An elderly volunteer, Fran Itkoff, who dedicated 60 years of her life to the National MS Society, has been dismissed for questioning why employees include pronouns at the end of their emails. This controversial move has left patients feeling the impact, despite the society’s defense of their decision.
Itkoff, a recipient of the Volunteer Lifetime Achievement award in 2008, and her husband, who was named National MS Father of the Year by former President Jimmy Carter, have both dedicated their lives to supporting individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, Itkoff’s contributions were dismissed after she raised a concern with one of the society’s employees.
During an interview with The U.S. Sun, Itkoff revealed that while planning an event with a society worker, she asked why pronouns were included in their emails. As she was unfamiliar with the concept, the employee explained that it was a way to promote inclusivity. However, Itkoff questioned the necessity of such an approach, stating that the society had always been inclusive for the past 60 years.
The conversation escalated when the employee suggested that Itkoff should join a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) group due to her comments. Itkoff, however, expressed her disagreement, emphasizing that the existing volunteer group was already inclusive.
On January 19, Itkoff received an email at 4:58 pm, removing her from her volunteer position. The timing of this decision raised eyebrows, and the family only heard from the society again when their story gained exposure through an interview with social media influencer Libs of TikTok. Surprisingly, the president of the National MS Society, Cyndi Zagieboylo, resigned shortly after the controversy. However, the society stated that her retirement was unrelated to Itkoff’s dismissal.
In a public statement, the society defended its decision, claiming that Itkoff’s statements did not align with their policy of inclusion. They emphasized that their staff had acted with good intentions, attempting to navigate what they considered a challenging issue. Itkoff’s daughter, Elle Hamilton, expressed her disappointment, stating that the society missed an opportunity for meaningful conversation and learning.
To make matters worse, the society removed Itkoff’s independently-run support group from its website. Located in Long Beach, the group served as a crucial resource for patients who were unable to travel to Los Angeles for support. Hamilton criticized the society for harming the patients who relied on the group’s assistance by making this decision.
Despite the setback, Itkoff is determined to continue running her MS group north of Los Angeles. She believes that finding a cure should be the society’s primary focus, rather than making headlines for firing a 90-year-old volunteer.
The National MS Society’s decision has stirred controversy and raised questions about their commitment to inclusivity. As the story unfolds, Itkoff remains steadfast in her dedication to helping MS patients, regardless of the society’s changing priorities.