Inaugural Make a Muscle Chili Cook-Off Benefits MDA

H-E-B, Harley-Davidson of Waco, Coors Light and Miller Lite will present the first ever Make a Muscle Chili Cook-Off benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association on Saturday, September 3 from noon to 5 p.m.

The general public is invited to an afternoon of fun at Harley-Davidson of Waco for $5 per person or $20 a family. Limousines Limited will present entertainment from Holly Tucker, Tony Calhoun & Pleasure, and Sloppy Joe Band as Chili Cook-Off competitors vie for the titles of Best Chili From a Team, Best Chili From a Restaurant, Fan Favorite, and Best Team Spirit. Judging for the top chili titles begins at 3 p.m.

Teams of four can compete in the Make a Muscle Chili Cook-Off by picking up a registration form at Harley-Davidson of Waco or any area H-E-B location, or by downloading a form at www.HOTMDAchilicookoff.com. The team registration fee is $200, and forms must either be faxed to 254-399-8225 or emailed to Cherise Myatt at chawkins@mdausa.org by August 26. Corporate sponsorships are also available.

Proceeds from the first ever Make a Muscle Chili Cook-Off go to Heart of Texas MDA, which serves 250 Central Texas families affected by neuromuscular disease by supporting an MDA Clinic at Hillcrest Family Health Clinic and sending children to MDA Summer Camp at Camp John Marc in Meridian.

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education. MDA's annual Labor Day Telethon will air in the Waco area Sunday, September 4 from 5:30 p.m. to midnight on News Channel 25.

For more information, please contact Cherise Myatt at 254-399-8221 or Kelsey McGonigle at 972-480-0070.

MDA Teams Up with Allen Samuels Dodge Chrysler Jeep for Sale-A-Thon

Allen Samuels Dodge Chrysler Jeep will donate a portion of the proceeds from every car sold between August 20 and September 3 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association for their second MDA Sale-A-Thon.

Those shopping for a new Dodge, Chrysler or Jeep can buy a car at Allen Samuels between Saturday, August 20 and Saturday, September 3 in order to help in the fight against muscle disease. On the afternoon of Saturday, August 27, Dustin Drew from MIX 92.9 FM will do a live remote from the dealership and invite MIX listeners to come purchase a vehicle and participate in prize giveaways and visits from MDA friends.

This is the second year Allen Samuels Dodge Chrysler Jeep has participated in the MDA Sale-A-Thon, and the dealership is hoping to exceed 2010's contribution of $5,300.

"I saw this as a great opportunity to help a worthy cause," said Allen Samuels General Manager Ted Teague of the MDA Sale-A-Thon.

In addition to putting on the MDA Sale-A-Thon, Allen Samuels recently hosted MDA's Telethon Executive Lock-Up, where business leaders from around the Waco community raised over $78,000 for the Association. The funds raised at the Lock-Up and from the Sale-A-Thon support an MDA Clinic at Hillcrest Family Health Clinic and send children to MDA Summer Camp at Camp John Marc in Meridian.

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education for the 250 Central Texas families affected by neuromuscular disease. Allen Samuels will present a check for the total amount raised during the Sale-A-Thon live on MDA's annual Labor Day Telethon, which will air in the Waco area on Sunday, September 4 from 5:30 p.m. to midnight on News Channel 25.

For more information, please contact Cherise Myatt at 254-399-8221 or Kelsey McGonigle at 972-480-0070.

Allen Fire Fighters Fill the Boot with Donations for MDA

Allen fire fighters will raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association on August 19, 20 and 21 through MDA's Fill the Boot campaign.

Off-duty Allen fire fighters will ask residents and passersby to make contributions for the fight against muscle disease for three days at various intersections throughout the city. Fire fighters will be at the intersections of Bethany Drive and Greenville Avenue and Alma Drive and McDermott Drive from 7 to 9 a.m. on Friday, August 19. Fire fighters will collect again at U.S. Highway 75 and Bethany Drive and U.S. Highway 75 and Stacy Road from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, August 20. Allen fire fighters will collect funds one last time from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 21 at U.S. Highway 75 and Bethany Drive and U.S. Highway 75 and Stacy Road.

In 2010, Allen fire fighters raised $12,618, and the department hopes to exceed that amount this year.

Proceeds collected from Fill the Boot aid local children and adults with neuromuscular disease by providing research, clinic visits and Children's Medical Center of Dallas, Texas Neurology, Texoma Neurology Associates and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, support groups, and a week-long summer camp at Camp John Marc in Meridian for children ages 6 to 17.

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education. MDA's annual Labor Day Telethon will air locally Sunday, September 4 from 5 p.m. to midnight on TXA21. Up-to-date information about MDA services and research can be found at www.MDA.org.

For more information, please contact Courtney Marshall at 972-480-0011 or Kelsey McGonigle at 972-480-0070.

