JUSTINE FEDAK OF BMO FINANCIAL GROUP TO BE HONORED AS NATIONAL MS SOCIETY’S WOMAN ON THE MOVE

Sixth annual luncheon takes place Monday, August 19, at Ritz-Carlton Chicago

CHICAGO -- July 29, 2013 – The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Illinois Chapter will honor Justine Fedak, Senior Vice President and Head of Brand, Advertising and Sponsorships for BMO Financial Group, North America, at its sixth annual Women on the Move luncheon, Monday, August 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Ritz-Carlton (160 E. Pearson) in downtown Chicago.

Women on the Move , presented by BMO Harris Bank and Walgreens, is a premiere event where Chicago area community and business leaders come together to celebrate excellence, achievement and generosity, and to raise funds and awareness to help create a world free of multiple sclerosis.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2001, Fedak has been an advocate for healthy living through her involvement in many charitable forums throughout the Chicago area. Through Women on the Move, she hopes to educate others about the disease and bring needed awareness across the region.

“It’s a huge privilege to be this year’s honoree because I am passionate about raising awareness for people living with MS so they understand that they can live very happy and full lives, and to provide a face to something that a lot of people are still living with silently,” said Fedak. “If I had one wish for anyone newly diagnosed is that I could wrap my arms around them and tell them all the wonderful things that MS has brought me in my life.”

In her role at BMO Financial Group, where she has worked since 1992, Fedak is responsible for brand positioning, advertising, promotional activities for the personal, commercial and wealth management businesses for the bank’s North American operation. Fedak also serves as an executive director of The Noah’s Arc Foundation, Chicago Bull Joakim Noah’s charitable organization. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater North Michigan Ave. Association and Gilda’s Club Chicago; is a regular contributor to the Chicago Sun-Times SPLASH column; and in 2012 was selected to chair the Municipal Marketing Advisory Council for the City of Chicago.

Tickets to the 2013 Women on the Move luncheon can be purchased at MSLuncheon.org. For more information about the program or sponsorships, contact Jill Robisch at 312.423.1174 or jill.robisch@nmss.org.

Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The disease affects more than 20,000 individuals in Illinois and 2.1 million worldwide. The Greater Illinois Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society mobilizes people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS. Envisioning a world free of MS, the Chapter moves toward that end by driving change through advocacy, facilitating education, collaborating with others and by providing helpful programs and services. For more information, visit MSillinois.org.
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CHICAGO, Aug. 16, 2013— The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Illinois Chapter will host its sixth annual Women on the Move Luncheon this Monday, August 19, at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Chicago. Justine Fedak, Senior Vice President and Head of Brand, Advertising and Sponsorships for BMO Financial Group, North America will be honored as the Society’s 2013 Woman on the Move. WGN’s News at Noon co-host Tom Negovan will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. 

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2001, Fedak has been an advocate for healthy living through her involvement in many charitable forums throughout the Chicago area. She serves as an executive director of The Noah’s Arc Foundation, Chicago Bull Joakim Noah’s charitable organization; is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater North Michigan Ave. Association and Gilda’s Club Chicago; and is a regular contributor to the Chicago Sun-Times SPLASH column.

               “It’s a huge privilege to be this year’s honoree because I am passionate about raising awareness for people living with MS so they understand that they can live very happy and full lives, and to provide a face to something that a lot of people are still living with silently,” said Fedak. “If I had one wish for anyone newly diagnosed is that I could wrap my arms around them and tell them all the wonderful things that MS has brought me in my life.”

WHAT:      Women on the Move , presented by BMO Harris Bank and Walgreens, is a premiere event where Chicago area community and business leaders come together to celebrate excellence, achievement and generosity, and to raise funds and awareness to create a world free of MS.

WHEN:     Monday, August 19 – Luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m.; Honoree address at 12:45 p.m.

                        MEDIA AVAILABILITY with Justine & MS Society leadership – 1:20 p.m. (approx.)

WHERE:     Ritz-Carlton Chicago, 160 East Pearson St., Chicago, Grand Ballroom

WHO:       National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Illinois Chapter

WHY:        Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body and stops people from moving.  Proceeds from Women on the Move go toward research, programs and services that improve the lives of the 20,000 people in Illinois affected by MS.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society mobilizes people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by multiple sclerosis. Envisioning a world free of MS, the Greater Illinois Chapter drives change through advocacy, facilitating education, collaborating with others and by providing helpful programs and services. Visit MSillinois.org for more information.