary!
• 1996: The FDA approves two more disease-modifying therapies: Avonex and
Copaxone. Society-funded scientists
show that aerobic exercise improves the
physical and psychological well-being
of people with MS. Society membership climbs over the half-million mark,
and the Chapter adopts a wellness philosophy for service delivery.
• 1998: We issue our first and only medical recommendation, urging early treatment of MS with the new drugs. The
Society offers the first MS Learn Online
webcasts, and the Chapter’s website
goes live at msconnection.org. We introduce Knowledge is Power, education
by mail for the newly diagnosed.
• 1999: “MS: It’s not a software company!”
A pro bono advertising campaign in our
Visit our Website: msconnection.org
7 7
2004#2
HEALTH
Hey, cool it!
S
by Kirsten Hoang, OT
ummer is here! People with
MS may experience heightened
symptoms during periods of
heat. Generally these symptoms are
temporary, but nonetheless they can
be debilitating when they occur. Here
are a few tips to help beat the heat:
ularly useful
before exercising, after exercising, or both.
• If a bathtub
is unavailable,
take a cool,
20-minute
shower—
or relax in a
swimming
pool, provided
that the water
temperature
is 80 to 84
degrees.
• Avoid outdoor activities between
10:00 AM and 4:00 PM when temperatures are at their highest.
• Use air conditioners, electric fans, or
even battery-powered mini-fans.
• Dress in layers; add or remove
clothing as your body temperature
changes.
• Carry cold drinks in insulated containers
that attach comfortably to your belt,
backpack, or shoulder strap.
• Wear a vest, hat, or kerchief that holds
“blue-ice” gel packs or another material
that can be chilled for long-lasting
coolness.
• Refresh with spritzes of water from a
plastic spray bottle.
• Lower your body temperature with a
cool soak. First, sit in a bathtub of tepid
water, gradually add cooler water, and
soak for up to 30 minutes. This is partic-
• If you don’t have access to a shower,
tub, pool, or gel pack, try running
cold water over your wrists for three
to five minutes.
• If you go to a gym, wear clothes that are
easy to take off and put back on. After
exercising, run cool water over your
wrists or apply cold paper towels to
your neck and forehead. Limit the time
spent in a hot, steamy locker room by
taking your shower at home.
Always consult your physician before beginning a new activity.
Medicare Coverage for MS Rx...
In 2004, Medicare will cover MS therapies for 4,000-6,000 beneficiaries!
Need Medicare coverage for your injectable MS medication? Have questions about the
new Medicare law? Visit our website at nationalmssociety.org or call 1-800-FIGHT MS.
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Toll-Free Number: 1 800 FIGHT MS
RESEARCH
R
Twins double our knowledge of MS genes
ecent research on twins, published
in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, confirms the
genetic underpinnings of MS while reinforcing that genes are not the whole story:
you must encounter another, non-hereditary factor to develop MS. The long-term
study involved 370 pairs of Canadian
twins in which at least one twin has MS.
The data confirm that the risk of developing MS when your identical twin has it
is 25%, much higher than for the general
population. The risk is lower when both
identical twins are male (about 5%) and
higher when both are female (34%). The
risk for fraternal
twins is 5.4%.
To conduct
the study, Oxford University
scientists worked
with colleagues at Stanford University, the
University of British Columbia, and the
Canadian Collaborative Study Group.
The National MS Society currently funds
millions of dollars in research to improve
our understanding of gender differences
in MS and to discover the genes that make
people susceptible. For more information,
call 1-800-FIGHT MS.
Visit our Website: msconnection.org
9
2004#2
VOLUNTEERS
T
Hooray for our top fundraisers!
hree cheers for last year’s top fundraisers! Each of the people
below raised at least $5,000 in one of our 2003 events. Janine
Vanier (at right) raised an incredible $49,726 in pledges!
1. Janine Vanier
2. Perry Ann Jeveli
3. Brian Grey
4. Mathew Rossman
5. Debi Ford
6. Allen Pross
7. Larry Etcheverry
8. Kristopher Van
Giesen
9. Colleen Brown
10. Charles Myers
11. Richard Hagan
12. Jill Rubenstein
13. Jim Forni, DDS
14. John E. Moren
15. Larissa Siegel
16. Melinda Miller
17. Shelby Rachleff
18. Ronald Solow
19. Hugh Klein
20. Lynda Daly
21. Paula Sanchez
22. Don Neu
23. Paul Langer
24. Michael Hoffman
25. Miliana Morowitz
26. Monique Cavestany
27. Ron Lee Davis
28. John Sullivan
29. William
Schumann
30. Lisa Wood
31. Sue Pallari
32. John Hutchins
33. Jan Ertola
34. Teresa Kimari
35. Rick Weisberg
36. Barbara Gicquel
Thanks to our board of directors...
