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Connections Winter 2004: Local 853 Member
Janine Vanier Earns Volunteer Honor
“I was very honored, humbled and inspired by
attending this National Multiple Sclerosis Conference
because I found myself among some of the most incredible
people who are from every walk of life who are so dedicated
to ending this damn disease,” says Janine Vanier
upon returning from Denver, where she was inducted into
the MS Volunteer Hall of Fame. “The theme of the
conference was "Believe." and by hearing,
seeing, and being among so many who do believe, I am
sure that the cure for MS will be found soon.”
Janine received her award on November 11, 2004. She
was one of 30 people honored from around the nation
in the categories of advocacy, client programs, fundraising
and health professionals. The MS Society chose these
Volunteer Hall of Fame members for their “generous
contribution of time, talent, leadership and commitment
to our mission.”
For 12 years, Janine worked as the Local 853 office
manager but never disclosed that she had MS herself.
But after getting involved with the Northern California
Chapter of the MS Society, it didn’t take much
for her to convince the Local to make reasonable accommodations,
and together they have formed one of the nation’s
top workplace fundraising teams. To date, Janine and
her Teamster supporters have raised more than $150,000
and have connected the Society to many new donors.
For each of the past four years, the TeamMSters have
increased the number of people and amount raised in
the MS Walk-a-thon, held at Crown Beach in Alameda.
The 2005 Walk-a-thon is already planned for April 10,
and Janine hopes to break all records. Janine organizing
the first TeamMSters team in 2001.
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