FAMOUS METRO-NEW YORK ATHLETES TO PUT THEIR MUSCLE BEHIND THE FIGHT FOR A CURE AT THE 14th ANNUAL MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION’s (MDA's) MUSCLE TEAM® GALA & BENEFIT AUCTION ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 4

VIP & Media Reception At Chelsea Piers, Pier 60

MDA's Muscle Team Gala Expected To Raise Over $1 Million

NEW YORK, NY -- Famous Metro-New York athletes will be present at a VIP & Media Reception at Muscular Dystrophy Association’s ("MDA") 14th Annual Muscle Team® Gala & Benefit Auction on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 6 p.m. at Chelsea Piers, Pier 60 (Hudson River & 23rd St.).

The 2011 Muscle Team® consists of the following top athletes from the NY Jets, NY Giants, NJ Nets, NY Knicks, NY Rangers, NY Red Bulls and NYRA:

KRIS JENKINS, NY JETS
LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, NY JETS
BRAYLON EDWARDS, NY JETS
BRYAN THOMAS, NY JETS
STEVE WEATHERFORD, NY JETS
MATHIAS KIWANUKA, NY GIANTS
HAKEEM NICKS, NY GIANTS
TERRELL THOMAS, NY GIANTS
MICHAEL BOLEY , NY GIANTS
LAWRENCE TYNES, NY GIANTS
MATT DODGE, NY GIANTS
CHRIS SNEE, NY GIANTS
RAMSES BARDEN , NY GIANTS
DANNY WARE, NY GIANTS
BRANDON DUBINSKY, NY RANGERS
TONEY DOUGLAS, NY KNICKS
LANDRY FIELDS, NY KNICKS
TIM REAM, NY RED BULLS

JOEL LINDPERE, NY RED BULLS
RAMON DOMINGUEZ, NYRA JOCKEY
MAYLAN STUDART, NYRA JOCKEY

The 2011 Muscle Team® will also be joined by famous Muscle Team Alumni.

Each member of the 2011 Muscle Team® will be paired with their MDA Buddy -- a child from the Metro-New York area who is affected by a neuromuscular disease.

"We are excited to be celebrating the 14th Annual Muscle Team® Gala & Benefit Auction,” said Emily Newberry, Associate Director of Business Development, MDA. “The athletes comprising the 2011 Muscle Team® will be more exciting than ever!"

With the help of Metro-New York athletes putting their muscle behind the search for a cure over the past 13 years, MDA’s Muscle Team® has raised almost $10 million. MDA's Muscle Team® is expected to exceed the $10 million mark this year as the 2011 Muscle Team® Gala & Benefit Auction is expected to raise more than $1 million for those affected by a neuromuscular disease. All of the monies raised will fund MDA's research and program services here in Metro-New York.

The 2011 Muscle Team will be led by Coaches Joanne Minieri of Forest City Ratner Companies and Joseph Tranchina of Deutsche Bank. John McGinley of JP Morgan Chase will receive the 2011 Champion of Spirit Award for his tremendous passion, drive and commitment towards making a difference in the lives of people living with neuromuscular disease.

2011 Muscle Team Sponsors include: Presenting Sponsor, CITGO, Benjamin Maintenance, Platinum Maintenance, Unity International Group, American Building Maintenance, Goldman Sachs & Co., Grubb & Ellis, Jones Lang LaSalle, Structure Tone, Ted Moudis Associates, just to name a few. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the 2011 Muscle Team.

For tickets to the 2011 Muscle Team® Gala & Benefit Auction or information about MDA’s services, please call Emily Newberry at: (212) 682-5272 or visit www.nymuscleteam.org.

ABOUT THE 2011 MUSCLE TEAM® GALA & BENEFIT AUCTION

MDA's 2011 Muscle Team® Gala & Benefit Auction is a high profile reception and fundraiser, providing guests the opportunity to mix and mingle with their favorite Metro-New York athletes! The annual event gathers Metro-New York's top athletes who have chosen to put their muscle behind the search to find a cure for neuromuscular diseases. Each athlete is paired with an MDA Buddy - a local child affected by neuromuscular disease. The athletes meet their MDA Buddies at a pre-event press conference, receive awards from their Buddies at the Muscle Team® 2011 Gala & Benefit Auction, and often build relationships that last long after the event.

Guests will meet and greet the entire 2011 Muscle Team®, their MDA Buddies, other celebrities, and top business executives. The evening consists of a VIP & Media Reception, pre-dinner cocktails, and a gourmet sit-down dinner at Chelsea Piers' distinctive NYC waterfront setting - Pier 60. The event is highlighted by live and silent auctions consisting of one-of-a-kind fantasy packages, unique sports memorabilia, theater and concert tickets, trips, and a chance to create a lifetime of memories by sponsoring a child to MDA Summer Camp!