Chairman:
David R. Korn
Vice-Chair:
David R. Hultman
D.A. Davidson & Co.
Treasurer:
Maureen Lucey
Mihelich
Burr, Pilger & Mayer
Secretary:
David Larson
Piedmont Grocery
10
Members:
Teri Hernandez
Thomas M. Galizia
Deloitte Consulting
H. Penny Knuff
Fiduciary Trust International of California
John Gerding
Gordon & Rees
Vicky Gilfillan
Angie E. Lai
Wells Fargo Private
Client Services
Douglas Goodin, MD
MS Center at UCSF
Fillmore Marks
Marks Management
Jonathan Guthart
KPMG
Ronald Robie
CA Court of Appeals
Toll-Free Number: 1 800 FIGHT MS
Douglas C. Rosenberg
The Rosenberg
Company
Gary Ryness
The Ryness Company
John Schafer, MD
Medclinic
Carol Terrell
Jill P. Wright, MD
DONORS
E
Major donors make the difference
very donation, whether large or small, brings us closer to a cure. This list details
our major donors for Fiscal Year 2003, which began October 1, 2002 and ended
September 30, 2003. Our thanks to everyone who supports the fight against MS.
$100,000 or more
More Family Trust
Walter Wolf Living Trust
$25,000 to $99,999
Best Buy
Chiron Corporation
Lynn C. Fritz Family
Philanthropic Fund
Intel
nVIDIA
Signe Ostby & Scott Cook
Kathleen & Gary Ryness
$10,000 to $24,999
Carole & John Bettencourt
Brasher’s Sacramento
Auto Auction
Mary Jane Brinton
Circuit City
Junior Willis Clark Estate
Deloitte & Touche
Carly & Frank Fiorina
Kathryn C. Freeman Estate
Donald Geller
Richard & Rhoda
Goldman Fund
Hewlett Packard
The William G. Irwin
Charity Foundation
Barbara & Fillmore Marks
Microsoft
Peninsula Community
Foundation
The Ryness Company
The Sence Foundation
Serono, Inc.
Teva Neuroscience
Mary Lou Torre
& Richard Hagan
MSWorld, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Albert R. Paulsen
Thomas J. Perkins &
Gerd Perkins Foundation
Robert Half International
Rockridge Woman’s Club
Louise & Claude
Rosenberg, Jr.
Audrey & Melvin Shore
Sun Microsystems Foundation
Sutter Health
SWS Charitable Foundation
C. B. & Dick Watts
$5,000 to $9,999
Anonymous
Bank of America
Matching Gifts
Barnston-Koutsaftis
Family Foundation
Aline & Warren Berl
Patricia Cameron
CDW Corporation
Alice E. Cooper
Ann A. Crispin & Fred Arp $2,500 to $4,999
Autodesk, Inc.
Electronic Arts, Inc.
Foundation for Brotherhood Nancy Siebens Binz
Biogen
Adam P. Geballe, MD
Frances & Theodore Geballe Burr, Pilger & Mayer
Mary Carryer & Robert Eberle
Barbara Gicquel
Chambers & Chambers
William G. Gilmore
Computer Associates
Foundation
Costco Wholesale
Walter H. Girdlestone
Danford Foundation
GMAC-RFC
Cynthia & Paul Desmet
Bill Hilliard
Dodge & Cox
Jen-Hsun Huang
Mr. & Mrs. Earl D. Edwards
Ana Teresa Hudson Trust
Mr. & Mrs. John Endriz
Stephanie Kavanagh
Dianne Feinstein
& Alan James Smith
& Richard Blum
Lally Family Foundation
Friedman Billings Ramsey
David Larson
& Co.
Millie Lum
Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Hauserman, Jr.
Paul V. Lunardi
J. B. Hobday
Chris Malachowsky
Jeri & Lee Horwitz
Phyllis Marino Trust
Kaiser Permanente
Michael E. Martini
G. Willard Miller Foundation
Continued...
