The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis honors the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition at The Heuga Center's benefit

Edwards, Colo. * July 26, 2007 -The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis will honor the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Coalition at The Heuga Center's 22nd Annual Autumn Benefit October 23, 2007 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. The MS Coalition is an affiliation of independent MS organizations dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life for those affected by MS.

"We're a small organization that needs to collaborate with other MS organizations to more effectively provide people with MS information relating to health and wellness," said Brian Hutchinson, president of The Heuga Center. "By honoring the MS Coalition, we strengthen our mission and show our commitment to advocating for the entire MS community."

The MS Coalition's mission is to increase opportunities for cooperation and provide greater opportunity to leverage the effective use of resources for the benefit of the MS community.

"The Heuga Center has a wonderful reputation across the country. Recognizing the MS Coalition at their autumn benefit is a very positive development in raising awareness of our existence," said Doug Franklin, president of the MS Coalition and president and chief executive officer of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. "One team with one dream is the spirit of the Coalition's efforts."

"The goal is to cooperate and collaborate at every opportunity to help eliminate gaps in service delivery, avoid duplication of efforts and provide optimal quality of life benefits to everyone affected by MS," said Franklin. "This initiative is unique in the health field. Hopefully, we'll prove to be a positive model for other disease-related organizations. The Coalition's first priority is serving people with MS to the best of our individual and collective ability."

The Coalition was formally launched June 2006 at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers' annual conference. Its initiatives include launching MS Awareness Month last March and applying for a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit charitable-organization status.

The founding member organizations are the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America and Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.

The Coalition's nine member organizations are as follows.

• Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC)
• Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA)
• Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF)
• Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis
• Montgomery Multiple Sclerosis Center, Inc.
• MS Helping Hands (MSHH)
• MS World, Inc.
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS)
• Vision Works Foundation, Inc/MS Friends Initiative

The Heuga Center participates with the MS Coalition as a member of the CMSC.

The Heuga Center's 22nd Annual Autumn Benefit unites members of the entertainment, business and MS communities to raise awareness and funds for The Heuga Center's health and wellness programs for people and families living with MS. Last year, actress Teri Garr was honored for her spirit and work in advancing MS awareness and research.

Visit www.heuga.org for more information.

Based in Edwards, Colo., The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis is a nonprofit organization leading the way with comprehensive programs that empower people and families living with multiple sclerosis (MS) to transform and improve their quality of life.

The Heuga Center's innovative and world-renowned programs provide leading edge education, skills and motivation to help people with MS and their families lead healthy, productive lives even with an incurable disease like MS. The Heuga Center's programs include five-day CAN DO®, two-day CAN DO 2® and one-day JUMPSTART®.

Visit the web site at www.heuga.org to learn more.

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