ABOUT MDA

The MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat more than 40 neuromuscular diseases through its programs of worldwide research, comprehensive client and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. It is important to note that the dollars raised will benefit thousands of New York residents with neuromuscular disease. The MDA relies on the sole support of private contributors and the business community.
For additional information about MDA, please visit: http://www.mdausa.org/.

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World’s Top Telethon Embraces Shorter Format to Increase Audience and Income

TUCSON, Ariz., October 6, 2010 – The Muscular Dystrophy Association today announced an important change to its perennial Labor Day Telethon, which for 45 years has galvanized tremendous public support for MDA’s lifesaving mission. The Association will shave more than 15 hours off its previous 21.5-hour Telethon format. The move is central to a strategy to increase audience for and income from its 2011 Labor Day telecast. The 2010 Telethon raised $58.9 million.

“Ever since pioneering the Telethon as a fundraising, education and sponsor-recognition program, MDA has enjoyed unparalleled support from television and cable stations across America,” said Gerald C. Weinberg, MDA president and CEO and Telethon executive producer. “Our ‘Love Network’ of some 170 stations annually helps us reach an audience of some 40 million Americans. The stations’ efforts, and those our national, regional and local sponsors, have been truly outstanding.

“What we’re doing now has amazing potential,” Weinberg added. “The shorter format means every hour of our show will be in the extended prime-time window of 6 p.m. to midnight in every time zone. This means our live, or tape-delayed Sunday broadcast with live local segments, will be even more attractive to stations that otherwise primarily would be running repeats from last season. The talent we’ll be attracting will be even bigger, since every moment of our prime-time show will have a tremendous audience.”

With its unrivaled Telethon track record, the Association could very well experience a net gain in total markets reached by its venerable show in 2011. There are more than 1,200 television stations serving communities across America, and it should be much easier for stations to clear six broadcast hours for proven live programming, than it has been to clear nearly two days of programming for the Telethon.

Weinberg explained, “The combination of buzz surrounding the new MDA Labor Day Telethon, and the tremendous goodwill that stations, on-air personalities and sponsors have consistently enjoyed by partnering with MDA, are a powerful combination. That’s why we’re so optimistic about the new show’s ability to increase audience reached and income in 2011.”

“There’s nothing like our Telethon,” noted Lee Miller, longtime Telethon producer. “In 2010, some 65 top acts performed, including some amazing production numbers by Tyce Diorio of “So You Think You Can Dance” as well as top Broadway and Las Vegas show segments. Our 2011 prime-time focus should make it easier to fill every moment of the show with the best headline entertainment.”

Rich MDA Telethon History
Over the years, countless megastars have appeared on the Telethon to help families affected by muscular dystrophy. And the surprise Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis reunion organized by Frank Sinatra still is one of the 10 best television moments of all time.

The who’s who of historical MDA Telethon appearances by contemporary stars includes: Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg, Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, Adam Sandler, Nigel Lythgoe, Nancy O’Dell, Donald Trump, Neil Patrick Harris, Larry King, Jimmy Fallon, William Shatner, Alison Sweeney, Wayne Brady, Drew Carey, Regis Philbin, Dr. Phil, Howie Mandel, Jason Alexander, Jann Carl, Woody Harrelson, Billy Crystal, Alan Alda, Tom Arnold, Terry Fator, Carrot Top, Martha Stewart, Bill Cosby and Don Francisco of “Sabado Gigante”.

Consider contemporary musical acts, too, and it’s easy to see why the MDA Telethon is so much a part of Americana. The Telethon audience has enjoyed Celine Dion, Garth Brooks, Mariah Carey, Clint Black, Cher, David Archuleta, John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting, Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias, Train, Aretha Franklin, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Elton John, Wynnona Judd, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Paul McCartney, Mindy McCready, John Mellencamp, Reba McEntire, Carlos Santana, LeAnn Rimes, Tom Petty, Dolly Parton, Sugarland, Spice Girls, Stevie Wonder, Donny and Marie Osmond, Clay Aiken, Chicago, KISS, Jon Bon Jovi, Kid Rock, Tracy Lawrence, Billy Ray Cyrus, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers and the Rolling Stones. Even the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, performed on the MDA Telethon.

National ALS Registry Now Open

Researchers hope to gain a better understanding of ALS by compiling a national database of patient information

• The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has opened the National ALS Registry at www.cdc.gov/als.
  
• By compiling a national database of information, the ATSDR hopes to learn more about the incidence and prevalence of ALS, how the disease develops, and what types of treatments and interventions are beneficial.
  
• People with ALS can enroll themselves and complete surveys about their and their families' health histories, as well as environmental, occupational and other exposures. Privacy measures safeguard the confidentiality of personal information.
  
  For additional information, please read the full feature on ALS News Online.
  
