The Story Behind MaSquerade 
Most of us have a special person in our lives that has been affected by some type of hardship. For my family, that person is my daughter who was diagnosed 14 years ago with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). She was only 19 years old when she was diagnosed, and her diagnosis continues to be a daily challenge for her, my family, and myself.
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system. MS often affects a person’s vision, speech, their ability to walk, and numerous small motor functions. There are 450,000 Americans currently diagnosed with MS, and about 200 people worldwide are diagnosed with MS on a weekly basis (click here for more information on multiple sclerosis).
In 2002, my family decided that we needed to do something to help improve the lives of those affected by MS. We formed a non-profit organization and started a fundraiser called MaSquerade, and in our first year we raised $7,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. To date, we have raised over $100,000 for MS research. Compared to many other fundraisers in the community, we are small. But we are mighty in our commitment to finding a cure and in our determination to grow MaSquerade into a force to be reckoned with in Tampa Bay.
The 9th Annual MaSquerade will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2011. Our goal is to surpass our donations from last year and to continue to spread the word about MS, research, the National MS Society, and the dollars needed to find a cure. We are currently seeking corporate sponsorships to aid in our fundraising efforts. As a corporate sponsor, not only will you be participating in an evening of fun and entertainment, but you will also be aligning yourself with a wonderful cause that is working hard to find a cure for those who suffer from MS.
Thank you for your support of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Sincerely,
Ande Felder
Co-Founder, MaSquerade of Tampa Bay, Inc.
