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Abbreviation | MDA |
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Formation | June 1950 |
Founder | Paul Cohen |
Founded at | New York City, U.S. |
Type | non-profit |
13-1665552 | |
Focus | patient services, disease research, care and advocacy |
Location |
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Region | United States |
Key people |
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Revenue | $63.7 million (in 2020)[4] |
Website | www |
Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. Founded in 1950 by Paul Cohen, who lived with muscular dystrophy, MDA accelerates research, advances care, and works to empower families to live longer and more independent lives.[5][6] Renowned for its Labor Day Telethon, the annual telecast aired live every Labor Day weekend, with comedian and filmmaker Jerry Lewis as its host and national chairman. Don Rickles, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Milton Berle, Wayne Newton, Norm Crosby, Don Francisco, Tony Orlando, Johnny Carson, Aretha Franklin, Maureen McGovern, Diana Ross, Angela Lansbury and others have supported MDA over the years.[7] The organization's headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois.[8]