  

Low-Dose Ataluren Shows Some Benefit in DMD/BMD

A new analysis of a trial of ataluren in DMD/BMD due to nonsense mutations shows a low dose may slow decline in walking ability

• A phase 2b, 174-person trial of ataluren in DMD/BMD due to nonsense mutations showed the low-dose regimen, but not the high-dose regimen, resulted in a longer distance walked at the end of 48 weeks than the placebo.
  
• Those on the lower dose walked an average of 29.7 meters (about 97 feet) more in six minutes than the high-dose or placebo groups, although all groups' walking distance declined over the course of the trial.
  
• The findings make it more likely than did an initial analysis that development of ataluren for nonsense-mutation-related DMD/BMD will continue.
  
  For additional information, please read the Quest News Online feature.
  

Intravenous AVI4658 Shows Safety, Benefit in DMD

AVI BioPharma reports intravenous AVI4658 appears safe and beneficial to those with DMD who have mutations in or around exon 51, following a 26-week study

• Nineteen people with DMD with mutations in the area of exon 51 of the dystrophin gene received weekly infusions of AVI4658 for 12 weeks and were followed for an additional 14 weeks.
  
• AVI4658 is designed to cause skipping of exon 51 of the dystrophin gene and to cause synthesis of functional dystrophin protein.
  
• The drug was well tolerated, caused substantial dystrophin production in some participants as measured by muscle biopsies at week 14, and did not result in an immune response to the newly made dystrophin.
  
• A phase 2 trial that will test higher doses is being planned.
  

For the complete story, please read MDA's Quest News Online article .

Professor, Author and ALS Patient Tony Judt Posthumously Honored by MDA at 10th Annual MDA’s Wings Over Wall Street ®

Professor, Author and ALS Patient Tony Judt Posthumously Honored by MDA at 10th Annual MDA’s Wings Over Wall Street ®

NEW YORK- Sept. 17, 2010-New York University professor and esteemed author Tony Judt will be posthumously honored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association at the 10th Annual Wings Over Wall Street event on Thursday, September 30, 2010. Judt, 62, passed away from ALS on Aug. 6,2010.

MDA’s 10th Annual Wings Over Wall is a labor of love, conceived and fueled by people affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This event is a celebration of hope for a cure that raises awareness and much needed research dollars in the battle to stop ALS.

Judt will be honored with the Spirit Award, an award given to a person who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and dedication to the eradication of ALS by raising awareness, advocating for funding, and promoting research for a cure.

After being diagnosed with ALS in 2008 Judt had continued to make strides in his career, voicing his opinion and sharing his experience with ALS through his writing that was received by different journals throughout the world.

Judt was born in London, and was educated at King’s College, Cambridge and the École Normale Supérieure, Paris. He was a university professor and the director of the Remarque Institute, which is dedicated to the study of Europe and which he founded in 1995, at New York University, at the time of his death.

Judt was the author/editor of 12 books as well as a frequent contributor to several European and US journals including The New York Times. His most recent book, Postwar: A History of Europe since 1945, was one of the New York Times Book Review’s Ten Best Books of 2005, the winner of the Council on Foreign Relations Arthur Ross Book Award, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. In 2007 he was awarded the Hannah Arendt Prize in Germany.

Judt’s memory lives on in his wife, Jennifer and 2 children Daniel and Nicholas.

For additional event information and to purchase event tickets, please visit www.wingsoverwallstreet.org or contact Kaylan Scagliola at (212) 682-5272 or kscagliola@mdausa.org.

About MDA’s ALS Division
MDA’s ALS Division offers the most comprehensive range of services of any voluntary health agency in the nation. MDA is the world leader among voluntary agencies in fighting ALS, offering the most comprehensive range of services. People with ALS receive care at 34 MDA/ALS centers or at any of the 225 MDA outpatient clinics across the country.

About MDA
MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.

-MDA-

Empire State Building Shines for MDA

The Empire State Building image ® is a registered trademark of ESBC and is used with permission.

NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2010 - In recognition of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon this Labor Day weekend, New York City’s Empire State Building will put on a special lighting display on Sept. 5

The upper levels of the building will be bathed in alternating blue and white lights from sunset to 2 a.m.
Recognition for MDA is part of the building’s “Lighting Partner” program that helps promote the activities of charitable organizations throughout the year.
“We’re pleased the Empire State Building is again signaling the importance of MDA’s lifesaving mission to millions of New York City residents,” Gerald C. Weinberg, MDA President and CEO said. “Our Telethon tradition started in Manhattan, so it’s especially meaningful for The Empire State Building to be dressed MDA blue and white for the weekend of our 21½-hour broadcast that’s expected to be watched by more than 40 million Americans.”

The 2010 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon will be televised live on WWOR-TV My9 from Metropolis Studio in New York beginning Sunday, Sept. 5 at 9 p.m.
MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.
For further information about The Empire State Building lighting or other MDA programs and events in the Manhattan area, please contact Director of Business Development Kaylan Scagliola at (212) 682-5272 or at kscagliola@mdausa.org.
- MDA -