THE SCLERODERMA FOUNDATION OF CALIFORNIA 


As a thriving, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Scleroderma Foundation of California has been more focused than ever in 2023 to fulfill our mission to EMPOWER the scleroderma community to live BETTER lives through programs dedicated to SUPPORT, EDUCATION and RESEARCH. For nearly 40 years, we have supported patients, provided education programs, contributed to research, and developed a network of patient support groups. 

We wish to share some of this year’s accomplishments:

  • Support Groups: In addition to many of our Support Group meetings returning to in-person, we expanded the number of our support groups from 16 to 22 with new groups in Palm Springs Sacramento, Fresno, Las Vegas, Honolulu and our online group Parents of kids and teens with scleroderma.
     
  • Community Awareness Events: We happily share that some of our pre-pandemic community events were back.  Our Young Adults & Las Vegas Support Groups hosted community awareness events and we just concluded our popular annual online Bark for a Cure pet photo contest. Together these events raised over $20K!
     
  • Fundraising Events: We set a fundraising record of $50K at our Vertical Cure ski event at Mammoth Mountain and hosted the return of our annual GALA, the 22nd Key to a Cure. 
     
  • New Community Partners: Through our partnership with the Scleroderma Foundation of Chicago and Friends of the World Scleroderma Foundation we developed an Education program for Primary care physicians to help them understand and diagnosis scleroderma earlier in patients. We also jointly established our Medical Advisory Board, bringing together a global group of scleroderma leaders. 
     
  • Education Initiatives: We hosted our first ever Patient Education Day in Northern California, with support from Merck, The Capital Group and Kyverna Therapeutics. 
     
  • Strategic Plan: The Board has embarked on an ambitious multi-year plan to expand the board, raise new funds from foundations, grantors, corporations, and individuals to ensure our financial sustainability and ability to grow and expand our outreach, programs, and services.

All our accomplishments were made possible because of the support of donors like you!

 

GET INVOLVED

  Your gift will benefit and directly impact patients like Nancy and Daisy (read their stories below) and will help ensure that our goals, and hopes can be realized in the future and beyond. 

All contributions to the Foundation will remain with us in California, directly impacting the communities we serve.

Thank you again for your loyal support. We could not – and would not- be where we are today without such dedicated friends as you. 

 

We wish you and your family a joyous upcoming holiday season and all good things in the New Year!

 

With our gratitude and appreciation,