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ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Blake Arnet - UCLA Class of 2012
Blake's childhood experiences with basketball and family led him to start Dunk MS in 2018 after a year of planning and networking. Blake was fortunate to play varsity basketball at Mater Dei for all 4 years, where he was a 4-time Southern California Boys Basketball Champion, a 2-time CIF Boys Basketball Champion, and a 2-time California State Div. 2 Boys Basketball Champion. In 2008, he led the team as senior captain to a 35-1 record and a #5 national ranking. His accomplishments didn't go unnoticed, as he received the 2007 CIF Sportsmanship Award.
He then joined the UCLA Men's Basketball Team from 2008 to 2011. Despite receiving offers from smaller D1 schools, Blake chose to attend UCLA as a preferred walk-on, where he earned a full scholarship during his junior year.
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Blake's creativity and dedication to his mom were recognized by the UCLA Athletics Rose Gilbert Courage and Character Award, which he received in 2011. He graduated from UCLA with a BA in Sociology in 2012.
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Beyond basketball, Blake is a dedicated member of the National MS Society, serving on the Emerging Leaders Board in Southern California since 2018, and the Orange County Community Council since 2023.
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Currently, Blake works full-time as a Sr. Customer Success Manager at a fintech startup called Solid. But no matter where life takes him, his passion for basketball, his unwavering commitment to serving others, and his infectious positive attitude will always be a part of who he is. We are grateful to have Blake as the founder of Dunk MS, where he continues to inspire and empower those living with MS to live their best lives possible.
INSPIRATION
Brigitte Renae DeRouen-Venclik
Hi, my name is Blake Arnet and I'm a former UCLA Men's Basketball player from 2008-2011 and graduated with a degree in Sociology in 2012. At only 47 years old, my mother Brigitte was diagnosed with MS in 2007 after a dedicated career as a nurse and a top pharmaceutical sales rep. She fought the disease with all she had, but suddenly passed away two years later during the summer before my sophomore year of college.
She was the rock of the family and her independent and hardworking spirit helped so many people throughout her life. She was my best friend and role model who inspired our family to never give up and always persevere.
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My family has been participating in Bike MS and Walk MS ever since as Brigitte's Bunch, trying to find a cure for this terrible disease. With my background in basketball, sports coaching and entrepreneurship, I decided to take on a new life mission alongside my family: finding a cure for MS. This is the first step.
