The MS Foundation was established in 1986 and is an organization that relies solely on public funding. Any funds collected through this organization are put to good use for people with MS. The money provides a better quality of life by supplying much needed equipment or assisting with home improvements necessary to keep the environment around the house safe. People with MS often have limited mobility as the disease progresses and their independence can be maintained through the use of additional equipment. Specific furnishings might make life a bit easier, such as a walker, a chair for the shower, or anything else needed.
The extent of assistance will depend on the amount of funds collected throughout the year. Even though the main headquarters for the MSF are located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, it provides services to the entire nation.
An MS Foundation for Women and Men
Although more women are diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis than men, there isn’t a specific MS foundation solely for women. The signs and symptoms are the same for both men and women; numbness, weakness, fatigue, tingling, dizziness, impaired mobility, slurred speech, visual disorders, and a number of others. The treatment for men and women is also the same. The variations in treatment depend on the severity of the disease and how much it has progressed.
The National MS Foundation has individual branches that were started around the world, in order to reach as many citizens with MS as possible. Not only do these smaller organizations provide assistance to people with MS, but they also supply much needed information to those caring for or who know a person with MS.
MS Foundation Grants can Change Lives
Since the MSF relies on public money and volunteers, funds are collected through grants and donations. Funding for the design of the MS Foundation’s website was partially supplied through a grant. Without the aid of the public in this manner, the MSF wouldn’t be able to assist people with MS. Besides collecting donations, grants are offered to those who need them. An application is filled out, reviewed, and then the amount of money or services provided will be determined.
The Homecare Grant Program supplies money services such as; home care, therapy visits, respite care, and transitioning from a hospital stay. The Brighter Tomorrow Grant provides goods or services to a person with MS, as long as they don’t exceed 1,000 dollars. This grant can be used to cover the purchase of a wheelchair, walker, ramp, therapeutic equipment, or anything else needed to improve the quality of life.
There is even a Computer Grant Program where people with MS can receive a refurbished desktop or laptop computer. Training on how to use these is also available. Much of the MS Foundation donation gathering goes to these grants. The MS Foundation has changed the lives of many individuals over the years.
