Pro Player Foundation Hosted rEECh Panel Series Finale in Texas in 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PRO PLAYER FOUNDATION HOSTED rEECh ON THE ROAD COLLABORATIVE PANEL SERIES IN DALLAS, TEXAS TO SPREAD MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS OUTREACH, AWARENESS, AND ENGAGEMENT.
Pro Player Foundation landed in Dallas, Texas, for the final stop on its 2024 rEECh on the Road Collaborative Panel Series tour. PPF MS Ambassador and bestselling author Tyler Campbell hosted the panel at the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center in the Victor N. Agather Hangar, with panelists Dr. Annette Okai, Dr. Lauren Tardo, and author James Yates Jr. The Collaborative Panel aimed to increase awareness, outreach, and engagement around Multiple Sclerosis. The doors for the Texas Panel opened at 6:00 p.m. CST for a Meet & Greet, where the MS community enjoyed light bites and sips. The rEECh Collaborative Panel began at 7:00 p.m. CST. Tyler, Dr. Annette Okai, Director of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research at North Texas Institute of Neurology and Headache, Dr. Tardo is the Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and James E. Yates Jr., a MS ambassador and author, discussed issues in underserved communities as well as obstacles Multiple Sclerosis patients face on the mental and physical side of the disease. The panelists discussed the ongoing Create Your MS Gameplan campaign and discuss their own journeys with the disease. Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett and Charles Haley were in attendance to lend their support to the Pro Player Foundation cause. The first 2024 stop was in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, hosted at Allegiant Stadium in the Credit One Bank Club and was followed by a trip to St. Paul, Minnesota for an evening in the Securian Financial Club at CHS Field on August, 5, 2024. Pro Player Foundation salutes its Platinum sponsor Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Heisman sponsor Novartis, Blue & White sponsors Dr. Jacqueline Dupont-Carlson and Marc Carlson, ResorTime, and 1011i.com.
WHO & WHAT:
The Pro Player Foundation hosted an in-person and live-streamed #rEECh Collaborative Panel in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Pro Player Foundation Ambassador and inspirational speaker Tyler Campbell emceed his third 2024 Collaborative Panel, which was designed to continue spreading knowledge through the Create Your MS Gameplan campaign and target underrepresented communities affected by Multiple Sclerosis. The 2024 Texas Panel included Dr. Annette Okai, along with MS Ambassador and author James Yates Jr. Dr. Okai, a diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, served as the Director of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research at North Texas Institute of Neurology and Headache, and Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at Texas Tech University Health Science Center. Dr. Tardo, the Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, specialized in Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. Tardo was certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and had been a member of the UT Southwestern faculty since 2019. James, a transformational leader and MS advocate, authored the book Life With MS and was pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The panelists examined the challenges of navigating life with Multiple Sclerosis and the impact of MS on underserved communities. Following the Panel, guests enjoyed dessert, music, and photo opportunities throughout the Tippie National Aviation Education Center. Guests indulged in some of Dallas’ finest tasting stations presented by Boss Taste Kitchen, Chef Gil & Co., Chef MiMi J, Chef’s Plate, Elite Chefs, Hurry Back Catering, Ms. Chriss Bakes, Mother Lucille’s Catering, Nolan River Coffee, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Red Bull, Simply Unwine, Sinsational Cakes, Still Austin, Soul Circles Pizza, and Taste by Chef Kevin. rEECh on the Road Texas would not have been possible without the efforts of Heart to Heart Catering as well. Live musical entertainment was provided by DJ Tr3mendous.
WHERE:
Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. CST
Hosted in the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center in the Victor N. Agather Hangar
Viewers can join in on the discussion by visiting Earl Campbell’s Facebook Page at facebook.com/thetylerrose, the Pro Player Foundation website at proplayerfoundation.org/eec-panel or Twitch on twitch.tv/mssociety.
Instagram: @proplayerfoundation
Twitter: @ProPlays
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProPlayerFoundation
WHY:
Nearly one million individuals are living with MS in the United States. Pro Player Foundation has determined there is a gap in educating and creating awareness about Multiple Sclerosis (MS) specifically in underrepresented communities. In response, we created and developed the Educate.Elevate.Collaborate. Initiative to do our part to close this gap. Our Educate.Elevate.Collaborate. Initiative addresses disparities we see in outreach to minority and underrepresented patients and the MS community as a whole. EEC is a multi-faceted Initiative that includes in-person and livestreamed Collaborative rEECh on the Road Panels, a Fotonovela detailing Tyler Campbell’s life around his Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis and social media campaigns, “Did You Know?” and “Create Your MS Gameplan.”
Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. PPF MS Ambassador, Tyler Campbell was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2007 while playing football at San Diego State University, Tyler Campbell refuses to let the disease stop him from moving forward. A successful businessman, husband and father, Tyler views his diagnosis as a blessing, stating, “I now have the opportunity to share my experience to help others living with this disease and make an impact on the MS community.” Tyler hosts a radio show which airs weekly on ESPN (@1027ESPN) called “Real Lyfe, Reel Talk” and penned The Ball Came Out, Life from the Other Side of the Field which is available on Amazon.com. The Pro Player Foundation team is dedicated to defeating Multiple Sclerosis and providing hope to people diagnosed with MS and those who love and care for them.
As Pro Player Foundation celebrates its 20th anniversary of community service, the rEECh on the Road Panel Series has become a vital tool in connecting the foundation’s mission to underrepresented areas. The foundation strives to meet the needs of underserved communities through a variety of campaigns, special events, and projects. Over the years, Pro Player Foundation has launched numerous events, including the Great Australian BBQ and Night Golf Tournament, Holiday Kicks for Kids, 12’s Day of XMAS, Flavors of the Gaslamp, Flavors of Austin, Flavors of New England, the Lights On Bowl, Lights On Comedy Jam, JBowl, A Pro Play MS Day, BBQ & Boots, and the current Educate.Elevate.Collaborate. Initiative. The Foundation has also supported a wide range of organizations, including the Alpha Project for the Homeless, National MS Society, Can Do MS, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, Illumination Foundation, Fundación de Esclerosis Múltiple de Puerto Rico, the Jammer Family Foundation, San Pasqual Academy for Foster Children, Rady Children’s Hospital, the Salvation Army, Teen Adolescent Placement Services, American Cancer Society, Parent Project for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research, LT’s Changing Lives Foundation, the Ecumenical Partnership for Housing, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Through partnerships with athletes, Pro Player Foundation aims to address various philanthropic and community needs, believing in the power of unity and collaboration to achieve meaningful impact.