“Volunteers work without pay not because they’re worthless,
but because they’re priceless,” says Phyllis Simko, President & CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), Indiana Chapter. To honor these priceless individuals, LFA held their annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Wednesday, April 14, at the Spring Mill Health Campus in Merrillville, Indiana.
The gala event was attended by almost 40 volunteers, along with members of the LFA Board of Directors and Advisory Board. “It’s important for us to recognize the efforts of those who do so much for us each year. They are often the glue that holds our organization together,” says Simko.
Hosted by Amy Nikruto and her staff at Spring Mill Health Campus, the event featured a fantastic three-course meal along with live entertainment by Jerry Armstrong. Photos were taken of each guest to be put in a frame that each attendee received as a gift.
Simko indicated that the Lupus Foundation of America, Indiana Chapter, received volunteer help from 94 individuals this year, amounting to 1,114 volunteer hours, with a dollar savings equivalent of $27,850 to the organization. “The contributions made by these individuals – whether large or small – were an enormous help to the Chapter and we are truly blessed to have their help,” Simko says.
The Lupus Foundation of America is the nation’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for Lupus. The Indiana Chapter’s mission is to assist in this cause and provide services, help and hope to those afflicted with Lupus, with a concentration on the Northwest Indiana area.
With the goals of raising awareness and educating the community about Lupus, as well as improving the quality of life for those diagnosed with Lupus, the LFA Indiana Chapter holds numerous support groups and other events each year. For more information, please visit their website at www.lupusindiana.org.