JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville business leader Marty Fiorentino received recognition Thursday at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society North Florida chapter’s annual Dinner of Champions, a fundraising event aimed at supporting MS research and awareness.
Fiorentino, partner and president of the Fiorentino Group and husband of retired News4JAX anchor Mary Baer, was honored for his community work during the gathering.
“It’s humbling,” Fiorentino said. “But tonight the real honor goes to the people that have spent money to come and support research for MS at a time when budgets are being cut in Washington for research. It’s definitely important.”
Multiple sclerosis disrupts communication between the brain and other parts of the body, making it an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system.
North Florida branch president Heidi Katz emphasized the personal significance of the annual fundraiser. “Working here I’ve become part of the MS community. I’m fortunate not to live with the disease, but I have so many people now that I consider my friends and family,” Katz said. She added that witnessing the strength of others fuels her drive to find a cure.
The Dinner of Champions serves dual purposes: honoring community pillars while raising awareness for those living with multiple sclerosis.