ziMS Foundation - founded by Ryan Zimmerman

Night at the Park featuring Third Eye Blind

mster5 — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:50:15 +0000

We are pleased to announce that Ryan Zimmerman’s 4th Annual “A Night at the Park” ziMS Foundation benefit event will take place Thursday, May 23rd at Nationals Park. This year’s headlining act will be Third Eye Blind!

Purchase tickets at www.anightatthepark.com

Come out and support the ziMS Foundation with Ryan and his Nationals’ teammates with a night of food, drink, auctions and live music. The unique stage set-up behind home plate creates one of the most intimate night-time musical experiences one could imagine!

For questions concerning “A Night at the Park” 2013, please contact Tom Hagan at thagan@caa.com.

ziMS Foundation gives $1,000,000.00

mster5 — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:32:16 +0000

Dr. Myla Goldman (UVA Department of Neurology) accepts a check for $150,000 from (l to r) Keith Zimmerman (VP of ziMS Foundation), Cheryl Zimmerman (Treasurer of ziMS Foundation) and Ryan Zimmerman (President of ziMS Foundation).

VIRGINIA BEACH- The ziMS Foundation, founded by Washington Nationals’ third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, broke the $1,000,000 mark by giving the University of Virginia, Department of Neurology $150,000. The Foundation is dedicated to the treatment and ultimate cure of MS by funding comprehensive support and educational programs. The ziMS Foundation was started in 2006 by Ryan Zimmerman, whose mom was diagnosed with MS in 1995.

Significant donations include University of Virginia, Department of Neurology ($362,000), National MS Society, Hampton Roads Chapter ($170,000), National MS Society, National Capital Chapter ($105,000), National MS Society, Blue Ridge Chapter ($55,000) and dreamMakerS, Washington, DC ($55,000).

Ryan Zimmerman (president of the ziMS Foundation) center, stands with Bruno Maestri (Norfolk Southern) far right at the golf tournament. Norfolk Southern has been a significant contributor to the Foundation for the past four years.

To raise more funds and provide programs and research for people living with MS, the ziMS Foundation’s Seventh Annual Gala and Golf Tournament took place on November 2-3, 2012. The events were held at the 31st Street Hilton and Redwing Lake Golf Course in Virginia Beach and raised over $110,000.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2013
CONTACT: Keith Zimmerman
1-866-721-9467
zimsfoundation@msn.com
zimsfoundation.org

FunFest 2012 a Huge Success!

mster5 — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:42:21 +0000

The 2012 ziMS Funfest was held on May 5-6, 2012 in Washington, D.C. and included a Washington Nationals ballgame, a bike ride and a walk.

The weekend started with a Nationals game against the Phillies, which the Nationals won just for those attending from the ziMS Foundation! After the game, the participants gathered for a presentation on what the Foundation does and how they are helping to “bring home a cure for MS. Ryan Zimmerman stopped by to thank everyone for their time and effort.

On Sunday morning, people participated in the ride or walk– either riding the 40-mile bike route on the Mount Vernon Trail or walking the 5K or 10K walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island.

The events raised over $30,000 for the ziMS Foundation.

Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman raises MS awareness

mster5 — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 03:10:30 +0000

Last Thursday provided a rare home off-day for the first-place Washington Nationals. But Ryan Zimmerman, the team's All-Star third baseman, still spent his night at the ballpark. Zimmerman had important business at his third annual "Night at the Park" fund-raiser at Nationals Park to raise money to fight multiple sclerosis -- the chronic disease which has crippled his mother, Cheryl, since her diagnosis in 1995.

MS Impact Us All

mster5 — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:21:03 +0000

A well done infographic video about how MS impacts us all. Enjoy!

ziMS Foundation has a new sponsor!

mster5 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:38:34 +0000

Scott Allen with Courthouse Imports in Virginia Beach is a proud sponsor of the ziMS Foundation.

New Useful MS App

mster5 — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 23:41:50 +0000

I came across these really neat app that was developed specifically for people living with MS and their families! Hope it’s of help or interest to you and yours!

Click the link to view the app: My MS Manager

29 New Multiple Sclerosis Genes Identified

mster5 — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:05:39 +0000

Link to Main Article: Nancy Davis Foundation

The largest genetic study of Multiple Sclerosis has revealed 29 new genetic variants associated with MS, and confirmed 23 others previously associated with the disease, verifying a major role for the immune system in the development of MS.

It is the largest-ever study into the disease, involving 250 researchers in the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium and the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium. Scientists studied DNA from 9,772 people with MS and compared it with those of 17,376 unrelated healthy people.

It is important for researchers to identify genes that have the potential to trigger MS, so that risk factors can be avoided.

