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Muscular Dystrophy Association
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. The organization was founded in 1950 by Paul Cohen, who lived with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). MDA accelerates research, advances care, and works to empower families to live longer and more independent lives. MDA is also known for its working relationship with comedian and actor Jerry Lewis and his annual Labor Day telethon, broadcast live from 1966 to 2010, starting Sunday evening and continuing into Monday evening. The organization's headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois.
The MDA was founded in 1950 by a group with personal connections to muscular dystrophy, including Paul Cohen who lived with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Originally known as the Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America, it was renamed to its present name in the 1970s.
In 1954, MDA began its partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters for its annual Fill the Boot fundraising drive. In 1955, the organization held its first summer camp.
In 1980, American motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson became an MDA National Sponsor; in 1987 the MDA Ride For Life program began, a fundraising motorcycle ride held over Labor Day weekend. In 1986, oil and gas provider Citgo became a second national sponsor of the organization.
In 1982, the MDA Shamrocks program launched in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and became a national program one year later. In 1996, MDA and Lewis were jointly honored by the American Medical Association with a lifetime achievement awards for their contributions to the health and welfare of humanity.
Dr. Stanley Appel established Houston Methodist Hospital's amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinic with MDA in 1982, which has evolved into the MDA ALS Research and Clinical Center at the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute. Dr. Appel's pioneering work includes the development of an immunotherapy treatment that may slow the progression of ALS. Dr. Appel's efforts were recognized by the MDA when he received the MDA's Tribute Award in 2022.
In October 2020, the MDA Telethon, which had originally run from 1966 to 2014, was reimagined as The MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon after a six-year hiatus. The two-hour event was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and streamed live on the Laugh Out Loud network and its YouTube channel. Celebrity guests for the 2020 telethon included Jack Black, Josh Gad, Michael B. Jordan, and Jillian Mercado.
In November 2020, MDA launched a tool, called the neuroMuscular ObserVational Research (MOVR) Visualization and Reporting Platform (VRP), to help make clinical data more accessible and accelerate the discovery of muscular dystrophy treatments.
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Muscular Dystrophy Association
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. The organization was founded in 1950 by Paul Cohen, who lived with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). MDA accelerates research, advances care, and works to empower families to live longer and more independent lives. MDA is also known for its working relationship with comedian and actor Jerry Lewis and his annual Labor Day telethon, broadcast live from 1966 to 2010, starting Sunday evening and continuing into Monday evening. The organization's headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois.
The MDA was founded in 1950 by a group with personal connections to muscular dystrophy, including Paul Cohen who lived with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Originally known as the Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America, it was renamed to its present name in the 1970s.
In 1954, MDA began its partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters for its annual Fill the Boot fundraising drive. In 1955, the organization held its first summer camp.
In 1980, American motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson became an MDA National Sponsor; in 1987 the MDA Ride For Life program began, a fundraising motorcycle ride held over Labor Day weekend. In 1986, oil and gas provider Citgo became a second national sponsor of the organization.
In 1982, the MDA Shamrocks program launched in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and became a national program one year later. In 1996, MDA and Lewis were jointly honored by the American Medical Association with a lifetime achievement awards for their contributions to the health and welfare of humanity.
Dr. Stanley Appel established Houston Methodist Hospital's amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinic with MDA in 1982, which has evolved into the MDA ALS Research and Clinical Center at the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute. Dr. Appel's pioneering work includes the development of an immunotherapy treatment that may slow the progression of ALS. Dr. Appel's efforts were recognized by the MDA when he received the MDA's Tribute Award in 2022.
In October 2020, the MDA Telethon, which had originally run from 1966 to 2014, was reimagined as The MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon after a six-year hiatus. The two-hour event was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and streamed live on the Laugh Out Loud network and its YouTube channel. Celebrity guests for the 2020 telethon included Jack Black, Josh Gad, Michael B. Jordan, and Jillian Mercado.
In November 2020, MDA launched a tool, called the neuroMuscular ObserVational Research (MOVR) Visualization and Reporting Platform (VRP), to help make clinical data more accessible and accelerate the discovery of muscular dystrophy treatments.