The San Diego Alumnae Chapter is please to support the local Arthritis Foundation & AJAO. In the past, the chapter has supported AJAO by helping to volunteer at its annual Holiday party and to create goodie bags for summer camp. Please click on the links at the left to learn more. We will also plan on posting volunteer opportunities where you can volunteer at events separate from chapter events.

If you would like to may a donation to help our philanthropy efforts, then click on the donate button to use PayPal to donate. If you would like your donation to go to a specific philanthropy project then there is a comment area in the PayPal donation process where you can specify the project allocation.

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control, and cure of Arthritis and related diseases. Although the Chapter is part of a national organization, the San Diego Area Chapter is separately incorporated and works independently and autonomously from the National Office. For more than 40 years, the San Diego Area Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation has strived to help people with all forms of arthritis, in San Diego and Imperial Counties, decrease their pain and stiffness, improve self-esteem and self-efficacy, reduce overall healthcare costs and maintain independence.

Arthritis affects over 43 million people nationally, and over 480,000 San Diegans. Many people believe the myth that only seniors have arthritis. Arthritis also affects people of all ages. In fact, here in San Diego nearly 2,000 children have been diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, one of the more aggressive and disabling forms of arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis is most often diagnosed in young adults between the ages of 20 - 40, in the prime of their life. Women are disproportionately affected by arthritis, most often in their childbearing years. The trademarks for seniors with arthritis are too often depression and loss of independence. The Arthritis Foundation is the only national non-profit health agency addressing all forms of arthritis.

Check out the chapter online at www.arthritis-sandiego.org. For more information on how to get involved, contact Andrea Muir at (858) 492-1090 Ext 116 or email at amuir@arthritis.org