Click here to read more about the results of this exciting study.

ziMS Foundation–2nd Annual “A Night At The Park”

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:38:17 +0000

“The hardest thing, believe it or not, is to figure out how to give all the money away that we’ve raised,” stated Ryan Zimmerman. ”We’ve worked hard and people give their hard earned money to us and we just don’t want to give it away. We’ve built a mutual trust. And we feel like we’ve found a good group of four or five organizations that deserve to get the money and we are going to do the right thing with it.”

Our Washington Nationals star player was standing on the red carpet next to his parents, Cheryl & Keith, just outside the PNC Diamond Club at Nationals Park talking about their charitable organization. For the second year in row, the ziMS Foundation–dedicated to finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis, was holding their Washington, D.C. signature event–”A Night At The Park”. As many Nats Fans are aware, Ryan’s family oriented effort is personal in nature as Cheryl was diagnosed with MS in 1995. Since 2006, the ziMS Foundation has awarded over $500,000 to needy organizations. Non-profit groups that are dedicated to not only finding a cure for MS but for the treatment, support and the building of educational programs necessary for inflicted families.

Ryan Zimmerman: “Our main benefactor is the Neurology Department at the University of Virginia. We’ve given them over $280,000 now. They’ve become, in essence, our main partner. They are one of, if not, the top clinic in the country involving MS–whether it’s for finding a cure or developing new medicine to help cope with the disease. Back closer to home (in Virginia Beach, Virginia), we’ve given almost $150,000 to the local chapter (MS Society of Hampton Roads). They’ve been instrumental with my mom from the beginning. And in the past couple of years, they’ve organized a few getaways for those with MS. But it’s just nice to have someone at home to help.”

Gar’s Mikey Mo’ Stance

With Gar Ryness-The Batting Stance Guy

Approximately 1000 tickets were sold for last night’s 2nd Annual Event at Nationals Park. Magician David Blaine returned to give a special performance for VIP Ticket Holders in the PNC Diamond Club. Country Music Star Rodney Atkins performed on the temporary stage placed overtop the Presidents Club Seats and The Batting Stance Guy, Gar Ryness (a funny, funny man), was the Master Of Ceremonies.

“Logistically, we learned a lot from the first year. We’ve moved the VIP Room up (from Presidents Club to the PNC Diamond Club) so the two groups (VIPs & General Admission) can really interact in a way that wasn’t possible last year,” stated Brodie Van Wagenen (Ryan’s Agent from CAA Sports) before the event began. Last year, it was isolated for both groups. We are expecting a much smoother night and double the amount of guest from last year. In fact, we’ve got 14 corporate sponsors–up from the seven from last year. It’s a nice step forward.”

A silent auction was set up along the main concourse, 1st Base Side, of Nationals Park. CCA Sports not only lined up charity items from Ryan Zimmerman and his Washington Nationals teammates, but also a variety of sport and entertainment memorabilia ranging from basketball to The Beatles to the glamor of Hollywood. Also on hand in support of the ziMS Foundation were quite a few of Ryan’s Washington Nationals teammates and coaches. Over the course of the evening, we encountered Rick Eckstein, Jim Lett, Trent Jewett, Jayson Werth, Michael Morse, Danny Espinosa, Adam LaRoche, Alex Cora, Roger Bernadina, Laynce Nix, Brian Bixler, Jordan Zimmermann, John Lannan, Drew Storen, Collin Balester, Todd Coffey, Tyler Clippard, Sean Burnett, Jason Marquis and Ryan Mattheus.

During the live auction of “A Night At The Park” attendees had the opportunity to bid on a Fighter Pilot Experience (Top Gun Flight Training), VIP Trip to the 2012 Masters, VIP Trip to the 2012 Grammy Awards, a 2011 US Open Tennis Package, a 2011 VIP MLB All-Star Game Package and Private Visit with Ryan Zimmerman (with 15 tickets included) for a suite at Nationals Park for a mutually agreed upon Nats game in 2012. Over $63,000 was raised during the Live Auction after two bidders in hot pursuit of the Grammy Awards Show package both were granted as winners when their bids reached $15,000 apiece. The ziMS Foundation goal for “A Night At The Park” 2011, including silent auction, ticket sales and corporate sponsorship was $200,000.

“In each of these fundraisers,” continued Van Wagenen, “the money is being put directly back into these communities. That’s why this event is so important. And that’s why having the corporate community show such an overwhelming support is so important for our success in being able to raise some serious money.” Last night, The National Capital Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society received a check from the ziMS Foundation for $35,000. And Dream Makers, a Washington D.C. area non-profit committed to supporting and empowering children whose parents have MS was granted $25,000. “And I think it’s this recognition by others of Ryan’s efforts reflecting dollars back into local D.C. Charities that is getting the corporate community to recognize what’s going on here and getting them to come out to support their own within their own town,” concluded Van Wagenen.

