MDA Houston

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Who we are

MDA Donations: Making Differences Always

• 77.4% of every dollar MDA spends goes directly to research, health care services and education.

• In 2007, the MDA Houston Gulf Coast Chapter will be spending more than $2.2 million on research conducted in our area including at the Texas Medical Center.

• MDA maintains hospital-affiliated clinics at the Texas Children’s Hospital and Methodist Neurological Institute.

• MDA clinics are staffed by teams of top health professionals skilled in the diagnosis and medical management of neuromuscular diseases. Services provided at MDA clinics may include occupational therapy, selected diagnostic tests, genetic counseling, respiratory therapy and more.

• Every summer more than 100 children with a neuromuscular disease attend a weeklong barrier-free summer camp in Burton, Texas. The camp is free for families served by MDA. The kids call it the “best week of their life.” Over 150 volunteers give a week of their time to serve as MDA camp counselors.

• MDA provides services for 43 different neuromuscular diseases including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Charcot-Marie Tooth, myotonic dystrophy & myasthenia gravis.

What your donations buy for the MDA

Contribution Services

$25 Flu Shot

$85 One minute of research

$100 One support group session

$150 One physical, occupational or respiratory therapy consultation

$200 Professional fees related to initial diagnostic work-up at an MDA clinic

$500 Assists one person for one year with the repair of a wheelchair or leg braces

$816 Sends one child to MDA summer camp

$2000 Assists one person with the purchase of a wheelchair, leg braces or communication device

Programs

MDA Houston Programs

”The needs of 'my kids' are with us all year round." --- Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon

Adults who used to watch as kids now introduce their own children to the 21½-hour, star-studded variety show that simultaneously entertains, informs and raises funds for the service and research programs of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

First broadcast over Labor Day weekend in 1966 by just one TV station in New York City, the unique event starring popular comedian Jerry Lewis quickly caught the public's attention - and raised more than $1 million. Now the show will be broadcast on " 190 MDA Love Network" stations across the country.

In 1998, the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon made history as the first telethon seen around the world via Internet simulcast, hosted by RealNetworks on MDA's Web site.

An "interactive" show long before the computer age popularized the term, the Telethon's drama comes from the ever-increasing fund-raising total posted on the tote board - by hand in 1966, now electronically. Jerry's goal of raising "one dollar more" than the previous year's amount has been more than met almost every year, thanks to the generosity and compassion of the American public. Last year's total was $61 million.

The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon airs locally on KPRC Channel 2.

MDA Lock-Up and TELU

MDA’s #1 fundraising program proves that by following a formula…the more Jailbirds recruited, the more money will be raised for MDA. Lock-Ups continue to grow year after year and have become the foundation of our business plans and an important venue to network community leaders for future support of MDA. Across the country, thousands of law abiding citizens are going "behind bars for good" to help MDA..

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Following MDA's successful Lock-Up program, the Telethon Executive Lock-Up is associated with MDA's most high-profile event, the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. The first-class, signature Lock-Up brings together the elite members of a community to be "Stars Behind Bars" as they raise funds and have fun with the Telethon quickly approaching.

MDA Fill-the-Boot

MDA’s proprietary Fill-the-Boot program is supported by both IAFF and non-Union fire departments across North America. This simple street-side collection campaign provides an easy and convenient mechanism for commuting Americans to make a contribution to one of America's most beloved charities, by America's most admired heroes.

Houston Fire Department Local #341 is the number one department in the country in donation collection!

MDA Stride and Ride

The MDA Stride & Ride program puts a new twist on an old favorite. Stride & Ride is an all inclusive celebration that anyone can participate in. Families and friends of MDA gather together to support MDA by participating in a low mileage, non-competitive, indoor walk with up-front donations and simple incentive structures. A festive parade-like atmosphere where everyone feels like their making a difference!