With a mission to improve lives impacted by lupus, the Lupus Foundation of Northern California (LFNC) has served the Northern California lupus community for almost 40 year. The LFNC was founded as the Bay Area Lupus Foundation in 1978 by Jo Dewhirst. Jo was elected to be the first Chairperson of the Board and served in this position from 1978 – 1982. She was hired by the Board to be the first Executive Director of the Foundation and held this position from 1982 – 2009. Dedicated to serving an ethnically and economically diverse population and to providing the widest possible access to services, the LFNC offers programs designed to meet both social and educational needs of patients and their families in English and Spanish, both in-person and online.Focused on those living with lupus as well as on research and advocacy to find a cure, we are proud to be the voice of the northern California lupus community of patients, families, friends and caregivers. Our Mission is to be a premier source of information on lupus by providing programs and services designed to educate and increase the knowledge of those affected by lupus, promote lupus awareness, and support external lupus research efforts.