“Like in any other venture, you make strides every day,” says Ryan Zimmerman. “The more money these groups get, the more research they can do. It’s a day-to-day thing, like it is with the actual disease. So just like everyone else involved, we hold out hope and continue to do what we have to do to help find a cure. In fact, It’s amazing (how far the ziMS Foundation has come) because when you start something, you don’t even know how much it will grow. And how quickly things develop. We’ve given away more than $500,000 in less than six years. Those first couple of years we were just figuring it all out. Now, were hoping to take this to the next level and make it very, very special.”

Remember, the entire ziMS Foundation is a volunteer organization run by Ryan, his parents Cheryl & Keith, brother Shawn, with the help of many family friends in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

P.S.–Ryan also mentioned last night that the annual ziMS Foundation Golf Tournament has maxed out. “Unless we get another 18 holes we are in trouble,” he joked. “We are proud though how that event has gotten better and better each year to where we have the Gala on Friday night–which basically runs like clockwork now. It’s become a fun event for us back home. Golf attached to a charity fundraiser like this, we’ve found–is a great time!!

P.P.S–Odd Ball Auction Item of the night: Baseball Bat signed by Pete Rose stating: “I am sorry I bet on baseball.”

Main article from Nats320 blog: Main article from Nats320 blog: http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/07/zims-foundation-2nd-annual-night-at.html

Ryan Zimmerman holds event at Nationals Park in fight against multiple sclerosis

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:33:55 +0000

Toni L. Sandys/WASHINGTON POST – “It can mess up what you can do or how you go about what you do, but she doesn’t let it mess up who she is,” Ryan Zimmerman said of his mother, Cheryl, and her battle with multiple sclerosis.

By Adam Kilgore, Published: June 29

Main article taken from washingtonpost.com: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/ryan-zimmerman-holds-event-at-nationals-park-in-fight-against-multiple-sclerosis/2011/06/29/AGyp5IrH_story.html

The worst part is not knowing. Ryan Zimmerman came to grips with that long ago, before the disease confined his mother to a wheelchair and slowly, insidiously and relentlessly stole the ability of her muscles to function. Cheryl Zimmerman can no longer move any part of her body below her shoulders.

On the baseball diamond, playing for the Washington Nationals, where he has grown into one of the best third basemen in the world, Zimmerman has complete control. He is powerless in his mother’s daily battle against multiple sclerosis. He can only wonder what might happen next.

Cheryl Zimmerman learned she had multiple sclerosis in 1995, when Zimmerman was 11. He has lived more of his life with the knowledge that his mother is under siege than without, which is hard for him to believe. The hardest part isn’t seeing her diminished physical condition — Cheryl Zimmerman is strong, and she demands no special treatment from her family. The hardest part is that any day her condition might be the same as the day before, or it might not.

“That’s the most frustrating thing,” Zimmerman said. “You really don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Zimmerman has taken into his hands what he can, what the resources his baseball skills have allowed him to. Thursday night, Zimmerman will own Nationals Park.

He had it written into his latest contract that one day a year he has full use of the stadium for an event called Night at the Park. It benefits the ziMS Foundation, the charity he conceived at age 20 and has run with the help of his family.

Multiple sclerosis, “affects everybody differently,” said Keith Zimmerman, Ryan’s father. “You ask a doctor, ‘What does that mean?’ They don’t have an answer for you.”

Cheryl Zimmerman and her husband still come to Nationals Park a few weekends each season to watch their son play, never when it becomes too hot or too cold. She watches most Nationals games from home in Virginia Beach, yelling and screaming at the television. She leaves angry voicemails for Zimmerman when he cusses during an interview. Her health has changed, but she hasn’t.

“It can mess up what you can do or how you go about what you do, but she doesn’t let it mess up who she is,” Zimmerman said. “No matter what happens to your mom, she’s always going to look the same. She’s always been your mom.”

Cheryl Zimmerman was an athlete. She played lacrosse and field hockey in college. Keith, her high school sweetheart, was an athlete, too, a high school football star and a college baseball player. The family jokes Ryan got his athletic genes from Cheryl.

“I would say that’s probably true,” Keith said. “Actually, both of us were athletes. . . . ”

In the background, Cheryl heard her husband waffled on the speakerphone. “Yes,” she confirmed. “He did.”

Early indications

Around 1991, Cheryl Zimmerman started to lose feeling in the left side of her body. Her left leg would drag behind as she walked. She could not tolerate very hot and very cold temperatures. She would come home from teaching elementary school special education completely exhausted.

Main article taken from washingtonpost.com: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/ryan-zimmerman-holds-event-at-nationals-park-in-fight-against-multiple-sclerosis/2011/06/29/AGyp5IrH_story.html