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Providing Answers, Support, and Hope in Texas

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Your Texas Gulf Coast Chapter

We serve the Texas Gulf Coast as an independent chapter for Lupus Foundation of America. 
Educate.  Advocate. Cure.

Your giving supports local Texas Gulf Coast area programs & education, outreach, and support services across multiple communities.  We work with county health departments, community clinics, and other health advocacy nonprofit organizations with the aim to:

  • shorten to time to diagnosis through education of community members and health care providers
  • advocate for patients to receive high-quality care regardless of ability to pay
  • help fund research toward, eventually, finding a cure.

Join the fight against lupus with your local support today!

From YOUR Lupus Texas Gulf Coast Chapter

The board and our team continue to be inspired by the courage and determination of women, men, and children living with lupus. 

Have you read some of the “Why We Walk” messages during our Spring Walks? WOW! 
Our team captains are community leaders making a BIG impact on the fight against lupus! 

We have passionate volunteer leadership in our board members, and all are dedicated to growing our programs & support of the over now well over 2.2 million living with lupus.
 

Some of our chapter programs include:

  • Lupus disease information
  • Physician and hospital referrals
  • Peer Mentors
  • Support Groups
  • Patient Advocates (for doctor visits or hospital support)
  • Healthcare Professional Trainings (including Community Health Workers!)
  • Speakers Bureau
  • Lupus Community Leaders, Patient Ambassadors, and Family Caregivers
  • Patient Access To Healthcare (PATH) Grant program

We know that lupus is under-researched, under-funded, and under-recognized.  That’s why ninety cents of every dollar donated to your Gulf Coast Chapter stays in the Gulf Coast of Texas.
We are an independent chapter supporting Texas lupus education and advocacy, providing valuable resources for lupus patients. 

Thank you to all our volunteers and supporters. Your support by way of time, talent ,and treasure has helped us navigate the last 41 years and forge a way ahead for all those living with lupus in the Texas Gulf Coast.

With deepest gratitude,

Anne Marie Blacketer, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer
Lupus Foundation of America
Texas Gulf Coast Chapter

2024-25 Board of Directors

       

Mrs. Naana Danquah Jefferson
Chair
(SLB)

  

Ms. Cynthia Barclay
Treasurer
(Quality Dialysis)

  

Mr. Biruh Workeneh, MD
Secretary
(MD Anderson)

       

Mr. David Wilson
(Accenture)

  

Professor Jordan O. Williams
(Texas Southern University)

  

Mrs. Lynn Blandford
(Sequitur Energy)

       

Ms. Medha Airy, MD
(Baylor College of Medicine)

  

Mr. Richard Blandford
(Private Equity)

  

 

 


 

Advisory Board

Ankur Kamdar, MD

   

Namieta Janssen, MD

   

Eyal Muscal, MD

         

Philip Waller, MD

   

Ms. Shanna Tedder

   

Ms. Ninfa Perez

         

Mr. Howard Stokes

   

Ms. Janell Long

   

 


 

 

Chapter Staff

Anne Marie Blacketer, CFRE
CEO
amblacketer@lupustexas.org

  

Amanda Crane
Event Manager
acrane@lupustexas.org

  

Jennifer Burke
Database Administrator/Annual Fund
jburke@lupustexas.org

       

Sara Schaeffer
Office Manager
sschaeffer@lupustexas.org

  

Kevin Blacketer
Volunteer CFO
kblacketer@lupustexas.org

  

 

       

Mr. Howard Stokes

  

Ms. Janell Long

  

 



Hope Bio Stem Cell Trial for Lupus
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Research

LupusTexas raises money to support Individual #lupuswarriors and both local and national research. Supporting research is important not only financially -warriors may help by enrolling in clinical trials. Support the fight for the future of #NoMoreLupus!
Beginning October 26, 2024, LupusTexas is partnering with Hope Bio Research Foundation to fund stem cell trials for up to 15 lupus warriors. Based in Sugar Land, Hope Bio provides FDA approved stem cell trials utilizing a patients own cells to create a 13 month treatment regiment.

Your support WILL change lives with lupus!

Give HOPE for LUPUS!
Health Trade Show Event

Join YOUR LupusTexas Chapter at Health Fairs, Community Outreach and Awareness Events! Check our Events page to see when we are at an event near you!

Learn More
physician referral
Awareness Efforts

At LupusTexas, we know outreach events help share awareness and understanding of lupus. By bringing greater attention to the disease and its devastating impact we can help drive support for lupus and ensure community members know to ask their health care professional about unexplained symptoms - "What if It's Lupus?"

Contact Us
440 Louisiana, Ste 900   Houston, TX  77002
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Phone

713-529-0126

Fax

713-529-0780