Since the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's inception more than 60 years ago, millions of people have benefited from the organization's research efforts, activism, programs and services.
The Carlsbad-based Pacific South Coast Chapter provides programs and services for the 18,000 people affected in Orange, San Diego and Imperial counties.
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic disease of the central nervous system with no known cause or cure. It causes unpredictable symptoms ranging from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis.
“MS stops people from moving. We exist to make sure it doesn't,” said Richard V. Israel, president of the local chapter.
MS affects more than 400,000 people in the United States and 2.5 million worldwide, as well as their families, friends, colleagues and community.
“People with MS and those close to them have varying needs ranging from education, transportation assistance or counseling to durable medical equipment, exercise programs and long-term care management. We provide these much-needed programs and services,” Israel said.
The organization funds $40 million annually into research to find the cause of MS and a cure. Of that, about $3 million goes to research in San Diego and Orange counties.
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Israel to discuss the organization in more detail and its work to move toward a world free of MS.
CBJ: When and why was the nonprofit founded?
Israel: This amazing woman whose brother had MS, Sylvia Lawry, placed an ad inThe New York Times in 1945 that stated: “Multiple Sclerosis. Will anyone recovered from it please communicate with patient.” Lawry received more than 50 replies and realized the need for an organized effort to stimulate and finance research into the cure, treatment and cause of MS. In 1946, Lawry gathered 20 of the nation's most prominent research scientists and founded what would become the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She also funded her first study that year. From that humble beginning, we are now a 50-state network of chapters, providing assistance to more than one million people annually. We've been serving San Diego since 1954.
CBJ: What services does your chapter provide?
Israel: We offer emotional support, wellness programming, direct assistance, family and social support, education and tools to help people stay independent.
CBJ: How do you find the people your organization assists?
Israel: We reach out to neurologists, the companies who produce MS treatments, churches, clubs and other local agencies. We have made some important strides recently in multicultural outreach, offering several bilingual programs. However, we estimate there are 2,000 people with MS in our territory who we don't yet know and we're always looking to reach and engage them.
CBJ: How do you measure success?
Israel: Success means maintaining the level of programs and services that we are currently providing, in addition to reaching out to those who are not aware of us. Success also means increased participation in our core events, as well as adding exciting new fundraisers.
CBJ: What needs does the organization have?
Israel: We need the support of the entire community in order to continue toward our vision of a world free of MS. This largely includes volunteers. It also includes corporate sponsors, private donations and media support.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of the nonprofit?
Israel: We will reach out and respond to more people by increasing programming and addressing long-term care and caregiver needs. We will move politicians and legislation to champion the needs of people with MS through activism, advocacy and influence. We will move research forward by relentlessly pursuing prevention, treatment and a cure.
CBJ: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Israel: We have several exciting fundraising events coming up. The first is our Dinner of Champions July 23 honoring San Diego Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner. In the fall, we have a three-day, 50-mile Challenge Walk and a great Bike MS Tour where you can choose to ride 30, 100 or 150 miles over one or two days.
The Carlsbad-based Pacific South Coast Chapter provides programs and services for the 18,000 people affected in Orange, San Diego and Imperial counties.
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic disease of the central nervous system with no known cause or cure. It causes unpredictable symptoms ranging from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis.
“MS stops people from moving. We exist to make sure it doesn't,” said Richard V. Israel, president of the local chapter.
MS affects more than 400,000 people in the United States and 2.5 million worldwide, as well as their families, friends, colleagues and community.
“People with MS and those close to them have varying needs ranging from education, transportation assistance or counseling to durable medical equipment, exercise programs and long-term care management. We provide these much-needed programs and services,” Israel said.
The organization funds $40 million annually into research to find the cause of MS and a cure. Of that, about $3 million goes to research in San Diego and Orange counties.
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Israel to discuss the organization in more detail and its work to move toward a world free of MS.
CBJ: When and why was the nonprofit founded?
Israel: This amazing woman whose brother had MS, Sylvia Lawry, placed an ad inThe New York Times in 1945 that stated: “Multiple Sclerosis. Will anyone recovered from it please communicate with patient.” Lawry received more than 50 replies and realized the need for an organized effort to stimulate and finance research into the cure, treatment and cause of MS. In 1946, Lawry gathered 20 of the nation's most prominent research scientists and founded what would become the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She also funded her first study that year. From that humble beginning, we are now a 50-state network of chapters, providing assistance to more than one million people annually. We've been serving San Diego since 1954.
CBJ: What services does your chapter provide?
Israel: We offer emotional support, wellness programming, direct assistance, family and social support, education and tools to help people stay independent.
CBJ: How do you find the people your organization assists?
Israel: We reach out to neurologists, the companies who produce MS treatments, churches, clubs and other local agencies. We have made some important strides recently in multicultural outreach, offering several bilingual programs. However, we estimate there are 2,000 people with MS in our territory who we don't yet know and we're always looking to reach and engage them.
CBJ: How do you measure success?
Israel: Success means maintaining the level of programs and services that we are currently providing, in addition to reaching out to those who are not aware of us. Success also means increased participation in our core events, as well as adding exciting new fundraisers.
CBJ: What needs does the organization have?
Israel: We need the support of the entire community in order to continue toward our vision of a world free of MS. This largely includes volunteers. It also includes corporate sponsors, private donations and media support.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of the nonprofit?
Israel: We will reach out and respond to more people by increasing programming and addressing long-term care and caregiver needs. We will move politicians and legislation to champion the needs of people with MS through activism, advocacy and influence. We will move research forward by relentlessly pursuing prevention, treatment and a cure.
CBJ: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Israel: We have several exciting fundraising events coming up. The first is our Dinner of Champions July 23 honoring San Diego Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner. In the fall, we have a three-day, 50-mile Challenge Walk and a great Bike MS Tour where you can choose to ride 30, 100 or 150 miles over one or two days.