Labelexpo exhibitors' partnership boosts MS Society

The combined efforts of Labelexpo Americas 2016 exhibitors to donate stickers to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will save the organization an estimated 12,000 USD to 15,000 USD, according to estimates from the society.

Bike MS

AB Graphic, HP Indigo and others have partnered to print and convert 350,000 2in round stickers that will be donated to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The donated stickers will be used at the National MS Society’s Bike MS and Run MS nationwide fundraising events, which occur in cities across the US. The donation amounts to 210,000 feet of material that normally would be thrown in the trash going to a good cause.

‘Large donations like this take away an expense from us,’ said Lisa Hinton, vice president of development for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. ‘This allows a large amount of funds raised to go back to the mission. Whenever we’re looking at fundraising events, the one important thing is that as much money as possible goes back to finding a cure of for MS, for resources for people living with MS.’

Labels & Labeling has joined their efforts and designated the National MS Society as its official Labelexpo Americas 2016 charity. To donate to the cause, view the magazine's fundraising page here. The National MS Society is America’s leading charity organization dedicated to multiple sclerosis research, education and advocacy. The society’s fundraising events raise money to fund research, support groups, financial aid and lobbying efforts.

The donated stickers have been printed at Innovative Labeling Solutions and Nosco prior to the show. HP Indigo will handle some printing on site, and AB Graphic will convert the stickers on its Digicon Series 3 finishing unit that will be on display in their booth (#3223).

AB Graphic and HP Indigo have partnered with Acpo, Actega, RotoMetrics and Yazoo Mills for this cause, and all have donated materials or services.

Normally, the material printed and converted at the show would end up in the trash.

‘If a nonprofit organization can use these products, then it’s a win-win-win,’ said Tim Staples, AB Graphic operations manager. ‘We get to show our equipment, it’s a tax deduction for manufacturers, and it’s a great relief on these nonprofits.’

Staples approached the National MS Society with the idea.

‘Once I realized the scale of it, I thought that’s way more stickers than we can use at events in Illinois,’ Hinton said. ‘This can be used across the country. The scale and quantity is so generous.’

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease affecting the central nervous system. According to the National MS Society, MS is thought to be an immune-mediated disorder, in which the immune system incorrectly attacks healthy tissue in the central nervous system. The society says that MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide.

MS can cause many symptoms, including blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, and blindness and more, the Society says. These problems may come and go or persist and worsen over time. There is no cure for MS, but treatments are available to reduce the number of relapses and delaying progression of disability. 

Staples was diagnosed with MS earlier this year, and turned to the National MS Society for information in understanding the disease.

‘There’s a lot of information out there, but the reputable information comes from the National MS Society,’ he said.

 

Chelsea McDougall

  • Group managing editor