#USA #Charity Event #Summit #Lupus Research #Willie Colon

Super Bowl Champion Willie Colon Leads Fundraising Drive for Lupus Research

On June 23, 2025, the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) held its 11th Annual Willie Colon Golf Outing, an event designed to raise funds for lupus research while honoring Colon’s late mother, Jean Davis, who battled this chronic autoimmune disease. This year’s event saw an incredible turnout, drawing over 300 participants, and successfully raising $450,000 to aid groundbreaking research initiatives aimed at improving treatments and eventually finding a cure for lupus.

The golf outing, which has now accumulated nearly $3 million over its eleven-year history, is a testament to the commitment of both Colon and the LRA in advancing understanding and treatment of lupus, which affects millions globally. Colon, a Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers and current co-host for Fox Sports 1, has been a passionate advocate for lupus research ever since his mother’s diagnosis. “Eleven years ago, my family chose to partner with the Lupus Research Alliance with this golf outing — all in the hopes of supporting lupus research that can improve treatments and find a cure,” he stated, expressing hope for future breakthroughs that could benefit generations to come.

Celebrities from the sports world came out in support, including former NFL players such as Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brandon Marshall, David Harris, and many others, all united in their mission to promote awareness and funding for lupus research. The event featured celebrity hosts like Craig Carton from FS1, and Brian Custer from ESPN, making it not only a fundraising affair but also an entertaining day for attendees. The collaborative spirit present at the outing demonstrated the power of community in championing a cause.

Among the five chairs who helped organize the event were executives from major corporations, such as Xavier V. Goss of Capital Group, and Nidhi Patel from BlackRock, showcasing a strong network of business leaders committed to making a difference in healthcare. This support is crucial as lupus remains a complex condition primarily affecting women, with a disproportionate impact on communities of color, further emphasizing the need for targeted research and funding.

Lupus, characterized by the body’s immune system attacking its own tissues and organs, poses significant challenges to those diagnosed. The LRA aims to transform treatment paradigms through innovative research funding while also fostering new scientific talent to tackle this perplexing disease. Colon highlights an essential truth: “While no one individual, no one family, and no one organization can conquer lupus, together we can, and we will.” This collective commitment was palpable at the outing, as attendees connected over shared goals and a mutual desire for change.

Primary sponsors for this year’s event included Tito's Handmade Vodka, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and the Willie and Aikisha Colon Foundation, underscoring the strong partnerships between charitable organizations and businesses in the fight against lupus. As the LRA continues its work, the funding raised through events like this golf outing is invaluable to its mission. It allows for extensive research initiatives that could lead to improved diagnostics, therapies, and ultimately a cure for lupus.

For those interested in supporting lupus research, donations can be made directly through the Lupus Research Alliance’s website at LupusResearch.org. The fight against lupus is ongoing, and every contribution helps in the quest for better treatments and a future free from the grips of this debilitating disease.

The success of the Willie Colon Golf Outing is a reminder that, with collaboration and tenacity, hope and progress are achievable in the realms of research, treatment, and healing. Together, the community of supporters, researchers, and healthcare professionals continues to strive for a world without lupus.