What is the history of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS)?

On May 1, 1945, Sylvia La wry placed an ad in the New York Times to help her brother who had multiple sclerosis. It read, "Multiple sclerosis (MS) - will anyone recovered from it please communicate with patient." About fifty people responded, and although none were "recovered," all agreed that an organization was needed to coordinate their efforts. After that response, Sylvia Lawry founded the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). In 1967 she also helped to found the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies, which today has forty-three member countries actively exchanging ideas. For a complete list of international organizations, member and non-member, log on to www.msif.org or see the listings in the back of this chapter.
Since its founding over sixty years ago, the NMSS has expended over $500 million to advance research. According to its public information, its nationwide income in 2005 was $207 million. Less than 3 percent of that income is from pharmaceutical companies and was received in the form of grants.