The Latest | Northeast

Check out your local Walk album as photos are uploaded, relive your favorite moments, and share your photos with us!

Join your community in NYC, NJ, and Boston, to fundraise, raise awareness, and make an impact.

This year we pay tribute to Ranit Shriky who served as Board Chair for the Lupus Foundation of America New Jersey Chapter for more than 30 years. Through both her professional work at NYU Langone and her volunteerism with the Lupus Foundation of America New Jersey Chapter, Ranit provided support, resources, compassion and hope to people living with lupus in the Tri-State area and beyond. She worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for people living with lupus and was always available to listen, to guide and to advocate. She was a mentor and friend to so many in this community and her legacy lives on in all of the people who continue this work.

This award will be presented to an LFA volunteer who honors Ranit’s legacy by demonstrating a commitment to helping people living with lupus in NJ in a volunteer leadership role; sharing LFA resources and materials to support people living with lupus and to educate the community; connecting with newly diagnosed individuals to answer questions and serving as an advocate for the lupus community at both a local and federal level to ensure access to care and resources for people living with lupus.

Rudy Villamar has partnered with the Lupus Foundation of America both nationally and locally to spread awareness. He has been the top Team Captain for the Walk to End Lupus Now in NJ for the past 4 years. For many years, he was a top team captain for the NYC Walk. He and his husband, Tim, have partnered with the Northeast Region to grow campaigns like the NYC Gala, the Walk to End Lupus Now, NYC and recently, the Walk to End Lupus Now, NJ. You may also have seen Rudy’s photo as part of the “Know Lupus” campaign. Rudy’s support of LFA’s mission through the years has increased awareness about lupus, especially lupus in men who represent 10% of all lupus cases.

Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Ranit Shriky Volunteer of the Year recipient: Rudy Vilamar.

Congratulations Rudy and thank you for continuing Ranit's legacy of service to the lupus community.

LFA is pleased to announce the formation of the Northeast Regional Leadership Council. The council members will work to expand the mission of LFA by providing leadership and professional expertise to execute strategic goals in the region, while contributing to the positive growth of the organization. Welcome to Northeast Regional Leadership Council Members Brittany Gianares, Brooke Lamelas and Brooke Vaupen. The first meeting of the Northeast RLC took place in September and plans are underway for a new event to take place in the spring of 2027. For more information on the Northeast RLC, please contact Sue Gloor at gloor@lupus.org.