1. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
26 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org
O
n Saturday, June 18the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
held its annual scholarship award ceremony. This year the chapter awarded scholarships to 45
area students distributing a total of $55,800.
Theeconomic impactofMSissubstantial.DirectandindirectcostsofMS,includinglostwages,(even
for thosewithinsurance coverage)areestimatedatmorethan$69,000annually,withatotallifetimecost
per familyof$3million.These challengesmakefundingacollegeeducationthatmuchharder.
Oneof thisyear’sscholarssays“thankyouforyourgenerouscontribution–Iamonlyoneofthemany
studentsyouhave giventhe opportunitytohelpgetaneducationandrelievethestressofmymother
who hasMS.”Anotherscholarship recipientsays“MyfamilyandIweresoexcitedwhenwereceivedthe
award. This scholarship willlightenthefinancialburdenonmyfamily.Iwillbeabletoattendthebest
collegefor my major”.“We knowsomanyfamiliesstrugglingtocopewiththefinancialimpactofMS,”
saysJim Roberts,presidentofNewJerseyMetroChapteroftheNationalMSSociety.“Thisiswhy
wearefightingthisoftenhiddeneffectofmultiplesclerosis–becauseMSshouldn’tstandintheway
of an education.”
Themorningwashosted
byboardmembersMeryl
RavitzandJoeRevellowho
arethedrivingforcesbehind
theprogram.Ms.Ravitz
whogrewupwithaparent
withMSexperiencedfirst-
handallofthestruggles
associatedwiththedisease.
Thisiswhyshe hasmade the MSScholarshipProgramherpassionandworkstirelesslyeachyeartosee
that all those whowould like to furthertheireducationhavetheopportunitytodoso.Mr.Revellowas
diagnosedwithMS in1995and sincethenhehastakentheleadinraisingmoneyformanyoftheNew
Jersey Metro Chapter’sprogramsandservices.JoeandhiswifeDenisemadethescholarshipprograma
priority fortheirfundraisingeffortsbecausetheyrecognizethestrugglesoffamilieswhoarecopingwith
thefinancialimpactofMSand believethatMSshouldn’tstandinthewayofaneducation.Formore
informationaboutthe NewJersey MetroChapter’sScholarshipProgrampleasecontactJenniferFallonat
201-967-5599,extension43203orjennifer.fallon@nmss.org.
You can find information on how to apply for 2012 scholarships byvisiting
the Chapter website in October at www.nationalMSsociety/org/NJM
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2. TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867 | 27
National Scholar
Krista Collopy makes her way into her third year as a National Scholar, awarded
$12,000 by our National organization funded by Teva Neuroscience
Krista is a person who truly lives the old adage, “When life gives you lemons,
make lemonade.” Her beloved mom struggles with progressive MS and her
devoted father was the family mainstay until he suddenly passed away from a
brain tumor. This left the role of primary caregiver to Krista, who was 9. Yet she is
grateful for all the help and love given to her from others, including the National
MS Society. For nine years she has been the captain of Krista’s Crew, a Bike MS
team founded by her dad. Over the years, she and her friends and family have
raised over $50,000 for the MS cause. She sees this feat as “paying it forward”
for all the support she has received.
Krista Collopy on receiving a scholarship from the National MS Society:
“I opened the scholarship hoping I would be lucky enough to receive $100 to buy
a few books for college. Reading that I was receiving a $12,000 scholarship came
completely unexpected. This award is going to help me go through college, and
that touches me greatly.
Today it is hard to find an organization that gives, but that is what the National MS Society does. The
scholarship is going to change my life, college is something I always wanted to do. Thank you because
now I know it is completely in my reach and I will not have to constantly worry about money.
This scholarship is going take me to great places.
And the most exciting part about it, it is going to be used
to give right back to where I got it from. In college, I want
to study Public Relations, because I really love to work with
people. My dream in life is to work for the National MS
Society.”
MS Hope for a Cure Scholars
This year the MS Hope for a Cure went to five NJ Metro
Chapter Scholars: Michele Farley, Maya Brandon, Amina
Hunt, Kayla Beltran and Gail Pedescleaux-Muckle. MS Hope For a Cure’s mission is to raise money
to find a cure for MS and to support those individuals and their families living with MS until a cure is
found. MS Hope for a Cure was founded by Elissa (EJ) Levy in 2007. Since being diagnosed with MS in
2002, EJ had been working closely with the National MS Society. The last four years MS Hope for a Cure
has generously given to the New Jersey Metro Chapter’s Scholarship program, helping our students
move their education forward.
Kristaseesthis
as‘payingit
forward’forall
thesupportshe
hasreceived.
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