ABOUT US

INTRODUCTION

Until a cure is found, more than 8,100 local patients and family members need help. They need information and tools to cope with the day-to-day challenges of life with MS. MSSP meets these challenges through a myriad of free and sliding base programs and services.

MISSION

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Portland, Oregon, Inc.’s (MSSP) mission is to improve the quality of life for the 8,100 Oregonians and SW Washingtonians affected by MS.

HISTORY

In 1949, a woman battling the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis couldn’t attend her child’s school play at Franklin High School. With neither a ramp nor wheelchair transportation, she was literally a prisoner in her own home. Her plight came to the attention of the Columbia Lions Club. The members decided something had to be done to help the Portland-area community of people with MS. With their help and diligence, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Portland, Oregon, Inc., was born. MSSP was created as an organization with just one mission: to improve the lives of individuals, and their families, affected by Multiple Sclerosis. To meet that mission and promise, MSSP has developed a host of unique client-oriented programs. These range from educational programs on the disease for people with MS and their caregivers, to social services, medical equipment and free massage therapy visits, to portable air conditioners to beat the effects of seasonal heat.

Why Is There More Than One MS Organization?

Some nationwide programs are dedicated to research and symptom management. Local programs, like your MSSP, focus on the services that help people cope with the day-to-day challenges of life with MS. Multiple Sclerosis is an incurable, degenerative disease that remains with people with MS for the rest of their lives. The needs of the MS person and his or her family are diversified and constantly changing. That’s why we’re here—to meet those needs and fill the gaps left by other organizations.

MSSP in the news

Summer Comfort program