MDA HOLIDAY CARDS:
EIGHT YEARS OF WISHES & HOPE

TUCSON, Ariz., September 2003 — For the eighth year, the Muscular Dystrophy Association has selected original works by artists who have neuromuscular diseases to appear on MDA holiday cards.

“Our Holiday Wishes cards have become a beloved end-of-year tradition for Americans across the country,” MDA President & CEO Robert Ross said. “This year’s selection features another winning array of imaginative, beautiful artworks created by talented artists in the MDA family.”

Proceeds of sales from the MDA Holiday Wishes Card Collection will support MDA’s worldwide research program in search of cures and treatments, and its network of clinics and life-enhancing services for adults and children. MDA’s program covers more than 40 neuromuscular diseases, including nine forms of muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), spinal muscular atrophy, myasthenia gravis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

The cards are available at $16 for a box of 25, plus shipping and handling charges. Cards can be ordered in an assortment or by individual design, and personalized imprinting is available for an additional charge.

To request a Holiday Wishes catalog, or to order cards, phone (800) 223-6011 or write to MDA Holiday Wishes, 3300 E. Sunrise Drive, Tucson, AZ 85718-3299. The cards also can be seen and ordered online at MDA’s Web site, www.mda.org. To ensure best selection, order by Dec. 5.

Along with the six selected holiday cards, MDA also offers cards with messages in Spanish and a Hanukkah card.

This year’s selection includes “Sledding on Hillcrest,” a nostalgic oil painting by the late William Titus of Watchung, N.J., who was affected by inclusion-body myositis. It represents the artist’s childhood memories of sledding on Hillcrest Road.

New York artist Milda Vizbar is represented in the holiday collection for the sixth time, this year by the mixed-media creation “Sing Out.” The cheerfully colored piece depicts three children caroling, one child being a wheelchair user. Vizbar, who has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, is a designer and artist who has led art workshops for children at MDA summer camps.

“The Tree” by Jeff Petrie of Overland Park, Kan., is a detailed computerized piece depicting a decorated Christmas tree, and is Petrie’s second appearance in the Holiday Wishes collection. Petrie, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, does freelance graphic design work.

Jack MacColeman of Troy, Mich., is represented in the collection for the fifth year with “Holiday Sleigh Ride,” an acrylic piece reflecting the artist’s love of animals and nature. The award-winning artist is affected by McArdle’s disease.

“God with Us,” a computerized creation by the late Elisabeth Howell of Eugene, Ore., captures the essence of the season with its depiction of Mary and Joseph holding baby Jesus. Howell had spinal muscular atrophy.

Elsha Stockseth of South Weber, Utah, created the sixth piece in this year’s card collection. The watercolor “Peaceful Winter” depicts a calm chapel in the snow. Stockseth has spinal muscular atrophy.

All of the artists have artwork in the MDA Art Collection. The Collection, which comprises some 300 works by artists with neuromuscular diseases, is displayed at MDA national headquarters in Tucson, Ariz. Selected pieces from the Collection have appeared in art exhibits across the nation.