Army colonel, had taught
Horner that to be a good citizen,
he had to serve his country.
When Horner graduated
from the U.S. Naval Academy
in 2008, his future seemed
certain. “When you come out of
the Naval Academy, the world
is your oyster, and you feel like
there’s nothing that can stop
you.”
A year later, his future looked
far less promising. Horner’s life
was about to take a markedly
different turn from the military
career he’d envisioned. “I knew I
would have to retire,” he says.
Out of the comfort zone
Horner took a positive approach,
and began to set new career
goals. He enrolled in the
MBA program at Jacksonville
University’s Davis College of
Business.
Then, a friend invited him to
a National MS Society Dinner
of Champions event, where
he met North Florida Chapter
President Corrina Steiger.
“Donnie was young, fresh-faced
and infinitely accomplished,
and he was living so openly and
positively with MS,” Steiger
recalls. She asked Horner if he
wanted to get involved with MS
advocacy efforts, and he agreed.
“Corrina insisted—in a
supportive manner—that I could
make a difference,” Horner
says. “I was reluctant, at first, to
become an advocate. I become
embarrassed if I stumble in
public, or if my vision blurs when
I’m reading from a speech, even
though people tell me it’s OK, or
that they don’t even notice. It isn’t
easy, but I’ve had to step outside
of my comfort zone.”
To Capitol Hill and back
Horner was especially interested
in the Congressionally Directed
Medical Research Programs
(CDMRP), a Department of
Defense initiative that sponsors
research into health conditions
that affect significant numbers
of current and former service
men and women. The Society
was successful in advocating
for an MS program within the
CDMRP in 2008, and since
then has received more than $20
million in funding.
After noticing Horner’s
interest in legislative issues and
public policy, Steiger invited
him to join the chapter’s
government relations committee.
He was eloquent, passionate
and committed to the cause—
traits that got him noticed right
away. “We took him straight to
Washington, D.C.,” to attend
the Society’s 2011 Public Policy
Conference, where MS activists
from around the country
gather each year, garnering
Congressional support for policy
initiatives, says Jenna Paladino,
statewide director of Public
Policy for the Society in Florida.
“I had no hesitation that he was
going to take his passion to the
highest level,” she says.
JOE SHYMANSKI
Donnie Horner
funnels his
ambition into
MS advocacy.
The conference became a
turning point for Horner. “I
was taken aback by everything
I learned and the impact we
could make on Capitol Hill,” he
says. “I came back from that trip
feeling empowered.”
Horner brought his passion
for MS advocacy back to D.C.
in 2012, this time as a speaker to
a crowd of about 375 advocates,
donors, board members and
legislators. He told the audience
that when you live with MS,
you have a choice: “You can
stand on the sidelines, or you
can play in the game—the game
of beating MS.”
Gaining momentum
The message resonated. As
a former Naval officer with
MS, “Donnie not only has a
compelling story, but also a
perspective that elected officials
appreciate hearing,” says Ted
Thompson, vice president of
