Your Texas Gulf Coast Chapter
The Lupus Foundation of America -Texas Gulf Coast Chapter is part of a national force devoted to solving the cruel mystery of lupus while providing caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact.
View the LFA 2019 Tax Form 990
View the LFA 2019 Audit Report
View the LFA 2020 Tax Form 990
View the LFA 2020 Audit Report
Mission and Purpose
With the help and support from informed volunteers, lupus medical experts, patients and supporters, we will:
- Support research and education programs so everyone affected by lupus can have an improved quality of life;
- Provide information to ensure people with lupus and their families have access to answers and health professionals knowledgeable in diagnosing and managing the disease, and;
- Support community outreach activities to increase awareness of lupus and its impact, improve public support for those who are affected by lupus and advocate on their behalf.
Help us Solve The Cruel Mystery!
Join the fight! Our Chapter and the #LupusWarriors we serve will not have to concede victory to the terrible disease. With your support and involvement, we will be able to solve the cruel mystery of lupus in our lifetime and end its devastating impact on millions of lives.
Your support has impact!
Lupus is a complex disease that requires a comprehensive strategy. Our Chapter's programs and services all have a common purpose: To improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus.
The Chapter raises money to support research through the Lupus Foundation of America's National Research program, Bringing Down The Barriers™, which aggressively pursues an agenda to find answers to the most difficult questions and advance the science and medicine of lupus. Our national research program has a unique three-pronged strategy: lead special initiatives, fund researchers and advocate for expanded investment.
Chapter sponsored programs and one-on-one interaction support provides answers to questions about lupus, provides tools, resources and professional referrals to our Lupus Warrior community.
Join us at Health Fairs, Community Outreach sessions, and clinic days as we support Lupus Warriors, their families and friends and raise awareness for the fight to end lupus!
Our Chapter conducts outreach efforts and share stories of those who suffer from lupus to increase awareness of lupus, bring greater attention to the disease and its devastating impact, and rally public support to join the fight to end lupus.
From the Chapter President/CEO
The board and our team continue to be inspired by the courage and determination of women, men and children living with lupus. Their stories are some of the "Faces of Lupus" profiled on our website. These #LupusWarriors are the motivation to serve in the fight against this cruel disease. Despite the pandemic and it's devastating impact on our chapter, our #LupusWarriors as well as all of you, we continue to fight to keep the impacts of lupus at bay and one day - find a cure.
We have passionate volunteer leadership in our board members, led by our Chairman Mr. Marc Baca of Russell Reynolds, and all are dedicated to growing our programs and support of the over 1.5 million living with lupus.
From new chapter board members, support group leaders, media and community partners to Walk and other committee members, the number of people supporting the chapter grows every day! Some of our chapter programs include:
- Information and Referral
- Peer Mentor and Support Groups
- Educational and Support Education Series
- Patient Navigators and Advocates
- Neighborhood clinic support*
- Patient Access To Healthcare (P.A.T.H.) grant program - supporting standard of care for #LupusWarriors
Ninety cents of every dollar donated to your Gulf Coast Chapter stays in the Gulf Coast of Texas. We are one of two Chapters in the state of Texas that providing valuable resource for lupus patients, providing thousands with educational information, referrals, resources, support groups and educational programs. We know that lupus is under-researched, under-funded and under-recognized. Nationally, our advocacy efforts have led to increased lupus research funding of $6.5 million. The Lupus Foundation of America's direct funding of research has grown 100 percent in the past 3 years with $2 million in direct support to lupus research.
Thank you, to all our volunteers and supporters. Your support by way of time, talent and treasure, has helped us navigate the last few difficult years and forge a way ahead for all #LupusWarriors.
With deepest gratitude,
Anne Marie Blacketer, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer
Lupus Foundation of America
Texas Gulf Coast Chapter
2021-2022 Board Of Directors
Marc Baca, Board Chair
Lynn Blandford, Treasurer
Heather Browne
Biruh Workeneh, MD
Tina Kochar, MD
Medha Airy, MD
Lisa Schott
Rick Blandford
Medical Advisory Board
Dr. Ankur Kamdar, M.D.
Dr. Namieta Janssen, M.D.
Dr. Eyal Muscal, M.D.
Dr. Philip Waller, M.D.
Ms. Shanna Tedder
Ms. Ninfa Perez
Mr. Howard Stokes
LFA-Texas Gulf Coast Chapter Staff
Anne Marie Blacketer, CFRE, CEO
AMblacketer@lupustexas.org
Ayanna Sanders - Program Director
ASanders@lupustexas.org
Jennifer Burke - Database Administrator
JBurke@lupustexas.org
Shiralee Patel - Office Coordinator
SPatel@lupustexas.org
General Mailbox: info@LupusTexas.org
Office hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.