It’s year 10 for MSAA’s upcoming Improving Lives Benefit for MS

With this year’s fundraiser, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is marking its 10th annual Improving Lives Benefit — an event that shines a light on uplifting members of the multiple sclerosis (MS) community and outstanding corporate partners.

The affair will take place on May 15 at the Barnes Foundation, in Philadelphia, and will also be livestreamed. It offers an opportunity for MS community members to connect with inspirational individuals, recognize the organization’s honorees, and support the MSAA’s programs and services.

Tickets are $300 each for the in-person reception, while VIP tickets are $500 and additionally include access to a pre-event networking reception and a docent-led showing of the foundation’s art gallery. While free of charge, registration also is required for participation in the event via Facebook or YouTube, which also will include an online auction.

Tyler Campbell, an MS advocate who had sought to follow his father, Earl Campbell, into the National Football League but was foiled by an MS diagnosis while in college, will return as host, according to an MSAA press release.

This year’s mission honoree is a neurologist with more than 45 years of experience in MS: Barry A. Hendin, MD, the MSAA’s chief medical officer and director of the MS Center at the Arizona Integrated Neurology Spine and Pain. The 2024 corporate honoree is Antidote Technologies, a digital patient engagement company.

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Founded in 1970, MSAA is a U.S. nonprofit that provides services and support to people with MS and their families and care partners. The Improving Lives Benefit was created not only as a fundraising event — different levels of sponsorships are available, ranging from $1,500 to $30,000 — but to bring the MS community together. The presenting sponsor this year is Novartis.

Hendin, the 2024 mission honoree, is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and began working in MS in 1993.

The Missouri native and graduate of Washington University Medical School served as chief of neurology for 35 years at Good Samaritan Hospital, and as director of the multiple sclerosis clinic at Banner University Medical Center from 2015 to 2020.

He’s also served as principal investigator for more than 115 clinical MS trials, and in his MSAA role has provided guidance on a number of efforts, according to the nonprofit.

“Our Mission Honoree Dr. Barry Hendin has made tremendous contributions to MSAA’s work, providing expert medical guidance and direction on several initiatives, all of which help to advance MSAA’s mission of Improving Lives Today for the MS community,” said Gina Ross Murdoch, MSAA president and CEO.

“We greatly admire his achievements as well as his unwavering devotion to the MS community,” Murdoch added.

Our Mission Honoree Dr. Barry Hendin has made tremendous contributions to MSAA’s work, providing expert medical guidance and direction on several initiatives, all of which help to advance MSAA’s mission of Improving Lives Today for the MS community.

Antidote Technologies, which provides online access to clinical trial information, is the corporate honoree. The company has worked with the MSAA since 2017 to heighten awareness of MS clinical trials and give the MS community easy access to information about them.

Antidote provides study sponsors with recruitment services and matches patients with trials covering a broad range of conditions, including MS.

“For the past seven years, our Corporate Honoree Antidote Technologies has been and continues to be a dedicated partner to MSAA in providing valuable MS clinical trial information to the MS community in a user-friendly format. We applaud their vital efforts in this important area of research and clinical trials,” Murdoch said.

Murdoch also welcomed back Campbell as the event’s master of ceremonies.

“We are extremely grateful to have Tyler Campbell join us once again as the inspirational and dynamic host of our event,” Murdoch said.

For more information on the Improving Lives Benefit, call Diana Cruz, MSAA manager of public relations and engagement, at 800-532-7667, ext. 103, or send an email to [email protected].