Jimmie Heuga to Play Prominent Outreach Role for the Jimmie Heuga Center Endowment
Posted Friday, March 13, 2009
Becomes first campaign fundraising and public education director
Edwards, Colo. • March 13, 2009 – Jimmie Heuga, founder of The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), has been appointed the first campaign fundraising and public education director for the Jimmie Heuga Center Endowment, the Endowment Board announced. In this outreach role, Jimmie will raise awareness and solicit contributions to support The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis’s health and wellness programs and services now and in perpetuity.
"As founder of The Heuga Center, Jimmie has inspired so many people with MS to live a healthy life in spite of their disease,” said Dick Hicks, The Jimmie Heuga Center Endowment’s board president. “Our goal is to support Jimmie’s legacy by engaging donors to help more people and families living with MS through the endowment. In these challenging economic times, it’s more important than ever to find ways to diversify the Center’s funding. The endowment is another funding source that will ensure we continue to position Jimmie’s health and wellness philosophy as a leader in the care and treatment of people living with MS.”
The Jimmie Heuga Center Endowment is a 501(c)(3) organization separate from The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis. It was created in 1997 by Waldon (Brock) and Evalyn Byers who have made generous gifts to the endowment to ensure the longevity and financial stability of The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis. The endowment continues to grow under the leadership of the Endowment Board of Directors.
Heuga, the bronze medalist in slalom skiing at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympic Games, joined Billy Kidd as the first American men to earn Olympic medals in the alpine events. In 1970, Heuga was diagnosed with MS. He was advised to avoid physical activity at the time of his diagnosis. In 1984, Heuga founded The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis to challenge conventional medical advice and share his program of physical activity, goal-setting and psychological motivation that improved his physical condition and outlook on his life and MS.
“It’s an honor to educate the public about the exceptional work done by The Heuga Center,” Heuga said. “I’ve always been dedicated to maintaining my overall health because it helps me live the best life possible with my MS. And I look forward to helping others overcome their challenges through our CAN DO, CAN DO 2 and JUMPSTART Programs.”
For his inspirational leadership in the field of MS care and treatment, Heuga has received numerous honors from organizations, including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Texaco Star Award, President’s Council on Physical Fitness, and World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.
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