Our mission is to provide information, education and referral for those affected by Lupus. In addition, we work to improve the standards of diagnosis, care and treatment of those affected by Lupus, promote public education to increase knowledge and understanding of Lupus and support lupus research programs related to the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of Lupus.

Description:
We are primarily volunteer driven and are supported through donations, fund raising events and corporate support. For those who are diagnosed with lupus or other related diseases, we are the primary place where they can learn ways to deal with their illness and find the much needed support.

We provide informational materials to those who need to find out more about lupus, new patient programs, support groups, telephone peer support, lending library, in-servic programs to the healtcare community, attend area health and wellness fairs to create awareness, speaker's bureau, quarterly newsletter and annual seminar.

History:
The Lupus Alliance of America, Inc., Upstate New York Affiliate was founded in 1976 and was first named the Lupus Erythematosus Foundation of Western New York, Inc. The first meeting of the organization was at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on July 15, 1976.
The Western New York Chapter made an application to become a constituent chapter of the Lupus Foundation of
America in February of 1978 and on November 28, 1979 and it was voted to change the name to the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., Western New York Chapter.

The chapter operated out of the home of the president until 1982. At the present time, we are still a volunteer driven organization with Lynn Szubinski as president and Honi Kurzeja as executive director. We have over 200 volunteers who contribute over 8,000 hours of their time yearly.

In the spring of 2001 there was a decision by the board of directors to disaffiliate with the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. We are currently partnering with several other lupus agencies who have also disaffiliated, to provide services to those affected by lupus. The new organization is the Lupus Alliance of America, Inc. and we are the Upstate New York Affiliate, servicing Central, Northeastern and Upstate New York. The Lupus Alliance of America is housed in the Western New York office.

Contact people:

Honi Kurzeja, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Pauline Ziatts, Office Assistant, (phone), (email)

Address:

3871 Harlem Road Cheektowaga, NY 14215 (See a map)

Directions:

If you are coming from the Southtowns, take the Thruway (90 Est) and get off at Cleveland Drive. Turn left at the light and continue up to Harlem Road. Turn left on Harlem Road and we are less. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Cleveland and Harlem, Kensington and Harlem, 5 minute walk