How You Can Help

1. Register for an event or donate to a team.
2. Participate in the Virtual Express if you can't attend an event.
3. Promote the event in your community.
4. Honor someone with MS in your fundraising efforts.
5. Educate yourself, your friends and family about The Heuga Center.
6. Sign up to receive The Heuga Center’s monthly e-newsletter.
7. Make a general contribution to The Heuga Center.
8. Tell supporters we're a top-rated nonprofit.

Register or Donate to a Team

Proceeds from the Vertical Express support The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis. The Heuga Center leads the way with comprehensive programs that empower people and their families with MS to transform and improve their quality of life. Visit www.heuga.org

How to Participate

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Participate in the Virtual Express

Can’t attend an event or ski? Join the Virtual Express for MS. Participate online and raise funds from home.

Proceeds from the Virtual Express support The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis.The Heuga Center leads the way with comprehensive programs that empower people and families living with MS to transform and
improve their quality of life.

How to Participate Virtually

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Promote the event in your community

Hang posters at your office or local stores. Right mouse click on the poster of your choice and choose "save as:"
VEMS poster, 8.5 x 11, no dates
VEMS poster with dates, 8 1/2 x 11
VEMS poster with dates, 11 x 17

Include Vertical Express artwork on your web site and in your e-mail signature, linking the artwork to www.verticalexpress.org. Encourage supporters to include Vertical Express artwork on their web sites and e-mail signatures.

Download various logos here (right mouse click, choose "save as":

VEMS web banner
VEMS logo - vertical 180 pixels
VEMS logo - vertical 290 pixels
VEMS logo - vertical 400 pixels
VEMS logo - horizontal 180 pixels, version 1
VEMS logo - horizontal 180 pixels, version 2
VEMS logo - horizontal 290 pixels, version 1
VEMS logo - horizontal 290 pixels, version 2
VEMS logo - horizontal 400 pixels, version 1
VEMS logo - horizontal 400 pixels, version 2

Write a news release about your fundraising efforts and e-mail it to your local media. Download a news release template to start.

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Honor Someone with MS in Your Fundraising Efforts

Honor someone with MS in your fundraising letters, web pages, e-mails and phone calls. By honoring someone with MS, you will help The Heuga Center connect our mission of serving people and families living with MS to the Vertical Express events. Spread awareness about MS and The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis.

Educate Yourself, Your Friends & Family

• About The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis
• The Heuga Center’s MS Programs & Services
• How We Touch Lives
• The Heuga Center: A Little Non-profit that CAN DO

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About The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis

The Heuga Center leads the way with comprehensive programs that empower people and families living with MS to transform and improve their quality of life. The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Center was founded in 1984 by former Olympic skier and bronze medalist, Jimmie Heuga, after he revolutionized the management of this incurable disease through a personal program of exercise, nutrition, and psychological well-being. Jimmie’s courage and innovation continue to inspire The Heuga Center’s work today. Read more …

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The Heuga Center’s MS Programs & Services

With an interdisciplinary team of MS experts in fields such as neurology, psychology, occupational, physical and speech therapy, and nutrition, The Heuga Center’s CAN DO, CAN DO 2 and JUMPSTART programs provide supportive environment where participants learn how to minimize the impact of MS.

By addressing the physical, emotional, intellectual and social aspects of MS, our empowering programs teach people distinct tools and strategies that help them maximize their quality of life, and shift their focus from what they cannot do to what they can do. Read more …

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How We Touch Lives
Funds raised through the Vertical Express for MS will touch more than 6,000 people next year, through education, events and programming. In 2006, we offered our unique programs and services in 15 states and 3 Canadian provinces, and globally through the internet.

Following are some of the ways donations to The Heuga Center have made a difference in the lives of people and families living with multiple sclerosis in 2007.

• 29 MS events in the U.S. and Canada
• 25 Health care professionals symposiums in 13 states and 1 Canadian province
• 10 One-day JUMPSTART Programs in 7 states
• 8 Patient seminars in 5 states
• 3 Five-day CAN DO Programs in 2 states
• 1 2-day CAN DO 2 Program
• 6,700 people directly touched by our programs and services. An additional 3,675 attended MS events for a total of more than 10,000 people served by the Center in 2007.

Plus: Continuing collaboration with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Multiple Sclerosis Coalition, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, MS care centers and support groups in order to further MS awareness, education and management.

Read more …

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The Heuga Center: A Little Nonprofit that CAN DO
Article in Winter 2005 Issue of Vail Valley Magazine

“…As we ascend through deep pine forests and golden aspens, the diminutive, 44-year-old mother of two painstakingly drags her left leg with each step. The reluctant leg is simply not receiving the “lift” signal from her brain. Bob, ever-attentive yet not hovering, lends a hand when needed and reminds her frequently to stop and rest. I am suddenly acutely aware that this hike’s “moderate” rating is purely a matter of perspective.

The first time I met Cindy was in 2002 when she came to The Heuga Center’s CAN DO Program® in Vail. Her goal then was to learn how to manage washing her own hair again. She came away with knowledge, tools, a plan, and, most important, the attitude to make that happen … and so much more. As she pulls herself up the mountain, Cindy speaks of her long walk with multiple sclerosis…” Read more ...

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Sign up for The Heuga Center’s e-newsletter.

Sign up for the monthly e-newsletter by e-mailing Sandi Tamkin.

Issues include: MS Tip of the Month, Heuga Center In the News, Program/Event Calendar and more.

Make a Contribution to The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis

Not a Vertical Express for MS participant or donor? You can still change the lives of people with MS by making a contribution to The Heuga Center.

 Donate online today.

The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis earns coveted rating for fiscal responsibility

Edwards, Colo. • Nov. 27, 2007 – The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis earned four stars, the highest rating possible, from nonprofit evaluator Charity Navigator this month for its ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances. Charity Navigator is the nation’s largest and most-utilized, independent evaluator of nonprofit organizations.

“We are extremely proud to be awarded Charity Navigator’s highest rating,” said Brian Hutchinson, CEO and president of The Heuga Center. “Our donors can be confident that their dollars are used efficiently to help people and families living with MS. Charity Navigator’s recognition of our accomplishments proves that we are worthy of our donors’ trust.”
For full news release …

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