What is

Friends of the MS Achievement Center?

Advocacy, Support, Fundraising

The MS Achievement Center is managed and services are provided by the University of Kansas Medical Center staff. The Friends of the MS Achievement Center 501c3 supports KU MSAC through fundraising and advocacy.

A Little History...

The Mid America MS Achievement Center was established in 1995 with the mission of opening a center to provide therapeutic services for individuals with a progressive form of MS. The Center, located in the heart of Kansas City, KS, is one of only a handful of similar programs in the United States.

A professional team comprised of a neurologist, a psychologist, and physical, occupational and recreational therapists focused on providing specialized programming for individuals with MS to help them retain functional ability and receive emotional support. The Center opened its doors on August 14, 1997, to six participants who received services once a week. By December 2013, the Center expanded to multiple days with 35 members participating.

In 2013, the Center received a grant from the Conrad N Hilton Foundation to greatly expand its program. This grant came about through a collaboration with Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City, National MS Society Mid America Chapter and the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). Through this grant KUMC provided a space designed specifically for the MS Achievement Center and expanded clinic space for patient care and research.

In April of 2016, the MS Achievement Center moved to the current location in the Landon Center on the KUMC campus. KUMC took over operation of the program and the Mid America MS Achievement Center transitioned from day-to-day operations to advocacy for our members and fundraising for the Center. In October 2016, the name was changed to better reflect our mission: Friends of the MS Achievement Center.