Neon Nights- Dinner of Champions 2021

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 When the sun goes down, get ready to Glow at Neon Nights, Dinner of Champions 2021! 

Please join us for a night out at a Drive In Movie Theater OR Virtually from the comfort of your home!

The Dinner of Champions is the National MS Society's premier gala event that pays tribute to the vast network of generous corporations, organizations and volunteer leaders who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people living with difference in the lives of people living with MS.

Let's light up the night and boldly move forward to change lives together!

MS doesn't stop, and neither will we.

You also might be wondering- what will this event look like, right? 

We have it covered and cannot wait to celebrate with you!  The drive-in movie style event will bring back that sense of nostalgia as we continue to make memories with loved ones and community members, while respecting CDC guidelines. We are taking safety at our event seriously.  This will be a festive, inspiring, safe and fun evening!  Don't forget, there are virtual tickets too!

Sneak Peek on some of the delicious food and beverages we have in store!

Dinner of Champions 2021 Honoree & Guest Speaker

Mike Schiller- Honoree

Mike was diagnosed 16 yrs ago at the age of 40 with MS.  He has learned how to manage his career living with MS, in a wheelchair, despite the fair amount of travel, as the VP of Consumer Products for Sunrise Identity/Halo.

Basketball has always been a big part of his life, as he played through high school, coached HS basketball, and continued to compete in a variety of adult basketball leagues.  It was an emotional challenge losing the ability to play and compete in basketball.  Mike was determined to keep this in his life!  He is not only active on the Board for Seattle Adaptive Sports, he plays, coaches and  began to compete on a national level.  AND... he plays for the Seattle Sonics NWBA team, he also had the opportunity to compete Internationally at the Maccabi Games in Israel in 2017.  Mike is now coaching for both the Sonics & the Storm, taking two teams to the National Championships.

Mike is actively involved in fundraising for both the MS Society and Seattle Adaptive Sports.  This is where he frequently spends time helping newly diagnosed MS patients on how to overcome their own personal obstacles and challenges.

Sharon Dodge- Guest Speaker

Sharon hails from Maryland but for the past 30 years has rarely lived longer than 3 years in one place thanks to marrying a Naval Aviator. She first heard the words multiple sclerosis when she was 10 yrs old when her father was diagnosed with the disease.  He lost his battle when he was only 48 years old. Eight yrs later, Sharon was diagnosed with the same disease on her 30th birthday. "My dad was my hero," she says. 

Sharon quickly learned that despite the rotten deck of cards she had been dealt, feeling sorry for herself was not an option. She threw herself into advocating for others living with MS and has made multiple trips to our nation's Capitol as well as the state level as an MS Activist. She has travelled the country to speak and raise awareness for MS at the National MS Society's National Leadership Conferences and many other events such as Tour Of Champions for Bike MS.

Neon Nights

Dinner of Champions 2021 Leadership Events Committee

Chair- Rita Mills

We are so grateful and thrilled that Rita Mills is the Chair of our Committee for Leadership Events this year!  Rita joined the board in 2016 at the request of her good friend Gil Greenman, an inspiration to anyone who meets him. Rita has always believed that anything is possible, which set her up well to be chair of the Leadership Events Committee, where she combines years as volunteer for many school auctions with experience at a local corporate event planning company.

Now let's find a cure. 

A deep, heartfelt thank you to each of you for your dedication, creativity, and resourcefulness in making Neon Nights a success from the beginning!

We thank you, we are honored and we love you!

Elie Goral

Erin Ewing

Estelle Thyer

Michael Nassirian

Nikki Edward

Noriko Takuma

COVID-19 Safety Guidelines & FAQ's

Thank you for your generous support. We are excited to celebrate with you safely at Neon Nights, Dinner of Champions 2021 at Vasa Park Resort on May 15, 2021.  MS doesn't stop and neither will we. We've planned every detail of this event with the health and safety of our attendees, volunteers, and staff as our highest priority. In keeping with current guidance from the CDC, as well as state, city and other local agencies, a variety of new protocols will be in place. This includes mandatory face
coverings, reduced touchpoints to minimize physical interactions, limiting number of guests and physically distanced seating. Please note that plans may be altered as the event day approaches to ensure your safety. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.

Please click here for more of what to expect at the event. 

Additional FAQ's can be found on the website!