Smiling elderly woman with styled hair and patterned jacket.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Hello Friends!

Welcome Summer – always a wonderful time for warm weather and summer plans to consider!

It has been a busy time for us at Scleroderma Foundation of California, planning for our many 2026 events and activities, continuing to expand our network of patient support groups and seeking new funding sources.

I am thrilled to report that the recently held 25thVertical Cure, chaired by Chris Corman and his family, raised over $42,000, and totaling more than $750,000 since its inception! It was a fabulous weekend, all in support of our scleroderma patients and their families. With thanks and gratitude to Chris & Holly Corman and family, Stephen Elrod and family, the SFCA staff and all the many wonderful and generous supporters of this annual event. We love you guys!

Our Board, staff and volunteers are actively planning our 2026 Patient Education Days scheduled for Saturday December 5th (Los Angeles) and Sunday October 25th in Northern California (Doubletree Hotel@SFO).

A Million Steps for Scleroderma events are scheduled for Saturday, June 27th (LA/OC La Mirada); Sunday, August 23rd (San Diego) and Saturday, August 29th(Las Vegas). We hope you will make plans to attend and support these events.

Our 25th Annual Key to a Cure Gala, is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2026 at the Marina del Rey Marriott Hotel. This is our signature fundraising event and will recognize our 25 years as we continue to pursue our mission for all scleroderma patients to receive an accurate and timely diagnosis and access to care and support. Please be sure to “save the date” for this exciting and important event.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved board member, Nancy Garza. A scleroderma patient, Nancy fought bravely and heroically for many years. A resident of Las Vegas, Nancy was the founder and the “heart and soul” of A Million Steps for Scleroderma, Las Vegas, and a friend and confidant of many scleroderma patients. She will be missed. May her memory be a blessing to all her friends and family.

Thank you to all our friends and supporters. This is a journey that can only be accomplished with the support, friendship and guidance of all of you.

Wishing all a great summer and I am looking forward to seeing many of you at one of our upcoming events and activities.

With best regards,

Laura Fuhrman

President, Board of Directors

The Scleroderma Foundation of California

EXECUTIVE Committee

Laura Fuhrman, President

Joel Cherman, VP

Sharon Friedman, VP, Governance

David Parker, Secretary

Daniel Furst, M.D., Past President

Chris Pettit, Acting Treasurer

Board Members

EXECUTIVE Committee

Chris Corman

Stephen Elrod

Evan Greenburg

Shervin Ghanoongooi

Johanna Herrmann

Jim Hines

Kristy Kubota

Brittany Stone

Staff

EXECUTIVE Committee

Contact Info

Andrew Emmett, Executive Director

Tina Burger, Director of Patient Services

Alejandra Serrano, Administrative Coordinator

Emmanuel Munda, Marketing, Event, and Technology Consultant.

Contact Info

Non-Profit Info.

Contact Info

Scleroderma Foundation of California

8929 S. Sepulveda Blvd.

Suite # 401

Los Angeles, CA 90045-3603.

Phone: 424-227-6475

Email: info@myscleroderma.org.

Non-Profit Info.

The Scleroderma Foundation of California is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization Federal Tax ID is 77-0229244

Our current 990 filing can be found HERE.

Keep Connected

Non-Profit Info.

We are no longer affiliated with the National Scleroderma Foundation or their website. This is the only place to find out about our patient services, scleroderma awareness initiatives, and activities in California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii!

Join our mailing list for Foundation updates

Medical Advisory Board

The Scleroderma Foundation of California (SFCA), the Scleroderma Foundation of Greater Chicago (SFGC), and Friends of World Scleroderma Foundation (FWSF) have partnered to create a joint Medical Advisory Board (MAB) aimed at enhancing scleroderma awareness and patient services.

Our MAB brings together leading experts in rheumatology, pharmacology, pain management, research, and patient care, all dedicated to strengthening education, research, and early diagnosis of scleroderma across the United States and abroad. Chaired by Dr. Dan E. Furst of UCLA Health, the MAB includes clinicians and researchers from top academic medical centers nationwide, fostering comprehensive scleroderma support.

Chair

Dan E. Furst, MD – UCLA Health

Board Members

Francesco Boin, MD – Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Phillip J. Clements, MD – UCLA Health

David Fiorentino, MD, PhD – Stanford Medicine

JoAnna Harper, PharmD, RPh – Pain Partners, LLC

Suzanne Kafaja, MD – UCLA Health

Dinesh Khanna, MD, MSc – University of Michigan Medical School

David Leader, MPH, DMD – Public Health and Community Medicine

Michael Macklin, MD, PharmD – University of Chicago Medicine

Marco Matucci-Cerinic, MD, PhD – World Scleroderma Foundation

Carrie L. Richardson, MD – Northwestern Medicine

Lesley Saketkoo, MD – LCMC Health

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

EXECUTIVE Committee

EXECUTIVE Committee

EXECUTIVE Committee

Board Members

EXECUTIVE Committee

EXECUTIVE Committee

Staff

EXECUTIVE Committee

Contact Info

Contact Info

Non-Profit Info.

Contact Info

Non-Profit Info.

Non-Profit Info.

Non-Profit Info.

Keep Connected

Non-Profit Info.

Non-Profit Info.

Medical Advisory Board

Scleroderma Foundation of California

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