Dear Friends,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We had a busy 2024 and I am pleased and honored to announce that SFCA has named three new board members.
Nancy Garza, our Las Vegas Support Group Leader and organizer extraordinaire. Nancy, a scleroderma patient, “warrior” and patient advocate, is actively developing our presence in the greater Las Vegas area. She chaired the A Million Steps for Scleroderma in April, our inaugural Las Vegas event and is dedicated to finding a cure for scleroderma. Nancy was a Senior Procurement Officer for Boeing Aircraft Company for 28 years.
Evan Greenburg, has very close family ties with SFCA. His mom, Helen, was one of the founders of our organization. Evan is a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Bank of America Private Bank in Los Angeles. He has more than 15 years of experience in domestic and overseas asset management. In addition to a BA in Economics, he is a CFA (certified financial analyst). Evan and his wife, Amy live in Los Angeles with their two children.
Jim Hines, is a retired aerospace engineer, lecturer and instructor. He supports his wife, Roberta, a scleroderma patient and support group leader and together they are an awesome team in the fight to find a cure. Our newly branded community events “A Million Steps for Scleroderma,” are named in his honor and Jim actually walks a million steps each year to raise money for SFCA! Jim’s 2024 Journey has raised over $14,000! Jim and Roberta currently reside primarily in Prescott, AZ.
Nancy, Evan and Jim each bring unique and special talents to our Board. We welcome them and I know you join me in extending a warm welcome as well.
This year, we resumed most of our “in-person” activities and events, with more to come in 2025. Chris Corman and friends led the year with another super successful Vertical Cure at Mammoth Mountain in April, with the net proceeds in excess of $40,000, surpassing previous Vertical Cure fundraising. Our thanks and gratitude to Chris and his amazing supporters. Our community fundraising walks – A Million Steps for Scleroderma – began this year in April, in Las Vegas, led by Nancy Garza. We had a terrific turnout with much enthusiasm from our new friends in the greater Las Vegas area. In June our A Million Steps for Scleroderma in La Mirada, our signature LA/OC community event, returned after the Covid pause. It was a great day with a huge turnout. And in October, our A Million Steps/San Diego returned. Thanks to all our participating teams, volunteers and staff for making each event a success!
We also hosted our Southern California Patient Education Day in September at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. And our Northern California Patient Education Day took place in October.
Our annual pet photo contest, Bark for A Cure, just ended with our top 12 pets to be featured in our 2025 Foundation calendar! And last – but certainly not least –our 23rd Annual Key to A Cure Gala, our signature fundraising event, was held on November 16 at the Marina del Rey Marriott Hotel and we raised over $250,000!
With my personal thanks for the support of our board and our terrific staff and our many, many friends and supporters, for making 2024 a GREAT year for the Scleroderma Foundation of California. Please visit us online at www.myscleroderma.org for more information.
I extend my best wishes to all for a joyous and fun holiday season!
Warmest regards,
Laura Fuhrman
President, Board of Directors
The Scleroderma Foundation of California
Laura Fuhrman, President
Sharon Friedman, VP, Governance
Kristy Kubota,VP, Strategic Planning
David Parker, Secretary
Daniel Furst, M.D., Past President
Chris Pettit, Acting Treasurer
Joel Cherman
Chris Corman
Stephen Elrod
Nancy Garza
Evan Greenburg
Shervin Ghanoongooi
Johanna Herrmann
Jim Hines
Martha Soto
Les Wood
Andrew Emmett, Executive Director
Tina Burger, Patient Services Director
Alejandra Serrano, Patient Support
The Scleroderma Foundation of California
8929 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Suite # 401
Los Angeles, CA 90045-3603
Phone: 424-227-6475
Email: info@myscleroderma.org
The Scleroderma Foundation of California is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Federal Tax ID: 77-0229244
We are no longer affiliated with the National Scleroderma Foundation or their website. This is the only place to find out about what's happening and our activities in California!
Scleroderma Foundation of California
8929 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Suite 401