ARVADA, CO: CCSVI Alliance, Inc. a non-profit organized to promote education and research about CCSVI, a promising new MS treatment, is pleased to announce the addition of two new board members – Christine Righeimer and Bruce Makous.

Christine E. Righeimer graduated Cum Laude from The John Marshall Law School in 1993. She began her legal career as a litigation attorney with the national law firm, Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess, and has also practiced municipal and business law. In 2004 Christine went into private practice. Her current practice, Righeimer Law, LLC, concentrates in business law, equine law, and not-for-profit law. Christine was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1990, three months after starting law school, and has been diagnosed and treated for CCSVI. She was instrumental in leading the Alliance’s recent Doctors’ Roundtable in Chicago.

Bruce B. Makous, ChFC, CAP, CFRE, has been a professional fundraiser and consultant for more than 26 years, serving on the staff or as a consultant for major health, human services, higher education, cultural, and grant making institutions. In 2009, Bruce was named by The Nonprofit Times as one of the “Most Influential and Effective Fundraisers” in the US, an annual honor reserved for only 14 top professionals in the country. He has been certified by the International CFRE Board, 1995 to present. Bruce is very involved in the philanthropic professional community and currently serves on the National Board for the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning. Mr. Makous received his undergraduate degree from Oberlin College and master’s degree from New York University.

CCSVI Alliance would also like to express its profound appreciation for several board members who have recently retired from the board, Michelle Brown, Cheryle Damato, Jennine Kelley, and Mitchell Sturgeon, CCSVI Alliance President, Sharon Richardson stated, “We would like to thank the retiring board members for their commitment and the passion they brought to CCSVI Alliance since its organization in February of 2010. They invested a tremendous amount of time, energy, and talent into launching the Alliance and their service was invaluable to the success of the organization’s first year. We wish them well.”

Sharon Richardson continued, “We are delighted to have Christine and Bruce as additions to the CCSVI Alliance Board. Their knowledge and experience within the nonprofit industry will be a great contribution to the Alliance’s mission. "

CCSVI Alliance’s mission is to promote education and research about CCSVI and its relationship to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by providing objective information to the MS community, supporting medical investigations of CCSVI, and fostering collaboration among patients, advocates, and professionals.

###