Illinois Lottery Launches 2018 ‘MS Project’ Instant Game
| For Immediate Release | Contact: Jason Schaumburg (312) 793-3034 |
CHICAGO, IL — March 12, 2018 — The Illinois Lottery, Illinois Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti, the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National MS Society and the Illinois Department of Public Health today unveiled the newest version of The MS Project instant game. Proceeds from the ticket help pay for research aimed at finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
“Players who buy an MS Project lottery ticket are providing financial support to Illinois residents who struggle each day with the effects of multiple sclerosis,” Illinois Lottery Acting Director Gregory Smith said. “The Lottery is proud to partner again with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Greater Illinois Chapter of the MS Society in the fight against multiple sclerosis.”
This is the 11th edition of The MS Project special cause instant game. The ticket costs $3 and has raised nearly $9 million since 2008. The game offers three top prizes of $50,000. All net proceeds, after prize payouts and expenses, benefit MS research statewide.
“I became an MS warrior in 2007. With the help of my neurologist and my family, I have been fortunate not to let MS define me,” said Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti, who suffers from MS. “I’m honored to join the Illinois Lottery to launch this game and thankful for their support to fight this disease. Hopefully this campaign will bring us one step closer to curing MS.”
“With recent advances in disease modifying therapies and treatments, it is a time of great promise for people living with MS,” said Sarah Rodriguez, President of the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National MS Society. “Thanks much in part to ongoing Lottery-funded research projects taking place across the state, Illinois is a leader in cutting-edge research aimed at stopping MS in its tracks, restoring what has been lost and ending the disease forever.”
All profits for The MS Project instant game go to the Illinois Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund, which awards grants to organizations conducting MS research in Illinois. All grants are reviewed and approved by the National MS Society’s Research Programs Advisory Committee, a panel that includes 75 leading scientists, physicians and other professionals from virtually every field related to MS.
“MS is a very complex disease requiring a comprehensive research strategy to identify better treatments and new disease management therapies,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. “By partnering with the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National MS Society and the Illinois Lottery, we are able to fund research that will lead to a better quality of life for everyone with MS.”
The MS Project ticket is available at nearly 8,000 Illinois Lottery retailers throughout the state and is one of five special cause instant games offered by the Illinois Lottery. Other specialty games contribute funding for Illinois veterans, the fight against breast cancer, assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS and Special Olympics training programs across Illinois. Since 2006, when the first specialty cause instant game was introduced, the Illinois Lottery has transferred more than $46 million for causes players have supported through their ticket purchases.
For more information on The MS Project, please visit www.illinoislottery.com.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society:
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society, Greater Illinois and Gateway Area chapters exist to make sure it doesn’t. They address the challenges of each person affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, collaborating with MS organizations around the world, and providing programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.
About the Illinois Department of Public Health:
Founded in 1877, the Illinois Department of Public Health is responsible for protecting the state’s 12.4 million residents, as well as countless visitors, through the prevention and control of disease and injury. The Department’s nearly 200 programs touch virtually every age, aspect and cycle of life.
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Founded in 1974, the Illinois Lottery has contributed over $20 billion (since 1985) to the state’s Common School Fund to assist K-12 public schools, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars to the Capital Projects Fund and to special causes like Illinois Veterans services, the fight against breast cancer, MS research, Special Olympics and assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to playing in-store, the Illinois Lottery offers online and mobile play for all draw-based Illinois Lottery games at illinoislottery.com. Players must be at least 18 years old