Multiple Sclerosis Association of America to host annual fundraiser
Improving Lives Benefit will be May 14 at Philadelphia's Barnes Foundation
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) will host its 11th annual Improving Lives Benefit on May 14 to bring together members of the multiple sclerosis (MS) community, celebrate achievements, and raise support for the organization’s free programs and services.
The fundraising event will take place at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia and will also be live-streamed. Attendees will be able to connect with MS community leaders, including people living with MS, and participate in a silent auction.
This year’s benefit will honor two key contributors in MS. Barry A. Singer, MD, director and founder of The MS Center for Innovations in Care at Missouri Baptist Medical Center and a member of MSAA’s board of directors, will be recognized as the 2025 Mission Honoree. The 2025 Corporate Honoree is Cionic, a medical technology company developing wearable bionic clothing like the Neural Sleeve, a leg-worn garment designed to improve walking in people with MS.
An important fundraising event
The evening will again be hosted by motivational speaker Tyler Campbell, who was diagnosed with MS in college and is an active advocate in the MS community. Tyler is the son of pro football Hall of Fame player Earl Campbell.
“We look forward to honoring both Dr. Singer and Cionic during this important event, which each year raises vital funds for our free programs and services for the MS community,” Gina Ross Murdoch, MSAA’s president and CEO, said in an organization press release.
Tickets to the in-person event are $350, while VIP tickets — which include early access to a networking reception, a guided tour of the Barnes Foundation art gallery, and VIP seating — are available for $500. Live streaming attendance is free, but registration is required.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available, ranging from $1,500 to $25,000. This year’s presenting sponsor is Novartis.
The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a pre-event VIP gallery access, followed by registration, dinner, cocktails, networking, auction, and galley access. The main program will run from 7:45 to 8:30 p.m.
MSAA is a U.S. nonprofit organization that provides a range of free services to people with MS and their families. These include a helpline with trained specialists, educational materials, an online support forum, assistance with safety and mobility equipment, and access to cooling accessories for patients with heat sensitivity.
The association also offers a mobile app called My MS Manager to help patients track disease activity, store medical information, and generate reports related to their symptoms and treatments.
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