MDA Hosts 9th Annual Muscle Team Event
Top Pittsburgh athletes and business leaders come together for high-profile fundraiser
Pittsburgh’s top professional athletes are set to share the spotlight with local children served by the Muscular Dystrophy Association at the 9th annual Pittsburgh Muscle Team® event on Thursday, March 21, at Heinz Field from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
The high-energy event pairs top athletes with an “MDA Buddy” (a local child living with a neuromuscular disease) for a night of interactive entertainment, live and silent auctions featuring unique sports memorabilia, and a variety of food and beverage stations.
Participants can meet-and-greet athletes, coaches, MDA Buddies, local celebrities and business executives while raising money to support the fight against muscle disease. Visit pittsburghmuscleteam.org to see all 2013 Muscle Team members.
This year, MDA will present Joe Lagana, Ed. D, founder and CEO of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, with the Guy Buzzelli Jr. Champion of Spirit Award.
The award was initiated in 2007 to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Guy Buzzelli Jr., an individual from Southwestern Pennsylvania who made an astounding difference in the Pittsburgh community while raising awareness of the fight against neuromuscular diseases.
“We’re pleased to present Joe with this year’s Champion of Spirit Award,” said Cathy Majka, MDA director of business development. “He has made such an impact in the community through his work with the Homeless Children’s Education Fund. We share a passion to better the lives of children and adults in the Pittsburgh area, and we are honored to have him at our event this year.”
Pittsburgh Muscle Team 2013 honorary coaches are Mike Dunleavy, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 5, and Rich Riazzi, president and CEO of Duquesne Light. Duquesne Light will also serve as the event’s presenting sponsor.
To learn more about Pittsburgh Muscle Team 2013 please contact MDA Director of Business Development Cathy Majka at cmajka@mdausa.org or (412) 823-3094.
About MDA
MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.
In addition to funding more than 250 research projects worldwide, MDA maintains a national network of 200 medical clinics; facilitates hundreds of support groups for families affected by neuromuscular diseases; and provides local summer camp opportunities for thousands of youngsters living with progressive muscle diseases.
For more information, visit mda.org and follow MDA on Facebook (facebook.com/MDAnational) and Twitter (@MDAnews).
