MDA FACTS

If you are like me, you worry about how your money is spent when you donate to charities. I hope the following fact sheet puts your mind at ease. The MDA is committed to giving .77 cents of every dollar received, directly to research, services, and to public and professional health education.

What is MDA?

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.

What is muscular dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic muscle diseases marked by progressive degeneration of voluntary muscles. MDA’s program includes nine main forms of muscular dystrophy and more than 30 other neuromuscular diseases which vary in genetic basis, age of onset, rate of progression and muscles affected.

What does MDA do to fight muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular diseases?

MDA spends $65 a minute, every minute of the year, supporting some 330 research projects worldwide searching for treatments and cures for the more than 40 diseases in its program.

How does MDA help in our community?

MDA has the most comprehensive program of any voluntary health agency in the country, providing the following services:

• Clinics — MDA’s hospital-affiliated clinics are staffed by top health professionals skilled in the diagnosis and medical management of neuromuscular diseases. Services may include occupational, physical and respiratory therapy; diagnostic tests; genetic counseling; and more at Rady’s Children Hospital.
• Summer camp — Local youngsters ages 6-17 with neuromuscular diseases can attend a free week of camp, with activities like fishing, dancing, games, arts & crafts, and more at Camp Cuyamaca.
• Support groups — Local groups offer emotional and practical support to individuals affected by neuromuscular disease, their families and caregivers.

• Equipment help — MDA accepts donations of gently used durable medical equipment, repairs these items as needed, and provides them to individuals with neuromuscular disease to enhance mobility, independence and quality of life.
• Free annual flu shots
• Online support services are offered through the e-community myMDA and myMuscleTeam, an online service that helps individuals and families coordinate volunteer help.
• Advocacy and community outreach
• Public and professional health education — MDA provides the latest research and health care news in print and online (mda.org); sponsors educational conferences; and offers informational publications covering all the diseases under MDA’s umbrella, plus MDA programs and services.

How efficient is MDA?

Of every dollar MDA spends, 77 cents goes directly to research, services, and public and professional health education.

What do your dollars buy?

$30                        Flu shot

$65                        One minute of research

$100                      One support group session

$150                      One occupational, physical, respiratory or speech therapy consultation

$300                      Professional fees related to initial diagnostic work-up at an MDA clinic

$500                      Annual repairs of durable medical equipment, including wheelchairs, leg

                               braces, communication devices and more

$800                      Week at MDA summer camp for one child

$4,440                  One hour of research     

Revised January 1, 2014