Visit our Website: msconnection.org
11
2004#2
DONORS
Continued...
Dore Selix Gabby
Maria & Peter Chao
Philanthropic
Fund
Chubb Group of
The Kilner Foundation, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Troy Griepp
Insurance Companies
Anita & David Korn
CoolSystems, Inc.
Ronda Gruber
KPMG, LLP
D. A. Davidson & Co.
Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr.
Alice & Richard Kulka
Marie Fox Charitable
Fund
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Larson
Karene Hargis
Lead Trust
David E. Mauldin
Jan & Peter Harris
Marianne Gagen
Kathleen McEligot
Marcia Harding
Carla & David Hultman
Morgan Stanley
Marjorie J. Herrero
Deke
Hunter,
Jr.
Morowitz Family
International Brotherhood Kate Holmes
Vanessa Murraysmith
The Arnold Horwitch Family
of Teamsters
Paul Newman
Charitable Foundation
Cynthia Jamplis
Overaa & Co.
John Hutchins
KB Home
Palmer Family Fund
Diane & Cecil Jun, MD
Brad Marks
Piedmont Grocery
Debi & Ken Lentsch
Will Marks
Abigail G. Pike
Patricia J. McKinley
Peter Meyer
Rabobank International
Microsoft
Matching
Gifts
Milgard Manufacturing, Inc.
Ronald Robie
Jayeshkumar &
Patricia & Glenn Schurman National Semiconductor
Patricia & Rory Norton
Nimishaben Patel
Linda & James Short
Novogradac Rivers Foundation Allen Pross
Marc Stolman
Teamsters Local Union 853 Placzek Family Foundation Raychem Matching Gifts
King & Bruce Sams, MD
RML Enterprises, Inc.
Julie & Richard Thomas
Trudy & John Schafer, MD
B. T. Rocca, Jr.
Margaret Warren
Michael A. Slor
Jacob M. Rudisill
Washington Mutual
Spectra-Physics, Inc.
The
San
Francisco
Foundation
Foundation
Maureen Warwick
Schurter, Inc.
Jill Wright-Leverton, MD
The Setzer Foundation
& Ian Leverton, MD
Mr. & Mrs. Woody Shackleton $1,000 to $1,249
Dorothy I. Simonetti-Guhl A-C Electric Company
$1,500 to $2,499
Advent Software
American Express Foundation SureWest Foundation
All Charities—Teamsters
Gerald Sweeney
Anonymous (2)
Phil Allen
Joy & Rafael Valdez
Argonaut Group, Inc.
Jeanne Allison
Mr.
&
Mrs.
Mark
Whiting
Bank of America
Anonymous
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich
Charles Bertucio
Apple Ridge Construction
& Rosati
Raymond Brown
Helen Arrick
Michelle & Anthony Carter
$1,250 to $1,499
Ash Grove Charitable
Francis Clarke, Jr.
Al Aisenbrey
Foundation
Brian Delaney
Gretchen & Bill Anderson
Dr. Sharon Lea Aukerman
Terry & Ronald Dicicco
Benchmark Medical
Gay & Keith Bardin
Stephen M. Dow
Consultants
Harris Barton
FHS Limerick
Frankie Beverly
Beef Packers, Inc.
Jennifer Gabaldon
Bilsten’s
Berlex Laboratories
12
Toll-Free Number: 1 800 FIGHT MS
Benjamin F. Biaggini
D. K. Bilter
Bonneville International Corp.
Boston Stock Exchange
James Bowin
Jan Bowman
Anne & Michael Boyder
Kenneth Bressler
Eric Brewer
Robert & Alice Bridges
Foundation
Brookfield Homes
Tonette & Mike Brown
Burton Senate Majority Fund
C. Watson/J & J Real Estate
Shirley & Dick Cahill
California Home Loans
Campaign 98
Lorraine E. Cantor
Julie Ann Carter
& Julia Lorraine Jenness
Connor Family Living Trust
Gus Constantin
Gail & Glen Cook
Lisa Crooke
Beth Cross & Anthony Stayner
Charles W. Daggs
Edward D. Daniels
Dwight Davis
Victoria S. Davis
William J. Dawson
Dwight Diercks
Loralee Dunn
Patricia Dunn
James J. Forni, DDS
Morton & Charlotte
Friedman Fund
Mrs. Michael Fryer
Gillig Corporation
Beth Goldstein
Cynthia Gonzales
Paul Haughey
Haworth, Bradshaw,
Stallknecht & Barber, Inc.
