About Us The Lupus Foundation of America, Greater Ohio Chapter is a non-profit, mostly voluntary health organization that functions mainly with volunteers. All monies raised through membership dues, donations and fundraising are utilized for educational programs and funding local lupus research projects each year. The Lupus Foundation of America, Greater Ohio Chapter is also a National Voluntary Health Agency and a participant in the Combined Federal Campaign. Our Mission The Lupus Foundation of America is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people affected by lupus through programs of education, research, and advocacy. Our History The Greater Ohio Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., was founded in 1977 to fulfill the needs of the lupus community in Cleveland. As the years progressed and the organization changed on a national level, more and more of the state was ushered into the chapter s service area. Today, the chapter services the entire State of Ohio. What is Lupus? Lupus affects over 60,000 Ohioans and 1.5 million Americans. Lupus affects more than the combined number of those affected by MS, Cystic Fibrosis, Cerebral Palsy, Sickle Cell Anemia, keukemia, and HIV. Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. Lupus primarily affects women between the ages of 15-44. Unfortunately, men, children, and elderly can also develop lupus. Signs and Symptoms of Lupus For more information about lupus, visit LupusGreaterOhio.org. 2
Why Support the Walk To End Lupus Now Event? The Walk to End Lupus Now is the LFA s most important fundraising event series of the year. The walks are the largest lupus gatherings nationwide. Thousands of walkers participate in more than 70 cities. We need your support because no lupus patient should ever feel alone and not know where to turn to for help. We need to be strong and fight together on this mission. We will be stronger in numbers. One person can make a difference, but together we can make a change. 3 Your Impact Your sponsorship provides: New Patient Education Classes New Patient Education Classes are offered across Ohio, and help newly diagnosed patients and their support systems learn about lupus and how to live well and manage with disease. Support Groups Support groups provide a warm and caring environment where those suffering from lupus and their support systems can share their experiences, methods of coping with lupus, and insights into living with a chronic illness. Educational Summits Educational Summits are large events hosted across the state at which doctors, medical professionals, and other experts speak to the lupus community about relevant topics. Digital Support and Education We offer a range of programs that can be accessed regardless of location or transportation. This includes educational teleconference series, call-in support groups, monthly enewsltters, and more. 1-on-1 Phone Support Individuals affected by lupus are able and encouraged to call 1 (888) NO-LUPUS when they need information, education, or support. Your help enables us to provide personal support to any individual who needs it. Nationwide Advocacy Efforts Letters to representatives, trips to the Hill, and other advocacy efforts, both in Ohio and across the nation, are helping us to spread our message and step closer to realizing our vision of a world without lupus. National Research Initiatives For every dollar we raise, 10% goes to national research initiatives. These research programs are our hope for better medications and eventually a possible cure for lupus.
Corporate Benefits Walk Day Signage A banner will be provided for each sponsor. The size and placement of each sign is dependent upon the sponsorship level. Sponsor signs will feature company name and/or logo. Ad Space We will produce a booklet featuring coupons and/or advertisements from our sponsors. Eligibility for coupon and ad space is dependent upon sponsorship level. Company Promotional Allowance Sponsors have the opportunity for additional recognition at our event in the form of a company representative passing out information or even setting up a company booth. Eligibility is dependent upon sponsorship level. Website & E-Alert Mention Sponsor company names and/or logos will be featured on our walk site, general website homepage, as well as our walk emails. Specific mention and layout is based on sponsorship level. Category Exclusivity Sponsors reaching the platinum or diamond giving level are eligible for category exclusivity, meaning we will reject sponsorship from all other companies of the same industry. Radio Mention Sponsors reaching the platinum or diamond giving level are eligible for mention in our walk radio advertisements, subject to radio ad availability. Billboard Mention Sponsors reaching the platinum or diamond giving level are eligible for mention in our walk billboard advertisements, subject to billboard ad availability. 4
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In-Kind Donations Many products and services are necessary to put on our walks. Companies donating any of the items below will be awarded with the corporate benefits with commercial value. Please contact our office for details. Refreshments Bottled Water Breakfast Food Lunch Food Ice Cream Drinks Ice Snacks Apparel & Prizes Water Bottles Tote bags T-Shirts Sweatshirts Jackets Sunscreen Hats Equipment Stage Sound System Water Fountains Signage Balloons Service Volunteer Teams Musical Entertainment Face Painters Other Entertainment Advertisement Billboards Radio Spots Newspaper & Web Ads 6
