Newswise — DETROIT, May 26, 2016 – As part of its ongoing 25th Anniversary celebration, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) announced today its May Autoimmune Heroes – private family foundations and individuals whose personal experience with autoimmune disease has led them to be incredible research fundraisers, including:
Barbara Wilson-Gomez – for being AARDA’s patron -- one of the first and most significant donors, giving consecutively every year for nearly 25 years.
The Brave Dave Foundation/Dave Gearing and Tom Branthover – for channeling Dave’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis into an annual charitable golf outing that has raised more than $500,000 for research.
The Scoby Family Foundation/Jay and Joe Scoby – for using their eldest child’s autoimmune hepatitis diagnosis as the catalyst for wanting to make a difference for all those afflicted with autoimmune liver disease through raising funds for research at Johns Hopkins University.
The Gail I. Zuckerman Foundation/Lila B. Zuckerman – for honoring the memory of her daughter Gail who passed away from autoimmune liver disease in 1967 by establishing a foundation that grants funds for research into children’s chronic liver diseases.
AARDA’s #AutoimmuneHeroes campaign recognizes the work of individuals and organizations that have advanced the autoimmune disease agenda in the areas of research, patient safety, advocacy, public education and awareness, service and volunteerism, among others.
“The advances in autoimmune research over the last 25 years are due in large part to the impact of these organizations and individuals who have used their personal experience with autoimmune disease, either themselves or a loved one, as motivation to take action and raise funds for research that ultimately benefit all 50 million Americans who suffer from these diseases and their families,” said Virginia Ladd, founder and executive director, AARDA (@AARDATweets). “They are and continue to be an inspiration to all of us at AARDA as we continue our mission to bring more public attention to these diseases and increase public and private sector budgets for autoimmune disease research.”
Each month during its anniversary year, AARDA will be announcing its #AutoimmuneHeroes. Over the last 25 years, these heroes – both individuals and organizations – have proved critical to helping AARDA become the national organization it is today, while positively impacting the lives of the 50 million Americans with AD and their families.
In addition, AARDA also launched this year its #25for25 fundraising campaign. It invites individuals and organizations the world over to recognize AARDA’s achievements on behalf of people with autoimmune disease and support its work going forward by donating $25 to the organization (www.aarda.org).
About American Autoimmune Related Diseases AssociationCelebrating its 25th anniversary, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) is the nation's only non-profit organization dedicated to bringing a national focus to autoimmunity as a category of disease and a major women's health issue, and promoting a collaborative research effort in order to find better treatments and a cure for all autoimmune diseases. For more information, please visit http://www.aarda.org.
Follow us on social media, including:Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Autoimmunity)Twitter (@AARDATweets)YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/AARDATube)
CONTACT: Cindy Carway/Stephanie HornbackCarway Communications, Inc.212-378-2020[email protected]@CarwayComms
PROFILES – May 2016 Autoimmune Heroes
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association Salutes
Autoimmune Hero Barbara Wilson Gomez in recognition for her…
being AARDA’s patron, providing nearly 25 years of consecutive financial support for AARDA and autoimmune disease research, making her one of AARDA’s first and most significant donors. providing the initial funding support to AARDA and Johns Hopkins University resulting in the creation of the Autoimmune Disease Research Center. endowing in honor of her parents the O’Leary-Wilson Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Autoimmune Disease Research at The Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health.
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association Salutes
Autoimmune Heroes Dave Gearing and Tom Branthover and the Brave Dave Foundation in recognition for their…
channeling Dave’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis into an annual charitable golf outing since 1998 that has raised more than $500,000 for research.
Dave Gearing contracted Multiple Sclerosis shortly after graduating from law school in 1979. Despite having to deal with the chronic progressive form of the disease, Dave pursued a successful career in business and government before retiring in 1998.
But Dave wasn’t really finished working. Together with his friend, Tom Branthover, Dave began the Brave Dave Open, a charitable golf tournament which combined his love of the game together with his desire to fight back against his disease.
Today, 18 years later, the Brave Dave Open continues its work through the Brave Dave Foundation, a year-round charity working to help coordinate all autoimmune research being done in the hopes that an advance in one area of autoimmune research will have benefit in another. Like AARDA, their goal is to eventually bring about a cure for the millions of Americans who suffer from autoimmune disease.
For more information, visit http://www.bravedave.org.
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association Salutes
Autoimmune Heroes Jay and Joe Scoby and the Scoby Family Foundation in recognition for their…
using their eldest child’s autoimmune hepatitis diagnosis as the catalyst for wanting to make a difference for all those afflicted with autoimmune liver disease through raising funds for research at Johns Hopkins University.
Shortly after their child’s diagnosis, Jay and Joe were introduced to AARDA. In addition to their research fundraising activities, Jay also joined AARDA’s board of directors to help facilitate awareness of autoimmune disease in general. “We are dedicated to AARDA because we believe that individuals can make a difference by supporting research projects and spreading awareness in their community.”
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association Salutes
Autoimmune Hero Lila B. Zuckerman and the Gail I Zuckerman Foundation in recognition for their…
establishing a foundation that grants funds for research into children’s chronic liver diseases in memory of her daughter Gail who passed away from autoimmune liver disease in 1967.
Marking their 25th anniversary in the early 90s, the foundation was frustrated about the paucity of knowledge in regard to diseases of the liver, and too many unsolved mysteries in regard to this vital organ. In 1998, after exploring possibilities for hepatitis as an autoimmune disease, Lila Zuckerman was put in touch with AARDA President and Founder Virginia Ladd. It was a fateful meeting that has resulted in years of significant funding to the Johns Hopkins Center for Autoimmune Disease Research to study autoimmune liver disease under the direction of Dr. Noel Rose.
“AARDA was the only place that we could find for autoimmune liver disease. The doctors whom we contacted directly were not interested. We are honored to be recognized by AARDA for our persistence in gaining awareness of autoimmune hepatitis and soliciting funds for research.”
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