Health Net of California
Piciullo Foundation
Vincent Hennessy
Richard E. Piper
Herrick
Ponderosa Homes II, Inc.
Harriet Hirsch
Nancy Pritikin & Steven Baum
Sandra & Brian Hunter
Reliable Milking Systems
Hursh Charitable Trust
Michael Reynolds
Waldo Hutchins III
Rob Fogelstrom Construction
Innovations Personnel Services Jo Ann & Walter Robb
Barbara & Samuel Jampolis Leslie Margaret Rose
Marilyn R. & Jack V. Jones
& Howard Rose, MD
Patricia Keenan
Joshua E. Rosenfeld
Nancy Klehr
Michael & Virginia Ross
Laurence Jay Korn
Foundation
Carol Kurtz
Judy & Michael Russell
Labuda Family Foundation San Francisco Chronicle
Landor Associates
Sand Hill Commons
Stephen Leach
The Jerry & Barbara
Robert E. Lee, MD
Schauffler Fund
Marie & Leo Lin
Arleen & Ray Sciaroni
Lipman Insurance
Albert Seeno, Jr.
Administrators, Inc.
Shapell-Guerin Foundation
Loftus Investment Advisors Shea Homes
Longs Employees’ Charity
Shea Homes Foundation
Fund
Lillie & Joseph Shuchter
James P. MacGilvray
James Simkalo
Sean Maloney
Susan M. Slusser
Patrick Maroney
Gail & Robert Smelick
Marquee Fire Protection
Mary Snow
Marianne Masi
Stewart Title of California
Carol Mathews
Eric Sullivan
MATRIX Construction
Lisa & James Suth, Jr.
Mercedes Benz of SF
Sysco Food Services
Maureen Lucey Mihelich
of San Francisco, Inc.
& Mike Mihelich
Brandi Theis
Dr. & Mrs. Giles Miller
Kathleen & Romesh
Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Myers
Wadhwani
Nektar Employees Foundation Marshall Wais
Grenn Nemhauser
WC Capital Management, LLC
Northern California DeMolay Patricia Weigel
Order Execution Services
Wells Fargo Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Howard Palmer Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Sylva B. Pellaton
Michael C. Wood
The Perata Committee
Wyse Technology, Inc.
Jamel & Tom Perkins
Visit our Website: msconnection.org
13
PROGRAMS
T
Self-help groups for our community
2004#2
he National MS Society sponsors the following self-help groups in Northern
California for people with MS and their loved ones. The groups meet regularly for
emotional support and educational purposes. For information on a specific group,
call the contact person listed below. To learn about the Society’s many other emotional
support programs, call the Chapter at 1-800-FIGHT MS or visit msconnection.org.
14
209 area code
Angels Camp: third Tuesday, 10:00 AM;
call Pat 736-4777
Mariposa: second Saturday, 10:30 AM;
call Michael 966-5698
Merced—MS Challengers: first Saturday,
10:00 AM; call Susan 384-6533
Modesto: third Saturday, 10:00 AM;
call Dr. Ezane Crumb 463-1317 or
Pati 524-8329
Stockton: second Thursday, 6:30 PM;
call Brenda 957-9444
Stockton: second Saturday, 10:00 AM;
call Dr. Ezane Crumb 463-1317 or
Fran 477-4067
Tracy: first Monday, 6:30 PM; call Elaine
833-7169
Turlock: fourth Saturday, 10:00 AM;
call Bill 664-1427 or Frances 667-2184
510 area code
Alameda: third Saturday, 11:00 AM;
call Sharon 521-6260
Alameda—Newly Diagnosed: second
Saturday, 11:00 AM; call Kim 865-2685
East Bay Lesbians: third Saturday,
10:00 AM; call Theresa 741-8126
Fremont: second Saturday, 12:00 PM;
call Kim 793-0765
Oakland: second Tuesday, 6:30 PM;
call Barbara 482-0266
Oakland—African-Americans: third Saturday, 12:00 PM; call Cynthia 636-9040
Oakland—Friends & Family: second Saturday, 10:30 AM; call Suzanne 581-3239
Oakland—Latinos: fourth Thursday,
6:30 PM; call Meche 268-0572 x130
Oakland—Multiple Strengths: third
