Lupus Foundation builds a network, pulls in donations through Facebook

Support, information and interaction are cornerstones of the group’s online presence

How do you connect with a 1.5 million-person audience scattered around the country? You start with Facebook, and you talk to people, give them information, and encourage them to spread the word.

More than 1.5 million Americans who have been diagnosed with lupus—the autoimmune disease that Michael Jackson is rumored to have suffered from. To reach them, Wick Davis, director of online services for the Lupus Foundation of America, uses Facebook to educate and support people living with lupus, their friends, family, co-workers, and caregivers online.

What you need to know

The Lupus Foundation of America is a nonprofit group that focuses on finding the causes of and a cure for lupus, as well as providing support and services to people living with lupus.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation, pain, and damage to many parts of the body, including skin, joints, blood, and kidneys.