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2 janvier, 2008 19:56

October 1, 2007

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) and Maybelline in association with the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation hosted the First Annual Butterflies Over Hollywood soiree on Saturday, September 29 at the historic El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Actress Jada Pinkett Smith headlined a list of more than 300 celebrities and guests who helped raise funds for LFA public and professional education programs, as well as for support services to help individuals with lupus and their families who live in the greater Los Angeles area. Richard and Dana Pachulski served as Honorary Chairs.

Butterflies Over Hollywood was hosted by Malcolm-Jamal Warner (The Cosby Show), and model Tomiko Fraser, who also created the event. Tomiko is currently in her unprecedented 8th year as the face of Maybelline® New York. Tomiko also proudly serves as a national spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America in support of her sister, who suffers with lupus. "I created this event out of the love for my sister," remarked Tomiko, who also serves on the LFA National Board of Directors and Chairs the Public Relations Committee. "I created this event because I feel that there needs to be more awareness of lupus, and I hope that by joining forces with Hollywood, we can shed light on a disease that affects millions of people around the world."

Jada Pinkett Smith was there to support her aunt, Karen Evans, who almost died from complications of lupus. In addition to serving as Executive Director of the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, Karen is a member of the LFA National Board of Directors and co-chairs the Education Committee. Also attending was Randall Winston, Producer for the hit NBC series, Scrubs, and his sister, Karen, Erreur! Signet non défini. who suffers with lupus. Randall donated a kidney to Karen after she developed lupus-related kidney disease which caused her own kidneys to fail. The World Entertainment Network has additional photos from Butterflies Over hollywood.

The LFA transformed the El Rey Theatre into a spectacular Cotton Club-themed night of glamour with special live performances, signature cocktails, and more. Los Angeles had not seen a 1920s themed event of this caliber in recent history. Butterflies Over Hollywood was well attended by guests and media representatives alike. Paparazzi were everywhere, especially on the red carpet outside the Theater, with cameras flashing as the celebrity guests arrived.

The evening was capped with electrifying performances by jazz vocalist Ruth "Silky" Waters, the modern jazz dance ensemble, "Best Kept Secret," and female R&B singer, Shareese Renèe Ballard, better known as Res. All of the performers were accompanied by the jazz band, Swing Town. After the program, DJ Rell took over and the crowd danced the night away.

Lupus is a chronic, debilitating and life-threatening disease that causes the immune system to go awry and attack the body’s own cells and tissues. The disease has potentially disabling and fatal consequences, which include strokes, heart attacks, seizures and kidney failure.

Approximately 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus, enough people to fill 30 baseball stadiums. One in every 200 Americans has lupus and every half hour another person is diagnosed with the disease. Thousands die each year from lupus complications. African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans develop lupus more frequently than Caucasians, but the disparity remains unexplained.

Based on national averages, as many as 65,000 people in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area may have a form of lupus. A recent survey by the LFA revealed an urgent desire among people with lupus living in the greater L.A. area to have access to LFA education programs and support services.

The LFA is the nation’s leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure

for lupus, and to providing support and services to all people with lupus. Research, education and patient services are at the heart of LFA programs. The LFA has a nationwide network of nearly 300 chapters and support groups and plans to expand its presence in Los Angeles to meet the growing needs of those with lupus, their families and caregivers. Read about the LFA mission and program.

Butterflies Over Hollywood is just the beginning for the LFA presence in the greater Los Angeles area. Within the coming weeks, the LFA will conduct another major fund raising activity, Walk for Lupus Now®. The walk will be held on Sunday, November 4, from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Queen Mary Events Park, 1126 Queens Highway, in Long Beach. Sign up for a walk near you and begin to raise funds so the LFA can have the resources necessary to help people with lupus in your community.

Lupus greatly affects the lives of those it touches. The LFA is working to bring improved quality of life to people with lupus through research, patient and professional education, advocacy, and support services. Please help the LFA support those with lupus who live in the greater Los Angeles area.