Pro Player Foundation Hosts rEECh Panel Series Minnesota in 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PRO PLAYER FOUNDATION HOSTS rEECh ON THE ROAD COLLABORATIVE PANEL SERIES IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA TO SPREAD MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS OUTREACH, AWARENESS, AND ENGAGEMENT
Pro Player Foundation took its rEECh on the Road Collaborative Panel Series to St. Paul, Minnesota, for the second stop on its tour. PPF MS Ambassador and bestselling author Tyler Campbell hosted the panel at the Securian Financial Club at CHS Field, with panelists Dr. Jonathan Calkwood, Dr. Victoria Levasseur, and professional bodybuilder Chris Dunbar. The Collaborative Panel aimed to increase awareness, outreach, and engagement around Multiple Sclerosis. The doors for the Minnesota 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. Jonathan Calkwood, the Medical Director for the Minnesota Center for MS, Dr. Victoria Levasseur, a board-certified neurologist at the Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology, and television personality Chris Dunbar discussed the PPF Create Your MS Gameplan campaign and shared information affecting the impact on underserved communities. A pair of former NBA players, Bob Martin of the Los Angeles Clippers and Kevin Lynch of the Charlotte Hornets attended the evening to lend their support . From the NFL, Minnesota Vikings fan favorites Chris Rogers and Esera Tuaolo participated in the evening of football, family, and philanthropy. The first 2024 stop was in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, hosted at Allegiant Stadium in the Credit One Bank Club. Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalist and Raiders’ legend Eric Allen led the team in Nevada to lend his support to Pro Player Foundation’s mission of improving the lives of people affected by MS. Pro Player Foundation salutes its Platinum sponsor Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Heisman sponsor Biogen, Blue & White sponsors TG Therapeutics, Dr. Jacqueline Dupont-Carlson and Marc Carlson, ResorTime, and 1011i.com.
WHO & WHAT:
Pro Player Foundation hosted an in-person and live-streamed #rEECh Collaborative Panel in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Thursday, August 1, 2024. Pro Player Foundation Ambassador and inspirational speaker Tyler Campbell emceed the 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 Panel included MS neurology specialists Dr. Jonathan Calkwood and Dr. Victoria Levasseur, along with MS Ambassador Chris Dunbar. Dr. Calkwood, a nationally recognized neurologist and neuro-ophthalmology practitioner with over 17 years of experience in the field of MS, currently serves as the Medical Director for the Minnesota Center for Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. Levasseur earned her medical degree at the University of Missouri - Columbia and completed her neurology residency and fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis. She is currently a neurologist at the Minneapolis Center of Neurology. Chris, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, conquered his MS diagnosis through healthy living and gym workouts, now thriving in weightlifting competitions, TV shows, and MS advocacy. 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.
WHERE:
Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. CST
Hosted in the Securian Financial Club at CHS Field
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.
Pro Player Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary of serving the community. Our rEECh on the Road Panel Series effectively connects our mission to underrepresented areas. The foundation aims to address the needs of the underserved through various campaigns, special events, and projects. We have launched events such as 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 our current initiative, Educate.Elevate.Collaborate. The foundation has supported 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. By partnering with athletes, Pro Player Foundation aims to meet various philanthropic and community needs, believing in the power of unity and collaboration to achieve remarkable outcomes.