Redskins Great Roy Jefferson to partner with Brave Dave and the Literacy for a Lifetime program to cure autoimmune diseases
Roy Jefferson, best known as a member of the "Over the Hill Gang", which brought the Washington Redskins its first NFC title, hasn’t been idle since his retirement from Football in 1976. While holding a variety of positions from actor to business owner, Mr. Jefferson has always been involved in efforts to promote literacy. Through his work at inner city schools in Washington, D.C., Mr. Jefferson helped to bring about a significant rise in reading comprehension scores at several elementary schools in the District with whom he personally worked.
Mr. Jefferson now serves as the spokesperson for an existing partnership between the Brave Dave Foundation and Literacy for a Lifetime, created by the Education Development Corporation. The Brave Dave Foundation, founded by Dave Gearing, who has suffered from multiple sclerosis since graduating from law school in 1979, has contributed over $750,000.00 to fund research to find a cure for all autoimmune diseases which include multiple sclerosis.
The Literacy for a Lifetime Program allows a tax deductible contribution to be made directly to any educational institution; 50% of which will be matched by the program. For example, a $1,000.00 contribution to the school of choice will result in the Literacy for a Lifetime Program donating $1,500.00 worth of book to the institution.
"This is a Win-Win and Win situation," said Jefferson. "The School and its students received 50% more books from The Literacy for a Lifetime catalog, the contributor receives a tax deduction and helps to promote literacy in our area and the Brave Dave Foundation receives a commission to help find a cure for all autoimmune diseases." Jefferson noted that the books are published by Usborn Books and consist of over 1,300 titles including many that promote a particular interest of an individual student from science experiments to creative writing.
Dave Gearing, otherwise known as "Brave Dave" is excited by Jefferson’s new role. "This all came about as a result of Roy’s help with the Brave Dave Open, the golf tournament which has supported the Brave Dave Foundation over the last 11 years" said Gearing. "When I learned about Roy’s work with inner city reading programs, it seemed like a natural marriage where Roy could continue to promote literacy, while at the same time helping me and the other 50 million Americans who suffer from autoimmune diseases."
Gearing pointed out that there are more than 100 known autoimmune disease and that 1 in 5 Americans has an autoimmune disease. He further explain3d that autoimmune diseases are chronic in nature but are rarely life threatening. This results in the annual expenditure of billions of dollars to simply treat the diseases. "What we want to do is to eliminate all autoimmune diseases which, once accomplished, will allow the money spent simply on treatment to be used for other worthy causes."
"I look forward to working with Dave and Tom Branthover, the Executive Director, in helping everyone to reach our shared goals." said Jefferson. "I especially look forward to working with John Lynch, probably the best looking man I have ever known and a much better athlete than I ever was."
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Finding cures for:
Lupus, Type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Scleroderma, Rheumatoid arthritis, Graves’ disease, Psoriasis, Celiac disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, Myasthenia gravis, ALS Lou Gerhigs Disease, Juvenile arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Vasculitis, Sarcoidosis and More...
Autoimmune Facts
- There are more than 100 known autoimmune diseases.
- 1 in 5 Americans or 20 percent of the population has an autoimmune disease.
- Approximately 75 percent of those affected are women. Autoimmune diseases are a leading cause of death among women and children in the United States.
- Autoimmunity is not related to AIDS (in which an acquired virus attacks the immune system), nor is it a form of cancer.
- Researchers have found “family clusters” of autoimmunity; persons with autoimmune diseases often find that many members of their family also have an autoimmune disease.
- Autoimmune diseases are not contagious or infectious, buy they can cause major organ damage and be life threatening.
- Lupus, Type 1 diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Celiac disease, Graves’ disease, Scleroderma, Myasthenia gravis, Juvenile arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Fibromyalgia, Behcet’s disease, and 100 others.