[Accelerated Cure Project Status] Status for the month of December 2008

[Hollie Schmidt]

Accelerated Cure Project informal status for the month of December 2008

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>>> Joining/Leaving Us This Month

o We extended an offer to Carolyn Cronin to be our new CEO and she is 
now on board -- welcome, Carolyn!  Carolyn has a wealth of nonprofit 
leadership experience and is a great fit for our organization.  Art 
Mellor will be taking on the new role of Chief Technical Officer.


>>> Research

Repository:

o As of the end of the year, we had enrolled a grand total of 1,389 
subjects at our six collection sites.  In addition, 11 subjects have 
returned for longitudinal (follow-up) visits.

o We received funding from the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation to 
support the enrollment of 20 new subjects with neuromyelitis optica 
(NMO), and are now reaching out to people with NMO to invite them to 
participate.

o Sara analyzed the responses to a poll about fundraising practices 
provided by managers of other biorepositories.

Other Science Efforts

o Hollie continued contributing to a proposal to build an online forum 
for MS scientists to share work and exchange ideas.


>>> Community Building

o We had meetings with the following people:

* Seth went to Colorado to meet with supporters and also visited the 
National MS Society to discuss collaboration ideas.

* Hollie and Seth attended a reception in Boston hosted by the National 
MS Society and its Fast Forward program.

* Seth and Hollie attended a Massachusetts Biotech Council seminar on 
biotechnology funding.

o Hollie corresponded with Joe Chapin, who lost his wife Elaine to MS 
and has set up a scholarship in her memory that will provide funds to a 
student who has MS or whose parent or guardian has MS.  (To request an 
application, email Joe at elainememorial at sbcglobal.net.)


>>> Events

Detailed information about all of our upcoming events can be found on 
our web site:

   http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/calendar.php

* March 6, Boston, MA: Buy your tickets now for the 2nd annual Glow and 
Behold Enchanted Winter Ball, a black tie evening of dancing, footwear, 
and fashion hosted by Hello Stiletto Shoe Club, Genevieve Boston, and 
Kristina Kozak to benefit the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple 
Sclerosis.  This year, the event will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, 
Boston Common from 7:30pm - 12am.  Cost is $100 per person.  Take 
advantage of this SPECIAL PRICE opportunity: Tickets are $75 each if 
purchased by midnight EST February 13, 2009.  Visit the link below today 
for more information and to get your tickets now!!

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20090306_shoeball.php

* April 20, Boston, MA: Support our team of dedicated runners as they 
train for the 113th Boston Marathon while raising funds in support of 
Accelerated Cure Project!  We're still looking for runners - if you're 
up for the challenge of the marathon AND raising $5k, please contact 
Jane ASAP at jane-marathon at acceleratedcure.com.  Click on the links 
below to look at the runners' marathon web pages that have been set up 
so far:

  http://expansion.acceleratedcure.org/crosemarathon
  http://expansion.acceleratedcure.org/smathesonmarathon
  http://expansion.acceleratedcure.org/dhullmarathon

* May 16, Somerville, MA: The Medeiros Family 7th Annual Sports 
Scholarship and MS Research Fundraiser, held in loving memory of Edmund 
Medeiros, is a great night out featuring dinner, music, dancing, and 
chances to win fun raffle and silent auction items.  Website coming soon...


>>> Previous Events

None from December!


>>> Operations

o We have updated the information on our web site about how to claim a 
tax deduction.  You can see it here:

   http://www.acceleratedcure.org/downloads/taxdeduction.pdf

o Monument Staffing gave us a free temp for a day who helped out with a 
lot of office work.


>>> Volunteers Reporting Time Last Month

Thank you to everyone who volunteered for us during 2008.  Your support 
is incredibly important!

* Accelerated Cure Project Annual Event 2008
Kelly Novak

* Admin
William Senne

* Boston Marathon 2009
Zach Natale
Michele Van Leer
Seth Matheson
Phil Harrell
Doug Hull

* Community Building
Pat Phelps

* Dance to Cure MS
Deb DuFault

* Let's Bag MS
Debbie Mann

* IT Maintenance
Peter Schmidt
Dave Baker

* MJS Scholarship Program
Rick Szczepanski

* Sense of Purpose
Bob Mellor

* Shoe Ball
Melissa O'Shea
Kristina Kozak
Jennifer Sheehan

* Sing to Cure MS
Marion Leeds Carroll

* The Wellness Resolution
Cher Kore
Ama Allara


Contributed Goods & Services:

99 Restaurant
A Sante Massage Therapy
Act One The Salon
Apple Tree Cinema
Arbonne International
Bien Soigne, LLC
Bugaboo Creek Steak House
Capri Pizza
CertaPro Painters
Chiropractor
Christopher Bradley Salon & Spa
Chunkys Cinema Pub
Clockwork Design Group, Inc.
Cobbett's Pond Pizzeria
Coccolare Hair Salon
Countryside Florist
DoubleTree Guest Suites Boston/Waltham
Drew Sullivan
Dunkin Donuts
Ecco USA, Inc.
Eleanor Page
Fab & Faux
Flagship Cinemas
Ford Flower Company
Ford of Londonderry
Fratello's
Gourmet Grill & Caterers
Great America Subs
Hannaford Food & Drug
Happy Feet Dance School
Hornick Rivlin Studio
Hosking Interiors
Inspired by Steve
J. Michael's Family Sports Pub
Jerome's Delicatessen
Josephs Restaurant
Ken Morgan
Klemm's Bakery
Krystal Ballroom Dance Studio
Lia Sophia
Lisa Carrier
Lobster Tail Restaurant & Fish Market
Maddie's Bagel and Eatery
Margaritas
Mary Ann's Diner
Melrose Therapeutic & Wholistic Center
Merrimack Golf Course
Montilio's Bakeries
New Boston Quilter
Not Your Average Joes's
Pampered Chef
Phresh Act
Pinkerton Tavern
Play Ball
Priscilla's
Sebastian's Restaurant
Self-Awakening Yoga Studio
Shaw's
Sidekick Taekwondo
Taylor Made Florals, LLC
T-Bones
Texas Roadhouse
The Boston Park Plaza
The Chateau
The Chocolate Moose
Todd & Chamberlin
Tracey Grazio
Training Effects
Trans Metic Transmission
Treasured Memories Video
Ultra Tan
Village Bean
Windham Country Club
Yaka Inc. dba Partyrama
Yoga Balance of Life


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