Gift to benefit multiple sclerosis research

December 12, 2005, ST. LOUIS – The Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation received a gift of $13,000 from the Beta Theta Pi (BTP) fraternity chapter at the University of Missouri-Columbia to support research for multiple sclerosis.

Since 2001, the chapter has made annual gifts to the Foundation for the Rosenthal-Trotter MS Center in Neuroimmunology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Including this year''s donation, total giving exceeds $38,000.

The gifts are made in honor of a BTP alumnus who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while attending Mizzou.

Jim Barry, president of the BTP Mizzou chapter, presented a check representing $13,000 to Barnes-Jewish Hospital President Andrew Ziskind, MD, on Nov. 21.

"Over the years, our fraternity chapter has raised money for a variety of charitable causes," said Barry. "We began supporting multiple sclerosis research and treatment when one of our own members was diagnosed with MS. We''re delighted that our annual gifts to the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation support the work of Dr. Anne Cross, one of this country''s foremost MS specialists."

"The support of donors like Beta Theta Pi keeps Barnes-Jewish Hospital at the forefront of medicine," says Dr. Ziskind. "This funding supports groundbreaking research that results in exceptional care to our patients. We are grateful for the fraternity''s thoughtful generosity over the years."