THE MI LUPUS FOUNDATION NAMES KIMBERLY DIMOND AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
(Detroit, Michigan – May 16, 2022) – The MI Lupus Foundation announced Kimberly Dimond has been named Executive Director of the foundation effective May 11, 2022. Dimond succeeds former Executive Director Benjamin Rathbun who left in April.
Dimond has extensive experience in nonprofit management and is a lupus warrior herself, officially diagnosed with lupus 16 years ago after years of having symptoms.
“As a fellow lupus warrior, I am confident my experience and knowledge would be an asset in building upon the current framework of the MI Lupus Foundation and continuing to serve lupus patients statewide,” Dimond said. “I am dedicated to being a fierce advocate for lupus awareness, funding, and support to successfully serve and implement the mission of the MI Lupus Foundation.”
“The mission of the MI Lupus Foundation is to improve the quality of life for those living with lupus through support, education and research with the goal of finding a cure,” said Board President Judy Sova. “The search committee completed an extensive search for the next Executive Director and were pleased by the high caliber of applicants. The foundation is currently in transition, rebuilding and restructuring after the pandemic and a change in leadership. We felt confident someone with Kimberly’s talents would be necessary to help the organization move forward.”
Dimond was most recently Executive Director of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra in Carmel, Indiana. She previously served as Managing Director of the Midland Symphony Orchestra of the Midland Center for the Arts, Corporate Relations Manager for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Interim Director of Music Events for Central Michigan University. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in Integrative Public Relations and Music (French horn) and holds a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Goucher College in Baltimore.
Dimond currently resides in Traverse City and will be splitting her time between Detroit and Northern Michigan.
About Lupus
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own healthy tissues and organs. It can affect any part of the body causing widespread pain and inflammation. Common symptoms include crippling fatigue, fever and joint pain. Lupus affects each patient differently and may go into periods of flares and remissions. More people have lupus than cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia, and cystic fibrosis combined. It is estimated that 1.5 million people in the United States suffer from this disease. Lupus primarily affects young women between the ages of 15-45 years old and occurs more frequently in women of African American, Hispanic, or Asian descent. There is currently no cure for lupus.
About the MI Lupus Foundation
The MI Lupus Foundation is a nonprofit organization that exists to improve the quality of life for those living with lupus through support, education and research with the goal of finding a cure. The foundation provides financial and informational resources for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. The MI Lupus Foundation has been continually serving Michigan and northern Indiana since 1974 and is working to build a brighter future for all lupus patients and their families. For more information, visit http://milupus.org.
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