October 1, 2002

On Gratitude

On the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, viewers saw many people express heartfelt thanks to MDA for its programs of help and hope. Those comments remind us that what MDA does has enormous importance in tens of thousands of lives.

Those words of thanks also bring to mind the long list of people to whom MDA owes appreciation. I’m filled with gratitude for the literally millions of people who enabled the 2002 Labor Day Telethon to reach a record $58.3 million in pledges and contributions.

Of course, we owe an immeasurable debt to our national chairman and star, Jerry Lewis. Despite his own considerable ailments, he came through for “his kids” like the trouper he is. I’ve learned to expect no less from Jerry.

Jerry Lewis and Harold Schaitberger opened the 2002 MDA Telethon with a tribute to fire fighters.

I’m also grateful to the hosts and celebrity performers on our Telethon, the national and local sponsors, the families who were interviewed and profiled, the personnel at our “Love Network” television stations, and the volunteers, viewers and donors who responded to our efforts. A special thanks goes to Harold Schaitberger, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, who led a very moving tribute to the brave men and women of his organization. The IAFF, our largest sponsor, exceeded its previous year’s efforts for MDA, even in this difficult year for heroic fire fighters and emergency personnel.

MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Mattie Stepanek, 12, talked about the fun of MDA summer camp on the Telethon.

Another fellow who’s earned our deepest thanks is Mattie Stepanek, MDA’s National Goodwill Ambassador. As a youngster who’s risen far above the devastation neuromuscular disease has wreaked in his family, he added greatly to our broadcast, through his poetry, his sincerity and his boyish charm.

Among MDA volunteers to whom I’m grateful, a shining example is 2003 MDA National Personal Achievement Award Recipient Amy Dunaway-Haney . Since childhood MDA has helped Amy cope with her limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, while her parents and siblings helped us as volunteer leaders. Today Amy serves as an MDA support group leader and imparts the MDA message to her students and fellow teachers. Without people like Amy, who share their personal experience of neuromuscular disease with others similarly affected, MDA would be much less effective.

Jim McCaslin, Harley-Davidson President & COO, presents Telethon co-host Jann Carl with part of the company's 2002 donation to MDA. Harley-Davidson is making MDA the single charitable beneficiary of its year-long 100th anniversary celebration.

Another of our outstanding sponsors is Harley-Davidson Motor Co., which has made its 100th anniversary celebration an opportunity to assist MDA. Harley-Davidson dealers and customers literally drive hundreds of thousands of miles every year raising funds for MDA, and they’re outdoing themselves in 2002-2003.

I thank all those across the country who contribute to our sponsors’ events in our behalf. Your participation forms a vital part of our support system.

Your donations, volunteer activities and other forms of support prove the truth of the maxim, “People Help MDA Because MDA Helps People.”

We’re in this together, and we’re proud to do our part and deeply grateful when good friends do theirs.

With every best wish…

The Ross Report Archive