DON FRANCISCO ELECTED TO MDA NATIONAL LEADERSHIP

TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 12, 2000 - Mario Kreutzberger, also known as "Don Francisco," the most popular Spanish-language television host in the United States, has been elected to the national voluntary leadership of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Kreutzberger, who lives in Miami with his wife, Teresa Muchnick, was elected to a one-year term as a national vice president of the voluntary health organization during a meeting of MDA's Board of Directors Thursday in Key Biscayne, Fla. During the 2000 MDA Labor Day Telethon, he made a stirring bilingual appeal for support of MDA.

MDA vice presidents provide counsel in their areas of expertise and assist the Association through advocacy and staunch support of its lifesaving programs and activities.

Kreutzberger stars on the popular television show, "Sábado Gigante" or "Gigantic Saturday." The hit show, which began in Chile, has run continuously since 1962, and is now broadcast worldwide via the cable network Galavisión.

During his 40-year television career, Kreutzberger has been involved with many charitable organizations. Since 1978, he has hosted Chile's annual "TELETHON," a televised campaign that's raised more than $160 million to build hospitals and help thousands of children with disabilities.

"MDA is very grateful to outstanding volunteers like Mario Kreutzberger for their leadership and dedication," MDA Senior Vice President and Executive Director Robert Ross said. "His commitment to the battle against neuromuscular diseases will help vitally in propelling our progress toward treatments and cures."

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 maintains clinics in Miami at the University of Miami School of Medicine, and the Kessenich Family MDA/ALS Center at the University of Miami.)