FUNDRAISING CORNER BY BRYAN HAYNES

Hello all, and welcome to the Fundraising Corner! I’m excited to share what the Lupus Foundation of America, Greater Ohio Chapter (LFA, GOC) has been up to regarding fundraising and events. This summer, we have been busy! Many of our chapter’s patients and their families have put on some amazing fundraisers which have helped create awareness and raise funds for the LFA, GOC.

The team at the LFA, GOC has been out in the community spreading awareness with events at the Akron RubberDucks, an ESPN event in the Flats in Cleveland, the Columbus Walk to End Lupus Now® , and the Applied Underwriters Golf Invitational. We are also gearing up for one of our biggest fundraising events of the year: the Walk to End Lupus Now® in Cleveland.

For those who came out to the Columbus Walk to End Lupus

Now® on August 26 and the Golf Invitational on August 21, we greatly appreciate your support. Thank you to all the support we have continually received from our volunteers and those who came to walk and golf with us. Your efforts mean so much to our organization, and we look forward to seeing your continued dedication in the fight to end lupus.

As we get ready for our 2023 Cleveland Walk to End Lupus Now® event at Margaritaville on September 30, I’d like to make one more request: if you haven’t signed up to be a walker or team captain, now is the time! We still need your help and support - every contribution goes a long way to assist our chapter in the fight to end lupus. If you are interested in volunteering or participating, please visit our website at: www.lupusgreaterohio.org/ walktoendlupus

I’d like to take a moment to recognize the individual fundraisers put on by lupus patients and their family members. At least once per week, our birthday lupians and their friends and families hold Facebook fundraisers. We are so grateful to each person that raises funds for the LFA, GOC and recognizes our organization. Thank you!

I want to highlight a couple people who are hosting fundraisers for us. Sonya Callahan held the annual Skate for Life Event. She received matched donations through her employer and she raised over $5000 for the LFA, GOC. Way to go Sonya!

Another constituent I’d like to highlight is Terri Kreider. Terri has hosted several fundraisers in her town (and mine), Wadsworth, Ohio. She raised over $600 through a lemonade stand with different games and activities. She also hosted a painting workshop. There are so many wonderful ways to raise money for the lupus cause, and Terri really got creative and went the extra mile. Thank you for raising funds for the Walk to End Lupus Now®, Terri!

I would also like to express gratitude to Lauren Glause. Lauren signed up to be a Cleveland Walk team captain and has really gone the extra mile in her fundraising efforts. At the time of publication, Lauren raised over $2,000 by reaching out to family and friends. This is absolutely incredible. Well done, Lauren!

Rosie Chapman is also a superstar! At the time of publication, she raised more than $3,000 for the Columbus Walk to End Lupus Now®. Not only has she reached out to her support system for aid in promoting the Walk, she has also created a Tik-

Tok page bringing in donations from all over the world. Incredible work, Rosie!

This year, we challenged all of our constituents in northeast Ohio to sign up for our Cleveland walk to gain entry into a drawing to throw out the first pitch at an Akron RubberDucks game. Tamie Trautman was our winner! She represented us well and threw the first pitch of the game, a strike right down the middle of the plate to start the game. She has also raised close to $200 for her walk fundraiser. We were so excited to have you represent us, Tamie. Thank you!

On the sports side, the LFA, GOC held a successful golf fundraiser at Mayfield Sand Ridge Club where over 100 golfers were able to play while raising money for our organization. Thank you to all who came to play and for all of your donations!

Last, I want to thank all of our amazing volunteers who have helped us get ready for our walks in Columbus and Cleveland. We are so grateful for the support of Abigail Rollins and her team of fellow students at Lake Erie College who have made thousands of phone calls to past walkers. I’d also like to thank Kelly Perhach, who has also made hundreds of calls to past walkers while hosting fundraisers both big and small. Our chapter couldn’t accomplish all that we have without our volunteers. I am so grateful for all the hard work put in by all.

Again, thank you to all for your incredible support. We are so grateful to our superstars who help this organization succeed and make a difference in the lives of lupus patients. We couldn’t do any of this without you.