MDA’s Holiday Pinups Fundraiser Open at Shops Through December

Yedida Y Bogachkov PhD avatar

by Yedida Y Bogachkov PhD |

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The 2021 holiday retail fundraising program to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) recently opened.

The multiple retailers involved in this year’s campaign hope to raise at least $500,000 to support research and care for people with muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and related neuromuscular diseases.

“MDA’s holiday retail campaign is a great way to fund our life-changing research, care, and advocacy,” Susan Schulz, vice president of marketing for MDA, said in a press release.

By purchasing in-store MDA Holiday pinups for $1, $5, or a larger donation at checkout, or by rounding up a purchase, one can help support the association. These MDA pinups are then displayed in the affiliated stores throughout the holiday season, showing support for individuals with muscular dystrophy and their families. Donations can also be made online for those who wish to support the MDA virtually.

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Money raised will go toward supporting research, which is freely shared globally, to advance disease understanding and treatment. Donations also help support the MDA’s Care Center Network, which is comprised of multi-disciplinary teams at over 150 medical institutions in the U.S.

Additionally, the funds help the MDA to advocate for equal access for people with disabilities. They also help to support educational programming, including events and the MDA’s summer camps, where children, ages 8–17, with neuromuscular diseases can gain confidence, independence, and life-long friendships without placing a financial burden on their families.

“Over the past six years, the work of MDA has in part led to 14 FDA approved treatments to help our community live longer and grow stronger, and we are extremely grateful for the generosity of our retail partners and their loyal customers, who go the extra mile for families in their communities to bring this all-important campaign to life,” Schulz said.

Retailers involved in this year’s initiative — to run throughout November and December — include GPM Investments, Circle K, Graham C-Stores, Graham Enterprises, and Florida Turnpike Services, each with their own time frame for running the campaign in their locations.

GPM Investments, in particular, has been a part of the MDA’s holiday campaigns for nearly a decade, and this year in its 1,348 locations across 25 states, customers can either purchase pinups or round up their purchases to the nearest dollar between Nov. 15 and Dec. 17.

Circle K’s 401 locations across Florida and Georgia will be selling pinups throughout November. Across Illinois, Graham C-Stores’ 26 locations and Graham Enterprise’s 35 location will be selling pinups from Nov. 24 to Dec. 31. Finally, Florida Turnpike Services will be selling pinups in its eight store locations from Nov. 22 through Jan. 2.

“Every MDA holiday donation empowers MDA families to live their lives to the fullest potential,” Schulz said.

According to the release, the MDA will be posting about the campaign on social media channels using the hashtags #MDA #HappyHolidays.