Lupus Volunteer Achievement Badge | Volunteer Challenge

Advocate. Educate. Understand. Serve beyond diagnosis.

The Lupus Volunteer Achievement Badge recognizes people whose service strengthens the lupus community through education, advocacy, research support, fundraising, caregiving, leadership, volunteerism, or compassionate action.

Why This Badge Was Created

The Lupus Volunteer Achievement Badge was inspired by Dana Taylor, Mrs. West Virginia Captivating 2026, a member of the Global Volunteer Recognition Program and West Virginia’s first National Ambassador for the Lupus Foundation of America.

After nearly two decades of misdiagnosis and unanswered questions, Dana received her lupus diagnosis in 2020. She later survived lupus-related seizures requiring intensive care and had to relearn how to walk. Instead of allowing those experiences to silence her, Dana became the advocate and source of hope she once needed.

Dana has served the lupus community in numerous statewide and national volunteer roles. Her service includes representing the lupus community at the National Lupus Advocacy Summit on Capitol Hill, facilitating a virtual lupus support group, hosting an in-person Walk to End Lupus Now®, participating in the Lupus Research Action Network, and serving as a Speakers Bureau representative.

Dana helped shape the meaning of this recognition and personally designed the exclusive pinback button option. Her service inspired GVRP to recognize everyone who turns compassion, personal experience, professional knowledge, or community concern into meaningful action.

Want to show your support without completing the Volunteer Challenge? The separate Lupus Awareness Pinback Button designed by Dana Taylor is available to everyone and does not require volunteer service, proof, or GVRP membership.

What Does This Recognition Represent?

This badge is not awarded because of a diagnosis, profession, title, or particular relationship to lupus. It celebrates the purpose behind someone’s service and their willingness to learn more, do more, and stand beside people affected by lupus.

Recipients may include people living with lupus, caregivers, family members, healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, advocates, students, community leaders, pageant participants, volunteers, or anyone inspired to make a difference.

The Lupus Volunteer Achievement Badge recognizes people who:

• Advocate for people and families affected by lupus

• Educate others using accurate and responsible information

• Support lupus research, awareness, and community programs

• Help people affected by lupus feel seen, heard, and supported

• Use their time, talents, experiences, or voices to inspire hope

Every contribution matters, including highly visible advocacy and service completed quietly behind the scenes.

How Do You Earn the Lupus Volunteer Achievement Badge?

Complete at least one meaningful lupus-related volunteer, education, awareness, advocacy, fundraising, or support activity and submit proof of your completed work.

No minimum number of volunteer hours is required. One qualifying activity is enough to earn the badge.

GVRP membership is not required.

Qualifying Activities May Include

• Volunteering at a lupus walk, fundraiser, health fair, educational program, support event, or community outreach activity

• Helping the Lupus Foundation of America or another reputable lupus organization with outreach, event planning, fundraising, administrative work, graphic design, research support, or another volunteer need

• Creating or distributing educational materials using information from credible lupus or healthcare organizations

• Creating an educational post, video, presentation, display, or campaign that encourages others to learn, volunteer, advocate, or take meaningful action

• Supporting or promoting a reputable lupus support group, educational program, or community resource

• Participating in a Put on Purple, World Lupus Day, Lupus Awareness Month, or similar awareness initiative and explaining why lupus awareness matters

• Organizing or supporting a fundraiser, donation drive, walk team, or awareness event benefiting a reputable lupus organization

• Participating in nonpartisan advocacy related to lupus research, education, healthcare access, or community support

• Completing an encouragement, resource, or support project for people and families affected by lupus

• Sharing your lupus story or helping amplify another person’s story with their permission

• Learning from a reputable lupus resource and taking an additional action to educate or involve others

Volunteers may use the Lupus Foundation of America’s educational resources or information from another credible lupus or healthcare organization.

Proof Required

Submit documentation showing what you completed and how the activity supported lupus awareness or the lupus community.

Acceptable proof may include:

• A photograph of your volunteer service, awareness display, or event participation

• A screenshot of an educational post, campaign, video, presentation, or advocacy action

• A volunteer verification letter, service log, confirmation email, or event registration

• An event flyer, fundraiser page, sign-in sheet, or project materials

• A copy or photograph of educational materials you created or distributed

• A brief summary describing the activity, date completed, organization supported, and intended impact

Please protect the privacy of others when submitting proof. Do not submit medical records, private medical information, or identifying health details. Photographs and personal stories should only be shared with permission.

Who Can Earn This Badge?

The Lupus Volunteer Achievement Badge is open to children, teens, adults, families, students, pageant participants, community groups, healthcare professionals, professional volunteers, and volunteers serving anywhere in the world.

You do not need to have lupus or know someone with lupus to participate. The defining requirement is a willingness to serve with compassion and help build a more informed, supportive, and hopeful community.

Both virtual and in-person activities may qualify. A parent, teacher, advisor, or volunteer coordinator may help a younger participant document their service.

Important Information

Purchasing the badge alone does not earn the achievement badge. Proof of a qualifying activity must be submitted, reviewed, and approved before the recognition is officially earned.

A financial donation without an accompanying service, education, awareness, advocacy, or fundraising activity does not qualify by itself.

Each product option is made to order and is non-refundable. Colors may vary slightly because of screen settings and the production process.

Learn more about the requirements and proof process in our guide explaining how Volunteer Achievement Badges work.

The Lupus Volunteer Achievement Badge is independently offered by the Global Volunteer Recognition Program™. It does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the Lupus Foundation of America or another third-party organization. Unless expressly stated elsewhere, purchasing this product is not a donation to the Lupus Foundation of America.