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Newsletter—Fall 2017: Great Nonprofits | GivingTuesday Match | MdDS in the Press | Acknowledgments

Recognized as a Top-Rated Nonprofit

The Foundation is honored to receive a Top-Rated Award for 2017 from Great Nonprofits. Their Top-Rated Awards are the only people’s choice awards where volunteers, donors, and people served by nonprofits can express their appreciation and share stories of inspiration. We thank you for your kind contributions, enabling us to earn a spot on the prestigious Top-Rated Nonprofits List and proudly display this badge.

Matching Challenge Set for November 28.

Now in its 6th year, this GivingTuesday is set to be the biggest global day of giving yet. With the support of two incredible organizations, this one day of giving can truly advance our mission to further MdDS research. If you're one of our 2,500 Facebook followers, you probably know who we are talking about.

The Gates Foundation and Facebook

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that it will match donations to nonprofits like the MdDS Foundation made on Giving Tuesday, either through a Facebook donate button or individual fundraisers set up for the Foundation. The match will begin at 8AM EST (5AM PST). To maximize your gift, Facebook is waiving fees on donations to nonprofits on November 28.

📅 Please set an alert on your phone, or write on your calendar, to make a donation on Facebook on 11/28.

50,000 Reasons for You to Set Up a Fundraiser

The Gates Foundation will match up to $50,000 per nonprofit ($1,000 per fundraiser, up to 50 per nonprofit) until the $2 million in matching funds runs out. Thinking about it, $50,000 raised + $50,000 matched = $100,000! This could fund two research assistants for a year. Or it could fund one assistant, purchase equipment to track eye movements during experiments, purchase a research-grade transcranial electrical current stimulation system, AND cover the cost of updating our informational brochure.

Set up your fundraiser today. Please have your fundraiser set up and ready to go when the matching starts at 8AM on Tuesday. Click here to get started.

HELPFUL TIPS so your friends don't support you early and donate before the matching starts:
1) Put 11/28 in your fundraiser name.
2) Talk about the match in your Story instead of using the "I'm raising money for…" boring stuff.
3) Show everyone how hopeful you are! Set your goal at $1,000.

In the hours leading up to the match, we will be sharing links to your fundraisers on our Facebook Page. Let us know how else we can help. ~ The MdDS Foundation

Donations made through Facebook’s charitable giving tools on November 28th will be matched up to $50,000 per nonprofit.

Our brochure is being updated to be even more useful to new MdDS patients. For medical professionals, an at-a-glance card will help them understand how to identify, diagnose and treat patients more quickly. When ready, volunteers will send them with new business cards to a growing list of addressees. LEARN MORE >

Washington Post: Health & Science
By Marlene Cimons, September 30, 2017.

An informative interview with board member Cathy Helowicz, MdDS sufferer since 2007, and Yoon-Hee Cha, MD, our principal researcher.

"Her dizziness started after two days on a boat, and then it never went away." READ MORE >

Acknowledgements

Tribute Gifts in Memory of Virginia Zawacki

For all who live with MdDS; in memory of my wife.
— Julian Zawacki

In memory of my mother, Virginia Zawacki
— Mike and Deb Russo

Butch and Terry Abbate

In memory of my beloved aunt, Virginia.
— Karen Bush & Family

James and Linda Fenlason

Mike and Terri Gibson

In memory of Virginia Zawacki, Deb’s mom. Our deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Marilyn and Roger Josselyn

Victoria Kupiec

Linda McManus

Paula and Don Moran

Jack and Linda Paydos

Carmen, Susan, and Emily Russo (Matching from John Hancock)

David and Deborah Russo

Mary Silva

In memory of our friend, Virginia Zawacki.
— Mr. and Mrs. S. Slowik

Ursula and James St. Amand

Barbara and George Stolgitis

Kathleen and Donald Tassinari

Patricia Hogan Welch

Gina and James Whipple

The Wojtowiczs

Honor Donations

In recognition and honor of a new life, Addison Elizabeth, and grandma Deb.
— Linda McManus

In honor of all those who suffer from MdDS. May today be better than yesterday. And may someday soon, there be a cure.
— Lisa Shusterman

We sincerely thank TSgt. George Alvarado for his dedication to his mother and to the MdDS community. This map shows all the locations he mailed brochures to during his year+ of service as a volunteer, all while full-time active duty in the US Air Force.

We’re proud to share our full and complete story with the world. To reach the GuideStar Platinum level, we added extensive information to our nonprofit profile: basic contact and organizational information; in-depth financial information; quantitative information about goals, strategies, and progress toward our mission. To learn more about GuideStar Platinum, visit guidestar.org/platinum