PRESS RELEASE

 

Syrinx Consulting Raises More Than $25,000 for ALS Foundation for Life

Second Annual Charity Poker Tournament Yields In-Kind Donations from Nearly 200 Boston-Area Professionals

 WALTHAM, Mass., April 18, 2008 — Syrinx Consulting, Corporation, a software development and consulting firm with expertise in Microsoft .NET and SharePoint Server 2007 technologies, today announced that its second annual Charity Poker Tournament helped raise more than $25,000 for the ALS Foundation for Life. Nearly 200 players and individuals donated time and personal money toward the March 31, 2008 event, making the fundraiser a huge success.

 The ALS Foundation for Life is a Massachusetts non-profit corporation whose mission is to help improve the quality of life for the men and women who are forced to battle ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

 “More than 5,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. As many as 30,000 Americans may have the disease at any given time – and most lose their battle within three to five years,” said Sheila Carlson, President, and Vice Chair/Treasurer. “The generous and impactful efforts of philanthropical organizations like Syrinx fund critical research to treat this growing and deadly disease. We are very thankful to Syrinx Consulting, as well as the many individual contributors and players, who donated their time and money to make the 2008 Poker Tournament a success.”    

"It’s important for local businesses to participate in the community and come together for great causes like the ALS Foundation. We saw how this disease affected Frank Carlson and his family, and wanted to do what we could to help others in this situation,” said Syrinx Consulting CEO Andrew Gelina. “We were really pleased to see so many professionals, from local software and other companies, join the Sunday event. After covering the event costs, including an exciting $6,250 prize pool, we were able to donate more than $13,500 to ALS – almost fifty percent more than last year.”  

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys motor neurons, which are among the largest of all nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.  Motor neurons are responsible for sending messages to muscles throughout the body.  When the motor neurons can no longer send impulses to the muscles due to ALS, the muscles begin to waste away (atrophy), causing increased muscle weakness. Motor neuron (or nerve cell) death makes it impossible for the brain to control muscles or signal them to move. Eventually, most muscles are affected, including those of the legs and feet, arms and hands, and those that control swallowing and breathing.

 About ALS Foundation for Life

ALS Foundation for Life, a non-profit 501 (c) (3), was founded by an ALS patient, Frank Carlson. While personally battling this disease each day, Frankie decided he wanted to invest his time and energy trying to help improve the quality of life for other ALS victims. The ALS Foundation for Life is built solely on volunteers. The mission of his foundation is to aid PALS and their families in acquiring financial assistance for home modifications, medical equipment and supplies to help maintain a sense of independence and dignity. Mr. Carlson lost his battle with ALS on July 2, 2004. His mission continues with the support of local businesses and the public. For more, visit www.alsfoundation.org.

 About Syrinx Consulting

Syrinx is a software development and consulting firm that brings a deep understanding of Microsoft technologies including .NET and SharePoint 2007 to organizations that are dependent on technology for competitive advantage.  As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, the company has developed solutions within the financial services, Internet, call center, real estate, publishing, health care, and biosciences industries. Founded in 1998, Syrinx is based in Waltham, Mass. and has been recognized on the Boston Business Journal’s List of “Areas Largest IT Consulting Firms” and the “Inc. 500” list for 2007. For more information, visit www.syrinx.com or call (888) 5-SYRINX.

 

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