Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Muscle Team NYC names 2017 honorees

New York, NY Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Muscle Team NYC has named the 2017 honorees for its 20^th anniversary gala. The MDA Muscle Team Gala is a high-profile sports dinner where professional athletes team up with business executives to put their muscle behind the search to find treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy and related life-threatening diseases that limit strength and mobility. The dinner will be held on Jan. 10, 2017 at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers from 6 to 10 p.m.

MDA Muscle Team 2017 will be led by this year’s coach, Edward Piccinich, executive vice president, SL Green Realty Corp. Piccinich is a proven leader in the field and community. At SL Green, he manages one of the largest commercial office portfolios in NYC. In addition to MDA, Piccinich is also actively involved in the Diabetes Research Institute and National Jewish Health.

The 2017 Champion of Spirit Award recipient, which is given to an individual who has demonstrated passion, drive and commitment to making a difference in the lives of people living with muscle disease, is Christopher Rosa, faculty member at CUNY’s master’s program in Disability Studies. A published disability studies scholar, Rosa has a long history of advocacy for New Yorkers living with disabilities, serving multiple positions such as chair of the CUNY Committee on Student Disability Issues (COSDI), the U.S. President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities’ (now subsumed under ODEP) executive committee member, and as vice chair of the New York State Independent Living Council. As the vice chair of MDA’s board of directors, Rosa is an integral part of the history and the future of the organization.

This year’s Russ Salzberg Champion of Hope Award recipient is entertainer Tony Orlando. The award, named after sportscaster Russ Salzberg and tireless MDA advocate, is presented annually to an individual who has inspired Russ’ unwavering commitment to MDA.

Orlando is a longtime supporter of MDA who hosted and performed on the New York broadcast of the MDA Labor Day Telethon as well as the national show for many years.

Twenty Years of Support to the MDA Community

Proceeds from the event will help provide services for MDA families, including a week-long summer camp for kids which opens opportunities to discover new interests, gain self-confidence and experience the independence of being away from home in an environment where barriers do not exist. Since 1996, MDA’s NYC Muscle Team has raised more than $18 million.

Contributions from the gala also will help MDA fund groundbreaking research across diseases and provide individuals with life-enhancing programs and support services, including state-of-the-art multidisciplinary care at a nationwide network of more than 150 MDA Care Centers.

MDA is leading the fight to free individuals – and the families who love them – from the harm of muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases that take away physical strength, independence and life. We use our collective strength to help kids and adults live longer and grow stronger by finding research breakthroughs across diseases; caring for individuals from day one; and empowering families with services and support in hometowns across America.