Founded in 1988, SFDV, a 501(C)(3) Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, is a chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation serving eastern Pennsylvania, southern/central New Jersey and Delaware. Our mission is three-pronged:

• To raise funds for research on the cause and treatment of scleroderma;
• To help patients and their families cope with the disease through mutual support programs and;
• To educate patients and their families, as well as medical professionals and the public, through meetings, literature, newsletters and public awareness programs.

SFDV self-help/support groups meet regularly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Our mission is to have a support group available for every county that the chapter covers in all three states of our territory. Please see the Support Group page for updates.

Our Education Series is currently being updated to include locations in all three states that we cover. We are working with area professionals throughout our territory to establish new meeting venues in order to keep all patients and family members informed of the current advances in research. Please see the Calendar page for regular updates.

• About Services

  Persons with a chronic disease such as scleroderma can cope better if they have built a strong health and support network that includes not only health professionals, family and friends, but also an organization such as SFDV. SFDV's educational and Support Group meetings provide opportunities for patients to meet and exchange information, common experiences and coping techniques. Up-to-date information about scleroderma and its treatment is presented at SFDV's educational meetings by highly qualified health professionals from our area, who give generously of their time to serve as speakers. Between meetings, one-on-one help is just a phone call away.

• About Membership

  Annual dues enable members to maintain a vital communication line with the entire scleroderma community. Members receive the quarterly National magazine—The Voice, the SFDV newsletter—The Pursuit, and notices of meetings and special events. Dues help to defray SFDV's daily operating costs, thus permitting more of its income from donations and fundraisers to be targeted for scleroderma research.

• Our Purpose

  The PURPOSE of the Chapter is to help patients make contact with each other through Chapters, Newsletters, and Workshops;

  To EDUCATE and INFORM the public about scleroderma, its meaning, and its consequences through a central base; to ENCOURAGE more awareness within the medical profession;

  To PROMOTE medical research toward finding a cause and cure;

  To ACCEPT donations, bequests, memorials, and grants from our generous supporters.

• Be A Volunteer

  If you would like to volunteer to be on a committee for upcoming events, please contact the office.