MDA "Locks Up" Leaders to Raise Funds

VERNON, Texas – AUGUST 11, 2011 – Local business leaders will soon become “jailbirds” when they are “locked up” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Wilbarger County Telethon Executive Lock-Up on Thursday, August 18.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on the day of the Lock-Up, jailbirds will be “arrested” and taken into “holding” at the Wilbarger Auditorium. There, jailbirds will have their “mug shots” taken and enjoy a complimentary meal as they call friends and family to help make their bail of $800 for MDA, the cost to send one child to MDA Summer Camp.

The Wilbarger County Telethon Executive Lock-Up is a preliminary event to MDA’s annual Labor Day Telethon, which will air locally Sunday, September 4 from 6 p.m. to midnight on KFDX.

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services at MDA Clinics like the one at The Neurology Center in Wichita Falls, advocacy and education. Up-to-date information can be found at www.MDA.org.

For more information, please contact Daniel York at 940-696-5581 or Kelsey McGonigle at 972-480-0070.

Waco's "Most Wanted" Raise Over $78,000 for MDA

WACO, Texas – AUGUST 11, 2011 –Waco’s “Most Wanted” business and community leaders were put “behind bars” for having big hearts on Thursday, August 4 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Telethon Executive Lock-Up. The “jailbirds” raised over $78,000 for the Association.

Beginning at 11 a.m. on the day of the Lock-Up, the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Association of McLennan County “arrested” jailbirds and escorted them to Allen Samuels Dodge Chrysler Jeep for “holding.” Upon arrival, jailbirds were greeted by Allen Samuels Dodge Chrysler Jeep General Manager Ted Teague, the Lock-Up’s celebrity “judge”, and MDA Summer Camper Jonathan Jones. Once jailbirds were “sentenced” and had their “mug shots” taken, they enjoyed a catered lunch from El Chico as they raised “bail” to be donated to MDA. Each jailbird was asked for bail totaling to $1,600, the price to send two children to MDA Summer Camp.

MDA would like to extend a special thanks to the 20 volunteers from the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Association of McLennan County for helping escort jailbirds to and from the Lock-Up Thursday afternoon. MDA would also like to thank the jailbirds for raising funds to help the 250 Central Texas families affected by neuromuscular disease. Funds raised at the Lock-Up support an MDA Clinic at Hillcrest Family Health Clinic and send children to MDA Summer Camp at Camp John Marc in Meridian.

In addition to hosting Waco’s Telethon Executive Lock-Up, Allen Samuels Dodge Chrysler Jeep will also host an MDA Sale-a-thon between August 20 and September 3, where $75 of each car sold goes to MDA. The Lock-Up and Sale-a-thon are preliminary events for MDA’s annual Labor Day Telethon, which will be broadcast in the Waco area Sunday, September 4 from 5:30 p.m. to midnight on News Channel 25.

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy, and education. Up-to-date information on MDA can be found at www.MDA.org.

For more information, please contact Cherise Hawkins Myatt at 254-399-8221 or Kelsey McGonigle at 972-480-0070.

Bid Muscle Disease Farewell During Telethon Online Auction

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is opening its fifth annual Telethon Online Auction August 25 through September 8.

The Telethon Online Auction works in conjunction with MDA's annual Labor Day Telethon, which will be broadcast Sunday, September 4. Items donated to the auction include a basketball signed by J.J. Barea from the National Basketball Association's 2011 Champion Dallas Mavericks, a seven day Holland America Caribbean or Mexican cruise for two, two round trip AirTran tickets, a $5,000 Hearts On Fire diamond necklace and much more. This year's major Telethon Online Auction sponsor is CITGO.

MDA will continue to receive items until the auction ends. To preview or donate auction items, visit www.goMDAauction.com.

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education. Up-to-date information about MDA services and research can be found at www.MDA.org.

For more information, please contact Carmen Holmes or Kelsey McGonigle at 972-480-0070.

"Locked Up" Wichita Falls Leaders Raise Over $66,000 for MDA

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – AUGUST 10, 2011 – Ninety Wichita Falls business leaders were “arrested” on Thursday, August 4 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Telethon Executive Lock-Up and raised over $66,000 for the Association.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, a volunteer “posse” used cars provided by Pruitt Ford to transport “jailbirds” to “holding” at The Pelican. Once each jailbird was “sentenced” and had their “mug shot” taken, they called upon friends and family to help make “bail” totaling to $1,600 in donations to MDA. The total amount of bail raised at Thursday’s event is enough money to send 82 kids to MDA Summer Camp or sponsor 2,200 flu shots.

The Wichita Falls Telethon Executive Lock-Up is a preliminary event to MDA’s annual Labor Day Telethon, which will air Sunday, September 4 from 6 p.m. to midnight on KFDX.

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services at MDA Clinics like the one at The Neurology Center, advocacy, and education. Up-to-date information about MDA can be found at www.MDA.org.

For more information, please contact Daniel York at 940-696-5581 or Kelsey McGonigle at 972-480-0070.