The Millennium Experience 2012, the company’s largest conference in its history, united over 700 beauty professionals from all over the country to learn, network and share invaluable information. It provided industry icons like Robert Cromeans, Tabatha Coffey, Ted Gibson, Neil Ducoff, Carol Phillips and more to inspire and educate. The Experience shed light on an amazing foundation called NephCure and a terrible disease called FSGS. The NephCure Foundation is the only organization committed exclusively to support research seeking the cause of the potentially debilitating kidney disease Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Nephrotic Syndrome, which currently does not have a cure.
Michael Levine, Board Secretary for the foundation, attended the conference and in front of the entire audience told an emotional story about what FSGS is and how it’s directly affecting his family. Michael’s son Mathew was diagnosed with FSGS when he was two and now at the age of eleven he has been fighting ever since. “To be able to tell Matthew’s story and bring awareness to the Nephcure Foundation in front of this amazing industry has been an honor and true highlight in my life. The amount of support I have received from the Harms family and the beauty professionals I have met at The Experience has been very overwhelming. This experience is one that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” says Levine.
Immediately following Michael’s story Founder & CEO of Millennium, John Harms presented a call to action to all Experience attendees. He challenged Millennium clients to join Michaels fight in raising awareness for Nephcure and FSGS. He asked everyone to take out their cell phones and type nine numbers. Those nine numbers were Michael’s cell phone number. He told the audience if you want to help Michael in this fight, text him your name and he will call you to discuss how you can get involved and support the foundation. Within 5 minutes Michael had over 50 texts messages from salons and spas wanting to help. “The response was remarkable but I’m not suprised,” said Harms. “I fell in the love with the beauty industry because of the incredible people I get to work with every day and the reaction Michael received from our clients is a testament to that. I have never seen an industry more focused on giving back and helping others and I’m very proud to be a part of it.”
For more information about Nephcure and how you can help or donate go to http://www.nephcure.org.
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