Tuesday August 24, 9:01 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: National Multiple Sclerosis Society
 
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 500 local bartenders, owners and wait staff raised nearly $250,000 for the fight against multiple sclerosis during the 1999 Coors Light MS UGLY Challenge. Held for four weeks in July and August, the annual challenge is part of an exciting effort through which area nightclubs, restaurants and other establishments sponsor promotions to raise funds and awareness about MS. The monies raised in this year's ``beautiful'' contest make Greater Delaware Valley bartenders and wait staff among the UGLiest groups in the nation for the 11th consecutive year. Awards for the UGLiest in the region will be presented Tuesday, August 24 at Finnigan's Wake, Third and Spring Garden Streets, Philadelphia from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. For information, please call 215-271-1500.

UGLY stands for Understanding, Generous, Lovable You and throughout the four-week contest, establishments sponsored special promotions encouraging their patrons to raise money or ``votes'' naming them the UGLiest in the area.

Each vote equals $1 and funds are raised through promotions ranging from golf and softball tournaments to selling paper hearts that read, ``I Gave to MS,'' balloon bursts and more. At the close of the contest, money raised or ``votes'' are tallied, and the establishment with the highest total wins the UGLY title for a county or specific region. Top local winners then compete for the title of UGLiest in the entire Greater Delaware Valley.

The UGLY Contest began 18 years ago in Chicago and since that time has become a wildly popular and successful fundraiser for the National MS Society throughout the country. According to Judith Cohen, local Chapter President, ``As a group, bartenders, owners and wait staff have raised more for the fight against MS than any other single profession. It's very impressive, and we're very proud to have such an active group of fund raisers in the Greater Delaware Valley.''

Founded in 1946, the National MS Society has supported more MS research than any voluntary organization in the country for a total of $241 million since its inception. This investment is paying off in significant advancements in finding treatments and in better diagnoses, rehabilitation and symptomatic therapy for people with all forms of MS and in bringing us closer to a cure.
 

SOURCE: National Multiple Sclerosis Society