Monday, 6:30 PM; call Rick 521-2436
415 area code
Bayview-Hunters Point: third Saturday,
11:00 AM; call Gayle 642-1961
Corte Madera: third Tuesday, 7:00 PM;
call Verita 927-7068
Point Reyes: second and fourth Thursdays, 2:00 PM; call Carole 663-8231
SF Forum: second Thursday, 7:00 PM; call
Shirley 346-2404 or Dolores 467-6186
SF Potluck Luncheon: periodically;
call Karen 584-6115
SF Sunset District: second Saturday,
1:00 PM; call Tania 665-1178
530 area code
Auburn: second Thursday, 6:30 PM;
call Ruth 888-8388
Butte County: first and third Mondays;
call Pat 891-4369 or Nikki 533-5666
Davis: second Saturday, 10:00 AM;
call Kathi 297-1514
Grass Valley/Nevada City: last Friday,
2:00 PM; call Laurie 274-2909
Placerville: second Saturday, 1:00 PM;
call Fred & Stacey 644-1188
Red Bluff: second Tuesday, 6:00 PM;
call Teresa 529-4412
Redding: fourth Wednesday, 4:00 PM;
call Lisa 246-2840
Toll-Free Number: 1 800 FIGHT MS
John Mattos has led our self-help group in Concord for
ten years. Every April he also leads one of the nation’s
top teams for the MS WALK: the MSkeeters have raised
more than $100,000 in their 11-year history! John is one
of the local people featured in the recent MS book, My
Story. In it he writes, “One of the best things for me was
to become involved, learning all that I could about MS
and sharing support with others who have this disease.”
559 area code
Fresno: first Monday, 7:00 PM; call Karen
431-4570 or Carole 435-3480
Fresno: third Thursday, 9:30 AM; call
Doris 299-2072 or Frank 291-7088
Visalia: second Saturday, 10:00 AM; call
Mark 636-1099 or Dennis 635-2609
650 area code
San Mateo: second Tuesday, 7:00 PM;
call Robin 355-8878
707 area code
Crescent City: periodically; call Kay
464-2640
Eureka: first Saturday, 10:00 AM;
call Ann Louise 839-0177
Napa: first Sunday of every other month,
1:00 PM; call Neil 226-5888
Rohnert Park: second Saturday, 1:00 PM;
call Dara 664-1586
Santa Rosa: fourth Saturday, 1:00 PM;
call Carol 837-8046
Sonoma—Women’s Group: periodically
on Saturdays, 1:30 PM; call Susan 9398132
Vacaville: second Saturday, 10:00 AM; call
Dacia 678-6131 or Debrah 447-9603
(before 7:00 PM)
Vallejo: second Tuesday, 6:30 PM; call
Marian 745-9333 or Pam 745-3704
Willits: periodically; call Ken 456-9608
916 area code
Elk Grove: second
Friday, 10:00 AM;
call Dorothy 684-6849
or Willie 684-1677
Sacramento—Moving on with MS:
second Saturday, 10:00 AM; call Irene
536-9116 or Barbara 238-5199
South Sacramento: second Wednesday,
2:00 PM; call Edie 688-2674
South Sacramento—People of Color:
first Saturday, 10:00 AM; call Rhonda
691-6676
925 area code
Brentwood: second Wednesday, 1:00 PM;
call Tom 516-9647
Concord: second Saturday, 1:00 PM; call
John 372-0859 or Shirley 685-0961
Danville: fourth Saturday, 10:00 AM;
call Bea 556-9947
Pleasanton: quarterly, 10:00 AM; call
Mary Beth 829-0832
Visit our Website: msconnection.org
15
2004#2
EVENTS
While the chapter marks its 50th year,
Waves to Wine is having its 20th birthday...
Don’t miss the party!
Waves to Wine
Cycle from the ocean to the vines!
Saturday & Sunday, September 18-19
1-800-FIGHT MS • msconnection.org
FREE MATTER
for the blind
& physically
handicapped
Northern California
Chapter
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Northern California Chapter
Chapter Headquarters
150 Grand Avenue
Oakland, CA 94612
Forwarding Service Requested
Toll-Free Number: 1 800 FIGHT MS