Sponsored, cosponsored, or supported the following:  

• 5th International Conference on Autoimmunity, Sorrento, Italy
• Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation 2007 National Patient Conference, Reston, VA
•  2nd Interdisciplinary Sjögren's Syndrome Symposium, Buenos Aires, Argentina
•  15th Annual Congress on Women's Health, Hilton Head, SC
•  7th Annual Meeting, Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies, "FOCIS 2007," San Diego, CA
•  Animal Models of Type 1 Diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis, New York Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
• 12th International Conference on Antiphospholipid Antibodies, Florence, Italy
• 5th International Conference on Sex Hormones, Pregnancy, and the Rheumatic Diseases, Florence, Italy

 Provided education and/or awareness materials for the following local events or groups:

•  EL 541 Covered Bridge Bike Tour, Tualatin, OR
• Sjögren's Support Group, Frederick, MD

• WITT "Women in This Together Support Ministry," Rochester, NY

•  Lupus support group, Atlanta, GA

•  Vitiligo Support International, Williamsburg, VA

• "Howl at the Moon," Whitefish Bay, WI

•  Laguna Hills Kiwanis Club, Laguna Woods, CA

• National Association of School Nurses, Nashville, TN

• American Academy of Pediatrics, San Francisco, CA

• American Public Health Association, Washington, DC

• American Society of Human Genetics, San Diego, CA

• The Lupus Foundation of Mississippi, Brandon, MS

• Sun City Arthritis Support Group, Bluffton, SC

• Health Connections, Bluffton, SC

• Continued Education for RNs Seminar, Selma, AL

• Circles Within Circles Foundation, Meadow Bridge, WV

• Lupus Support Group, Jonesboro, GA

Provided speaker and materials for the Owens-Corning Employee Health Fair, Toledo, OH

Provided sample materials for booth displays by the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. (NORD)

Provided display, materials, and representative at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Conference, Washington, DC

Planned and facilitated an Autoimmune Awareness Rally on the steps of the U. S. Capitol, in conjunction with the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups

Developed and arranged for nationwide TV distribution, including the Hallmark Channel, of a PSA featuring Kellie Martin, "Do You Know Your Family AQ?"

Saw Kellie Martin featured in an autoimmune disease message on the electronic board in Times Square, NY

Made Internet distribution of "Know Your Family AQ" PSA, resulting in more than 34 million individuals accessing/receiving/reviewing the PSA

Had broad distribution of "Know Your Family AQ" PSA on American Urban Radio Network (potential for reaching more than 20 million listeners)

Laid the groundwork for 2008 implementation of an educational/awareness campaign "Men Get Autoimmune Disease, Too"

Continued to sponsor the National Autoimmune Awareness Campaign, "What Every American Need to Know About Autoimmune Diseases"

Granted interviews and materials resulting in articles published in Natural Solutions, USA Today, PRNewswire, The News Journal (Delaware)

Contained administrative and fund-raising costs at only 7.70 percent of total expenses (up to 25 percent is considered acceptable for nonprofit organizations)

Received $1,993,199 in contributions and in-kind services, representing 99.5 percent of total support and revenue

Expanded autoimmune education and awareness through publication of InFocus, AARDA's quarterly newsletter 

Assisted more than 400,000 inquirers approaching AARDA via telephone, e-mail, postal service, Web site, and personal contacts at meetings and conferences, by supplying information and referrals