LUPUS FOUNDATION RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM STATEWIDE SORORITY

Beta Sigma Phi Donations Reach $516,806!

San Jose, CA:  Since 1985, the 15,000 California women associated with Beta Sigma Phi (BSP) have raised more than a half million dollars—an incredible $516,806—for the Lupus Foundation of Northern California (LFNC), originally known as The Bay Area Lupus Foundation (BALF). The LFNC is headquartered in San Jose. This amount includes $70,000 presented from BSP International, headquartered in Kansas City, MO. Their 2006-2007 annual contribution was $43,384 presented on May 19th during their statewide meeting in Irvine.

"It has been so encouraging receiving their annual contributions and watching their generosity grow each year," remarked Jo Dewhirst, executive director of the Lupus Foundation of Northern California. "Many of these ladies had never even heard of lupus prior to our being added to their list of philanthropic projects in 1985. Through the years their interest in lupus has grown—especially as they became aware of a number of their own members who were suffering with this disease. Tragically, one week prior to the 2005 statewide meeting in Palm Springs, their very own Philanthropic Chair from the Far Northern California Council died suddenly of lupus.  Sadly, the diagnosis was not made until after her death. With an earlier diagnosis, her life may have been spared."

Linda McDonald, another BSP member, recently stated "When I was first diagnosed with lupus and newly married, my husband and I attended the Lupus Foundation's all-day education class. Not only did it help me learn the facts about lupus, but it helped my husband understand and be more supportive of me."

She continued, "Lupus changed my life dramatically. I have become disabled because of lupus and am reliant on crutches or a wheelchair to get around. It is so appropriate for my fellow Beta Sigma Phi sisters to support lupus because 90% of its victims are women.  I join and applaud them in their efforts."

About Lupus

Lupus is an acute and chronic, inflammatory disease that, for unknown reasons, causes the immune system to become hyperactive and attack the body's own healthy tissue and organs. The disease is hard to diagnose, difficult to live with, incurable, and can be life threatening. Lupus is NOT infectious, rare or cancerous.

Between 1.4 and 4 million Americans have been told by a doctor they have lupus. Lupus affects more Americans than AIDS, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell anemia and cerebral palsy combined. Despite its prevalence, too few people know about lupus and its potentially life-threatening effects.

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms mimic other diseases. Symptoms are sometimes vague and may come and go.  Symptoms include achy or swollen joints, low grade fevers, extreme fatigue and skin rashes. At present there is no cure for lupus.  However, with early diagnosis and treatment, many lupus patients can look forward to a near-normal lifespan.

Lupus can occur at any age, and in either sex, although it occurs 8 or 9 times more frequently among adult females than among adult males. Hormonal factors may explain why lupus occurs more frequently in females than in males. It is also twice as common in Latinas and African American women than it is in Caucasians.

This very substantial financial support from BSP, coupled with additional generous gifts from our major donors, has allowed the LFNC to create new programs for lupus patients and families throughout California. Some of the programs provided by the LFNC that benefit people throughout die state and nationwide include a toll-free telephone line; telephone assistance and referral in English and Spanish; an extensive website at www.balf.org; a quarterly 16 page newsletter; a library of 800+ individual medical articles; foreign language materials including 37 articles in Spanish, 20 in Vietnamese and 14 in Chinese; semi annual conferences featuring physician speakers; educational videos in English and Spanish; a Youth Outreach Support Group Program; and a New You Program and magazines in English and Spanish designed to help lupus patients look and feel their best; More than 22,000 individuals received these services from the Foundation last year.

About Beta Sigma Phi (BSP)

BSP International is the largest Greek letter women's organization in the world and has provided 75 years of sisterhood. The International office of BSP is headquartered in Kansas City, MO. The sorority is committed to service, social and cultural projects. Members are women of all ages and from all walks of life. This organization is non-political, non-sectarian and is not connected with any school or college.

For further information about lupus or the wide-variety of services provided by the LFNC, contact the Foundation weekdays at (408) 954-8600 or call toll-free 1-800-523-3363. The Foundation website can be reached at www.balf.org and e-mail should be directed to jo@balf.org.