Top Ten Accomplishments of 2015 1. The Lupus Foundation of America continued to make important advances during 2015 toward our vision of a life free of lupus for millions of people around the world. We surpassed strategic milestones on the path toward reducing time to disease diagnosis, ensuring that people with lupus have an arsenal of safe and effective treatments, and expanding direct services and access to treatments and care. Here are our top 10 key achievements of the year: LIFELINE GRANT Program Keeps Lupus Research on Track Our LIFELINE Grant Program enabled three lupus researchers, who experienced the results of NIH funding cutbacks, to continue their critically important studies while they prepared to resubmit their grants to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The program was a great success as two researchers went on to secures more than three million dollars from the NIH to support their work. Foundation Receives Multi-million Dollar Federal Grant 2. The Foundation was awarded a multi-million dollar grant by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve early diagnosis of lupus and provide services to improve the quality of life for people with lupus. The Foundation will produce a national awareness campaign, develop new sustainable support resources, and expand partnerships with health care providers among others. KNOW LUPUS Campaign Engaged 26 Celebrities to Create Awareness 3. In May we launched a national, multi-media campaign to encourage the public to KNOW LUPUS in order to create a future with NO LUPUS. The KNOW LUPUS campaign features people with lupus as well as celebrity supporters including Whoopi Goldberg, Ian Harding, Tim Gunn, Susan Lucci and the cast of Marvel s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in a series of public service announcements that were broadcast on TV stations across the country. 4. First-ever Public Health Agenda on Lupus We partnered with the CDC and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) to develop the firstever National Public Health Agenda for Lupus. The report provides a road map for public health priorities, strategies and recommendations for future lupus programs and research. Federal Reports Focus on Lupus 5. The Foundation worked with our nation s leaders to ensure lupus was included in the 2015 Kelly Report on Health Disparities in America released by the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust and stimulated a new Action Plan for Lupus Research report soon to be published by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Launch of First National Needs Assessment to Advance Diagnosis, Treatment and Services 6. The first national comprehensive lupus needs survey among patients, caregivers and physicians was designed to better understand the pathway to diagnosis, obtain views about current lupus treatments and provide recommendations on programs and services to help support people with lupus. The data will guide the Foundation as we develop future programs and services. 7. Lupus Foundation of America Activists Rally to Help Secure Passage of 21st Century Cures Legislation Hundreds of lupus activists participated in the Foundation s National Lupus Advocacy Summit and rallied support in the U.S. House of Representatives to help pass the 21st Century Cures legislation that will help to remove barriers to increased research collaboration. Addressing Unmet Needs in Lupus Research 8. The Foundation funded important peer-reviewed lupus research studies into the therapeutic use of adult stem cells, understanding the environmental triggers for lupus and improving pediatric health outcomes. The Foundation also granted career development awards and student fellowships for studies in pediatrics, basic research, disease assessment and biomarkers. 9. Development of LFA-REAL System Advances toward Testing and FDA Approval Results from exploratory research of the LFA-REAL System were published in Lupus Science & Medicine. Multi-center studies are planned for 2016. The LFA-REAL System is being designed to provide more reliable data to help doctors measure disease activity in people with lupus in clinical practice and in clinical trials. Public Rallies to Raise Funds to Solve the Cruel Mystery of Lupus 10. The Walk to End Lupus Now is the World s Largest Lupus Walk program, with more than 70,000 participants in more than 607cities in the United States. The walk s new rallying cry, Discover Your Power generated great enthusiasm among participants who helped raise more than $5 million for lupus research and education programs across the nation.
THANK YOU! Thank you for supporting the fight against lupus. Your aid is crucial to our mission, and we are grateful that you have chosen to help our cause. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you again! The Lupus Foundation of America, Greater Ohio Chapter Contact Information Leslie Tierney, VP of Operations P: (440) 717-0183 Toll-Free: 1 (888) NO-LUPUS F: (440) 717-0186 E: Leslie@lupusgreaterohio.org W: LupusGreaterOhio.org A: 12930 Chippewa Rd., Brecksville, OH 44141