The mission of the National MS Society is to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. We do this by providing comprehensive services and funding national research programs

Description:
To accomplish our mission the Upstate New York Chapter provides comprehensive services such as counseling, support and self-help groups, recreational activities, referrals, education and advocacy to 8,000 people with MS and their families throughout Upstate New York. The Upstate New York Chapter is not supported financially by the National MS Society but actually sends a portion of the proceeds from fund raising to the National offices to be used for National MS Research and National programs, such as teleconferences and educational literature.

History:
The National MS Society began as a small group of people who our founder, Sylvia Lawry, found by advertising in a NYC newspaper in 1948. That first group expanded throughout the country and the Rochester Area Multiple Sclerosis Society (RAMS) began in the 1950's with a local group of people with MS and their friends and families. RAMS became one of the Al Sigl Center partner agencies in the 1960's. By the 1980's, RAMS encompassed Monroe, Livingston, Wayne and Ontario counties. They were one of the first chapters of the National MS Society to have a clinical day care facility, recreation department and a clinic (at Strong Memorial Hospital). In 1998, at the National offices request, RAMS consolidated with the Syracuse and Binghamton-area chapters to form the Upstate New York Chapter. The consolidation was successful and brought improved services to thousand more people with MS. In 2000, the Albany-area Chapter also joined us. We now serve 8,000 people with MS in 42 counties throughout Upstate New York. The Chapter Headquarters are still in Rochester and we are still an Al Sigl Center partner agency.

Contact person: Casey O'Connor, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (585) 442-2817

Address:

1650 South Avenue, Suite 100 Rochester, NY 14620 (See a map)

Directions:

Exit 390 at East Henrietta Road exit (MCC)and go North on East Henrietta Road past Westfall Road. East Henrietta Road splits just past Westfall Road. Bear right and it turns into South Avenue. The building is on. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: right on property, 2 minute walk