Volunteer Team Award
National Multiple Sclerosis Society,
Southern California & Nevada Chapter
Ameriprise Financial
“Everyone seems to know someone who has MS,” said Barry Engelman, an advisor with Ameriprise Financial in Los Angeles, CA, explaining in part his team’s impressive fundraising success on behalf of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Southern California and Nevada chapter.
The team has raised $600,000 over the past nine years through a combination of sponsored walks, bicycle runs, poker tournaments, kickball games, and other activities. “We, as a family, made a decision to do everything we could to raise money to find a cure after our son was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago,” Mr. Engelman said. The fundraising team has grown every year, drawing advisors from nearby Ameriprise Financial offices.
“As they came out for events, they became devoted to the cause. There has been an ever-widening group of supporters as they spread the word to their clients, family, and friends,” Mr. Engelman said. “We’d like to think our activities and contributions have helped speed the research that brings us closer to a cure,” he said. Indeed, Mr. Engelman’s son has started on the first oral MS drug ever available. “This is very satisfying work — we have a number of clients with family members who have MS, and we’re doing something for them,” he said.