Hidden Gems: Meet Carolyn Fischer of National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolyn Fischer.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I’ve been in the Kansas City metro area for 16 years and have professionally “grown up” in the nonprofit world. Helping those in need is a deep passion of mine and one I never see ending! From being a high school English teacher in the inner-city of Ft. Lauderdale to many years with the YMCA and now President of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Mid America, I’ve had many amazing learning opportunities! All of which have contributed to my overall success. The nonprofit world has been a challenging one, but one where I feel most comfortable. Being genuine has proven to be the best source of my success in my various roles. I love developing relationships! You’ll be successful when you’re in the right nonprofit that allows for this space! I’ve hit the jackpot regarding roles – my main priority is engaging folks in the community and keeping them looped into what we do at the MS Society—making friends every day! I truly don’t know a stranger!

Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest struggle to get to where I am today is how long I had to be away from my kids as they were young. I had lots of late nights and weekends that took me away from them. An advantage to this path is that they have very giving hearts and are the best volunteers! We realized we could spend more time together if they helped at events where I had to be onsite. It works for us now!

As you know, we’re big fans of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Our mission at the MS Society is to ” cure MS while empowering people affected by MS to live their best lives.” It’s a bold goal to say that we will CURE MS, but we’re on the brink! We are a research-focused organization that raises funds to ensure we can continue getting closer to that cure. We’ve progressed more in the last 5 years than in the last 70. We currently host multiple walks, a bike event, and a garden party/gala to help us achieve those financial goals to ensure that research continues. These are all events that anyone can participate in! What sets us apart from others is the relationships we develop with those who contribute to moving this work forward. Everyone at the Society is super genuine, with a focus on partnerships in the community. I’m looking forward to our organization achieving our goal of having a world free of MS. It’ll be in my lifetime and probably even during my career at the Society!

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
When thinking of who else deserves credit for my success, that list is exhaustive! My wife, Brittany, has always been my number one supporter. From being my cheerleader to allowing me to bounce ideas off of – I couldn’t do this without her! My kiddos, who have always been honest about how my work/life balance affects them and always encourage me to be my best, have been my driving force! I’ve had the most impactful mentors at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City – Mark Hulet, Garry Linn, Brian Haines, and Andrea Toney. They have had the biggest impact on my professional growth and helped me “trust my gut.” They created a safe place for me to understand who I was as a leader in the community. My current team at the MS Society is phenomenal! I’ve never met such a group of hard-working individuals who care about each other’s success as they do! It’s such an honor!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-schulze-fischer-64132537/