Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.

2000 L Street NW No 410

Washington, DC 20036
April 12, 2014
The M&T Charitable Foundation
25 South Charles Street, 22nd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
Attention: Michelle Sann
RE: LUPUS AWARENESS BUS IN WASHINGTON DC
The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA) located in Washington, DC is seeking a grant to
allow us to make a month-long return trip with our interactive bus to Capitol Hill in Washington,
DC, in order to increase the level of lupus awareness among both residents and members of
Congress. This return trip will be the capstone to our three year, multi-city, lupus awareness tour.
The lupus awareness tour, part of the LFAs Help Us Solve the Cruel MysteryTM national
education and awareness program, is a first-of-its-kind program that includes a tour bus with
interactive exhibits to help you learn about lupus through the experiences of people who live
with lupus. The bus also includes an education program for people with lupus and their families,
and a state-of-the-science continuing medical education (CME) program for healthcare
professionals. Funding in the amount of $30,000 is requested to complete this month-long return
trip to Washington, DC with our interactive bus and to pay for staffing and maintenance of the
bus.
The LFA is the only national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, while giving caring
support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood
autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to
live with, and a challenge to treat. Lupus is often hidden from view and hard to define, has a
range of symptoms, strikes without warning, has no known cause and no known cure. Its health
effects can range from as mild as a skin rash to as devastating as total organ failure. Lupus is
debilitating, destructive, and can be fatal, yet research on lupus is underfunded relative to its
scope and devastation. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy,
the LFA leads the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus.
The current lack of awareness about lupus is one of the reasons research on lupus in chronically
underfunded. The month-long stay of the interactive bus in Washington, DC will substantially
increase the publics awareness of lupus and its impact on those diagnosed with the illness and
their families. The location (Capitol Hill) and time (mid-May to mid-June) of the buss stay have
been chosen in order to maximize potential visitors. By coordinating with several local museums
to advertise our interactive bus, we hope to reach an even greater audience.
The time and location of the bus tour is also significant in that it corresponds to Congresss
busiest season. The LFA has long been successful in lobbying Congress for more funding for

lupus-related research and this extended stay of our interactive bus in Congress back yard will
continue our lobbying efforts by being a constant visual reminder to members of Congress of just
how important our mission is. In order to further attract members of Congress to the bus and
encourage earmarks for funding, we will be conducting a targeted mailing campaign to members
of Congress to invite them to the bus and explain our mission. This mailing campaign will also
hint that the interactive bus will make an impressive backdrop for photo opportunities and
promote political goodwill.
The LFA is mainly supported by individual contributions and grants from corporate foundations
such as the Wal-Mart Foundation, the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, and the Matthew
T. Mellon Foundation. However, in some instances the LFA has also received funding from
federal institutions. Some of these grants include funding from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) and funding from the Department of Defense (DOD). The purchase of the
interactive lupus awareness bus and the first part of the nationwide lupus awareness tour was
partially funded through a grant received by the US Department of Health and Human Services
Office on Womens Health.
The budget includes funds for two LFA members to staff and maintain the bus during visiting
hours (8am-5pm) ($6000) and one security guard ($4500) to watch the bus at night (5pm-8am).
Funds are also allocated to provide for fuel and electricity for the bus ($12000). The budget also
includes the above mentioned targeted mailing campaign for Members of Congress ($500),
coordination and advertising efforts with other area museums ($2000), and new decals for the
bus indicating funds provided by a grant from The M&T Charitable Foundation ($5000).
We appreciate the M&T Charitable Foundation taking an interest in helping the Lupus
Foundation of America, Inc. implement a program to help increase lupus awareness among the
public! Please give me a call at 202-349-1155 if you require any further information.
Respectfully submitted,
Seung Ae Chung
Chief Financial Officer
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