The Los Angeles Dysautonomia Network has opened its first physical location in Pasadena's Playhouse District, giving roughly 1,000 members a place to gather for free support groups, workshops and health care grants.

The nonprofit celebrated the opening Oct. 3 with a housewarming fundraiser that raised $52,100, Pasadena Weekly reported. About 65 people attended the event at the group's new office in Suite 220 inside Arcade Lane at 696 E. Colorado Blvd. The Beverly Hills-based Karsh Family Foundation presented the fundraiser.

U.S. Rep. Judy Chu joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside actress Mara Wilson, who lives with dysautonomia and serves as an ambassador for the network, according to Pasadena Now. Representatives for Assemblymember John Harabedian and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger also took part. Harabedian's district director, Declan Floyd, presented a certificate of recognition, and Barger representative Leo Bautista brought a county scroll, the organization said.

Dysautonomia affects the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and digestion.

"The most challenging aspect of dysautonomia is its unpredictability … You don't know that you'll be able to get through the day with stable health," co-founder and executive director Sally Krueger-Wyman told Pasadena Weekly.

The financial toll is steep. LADN's 2024 data showed that members who applied for health care access grants had an average income of $16,000 and spent an average of $10,000 on dysautonomia-related care during the year, Krueger-Wyman said.

Co-founder and outreach director Emily Suñez started a local support group in 2018 after posting on Facebook to connect with others who understood the condition. She and Krueger-Wyman began meeting with patients at the Pasadena Santa Catalina Branch Library. The group became a registered nonprofit in 2023 and now counts about 1,000 members, up from roughly 100 in its early years.

Free services at the new space include support groups for patients, teenagers and family members, wellness workshops, educational programs, a book club and health care access grants for low-income California residents. Some virtual programs remain available to people outside the state.

The $52,100 raised Oct. 3 will cover rent at the Playhouse District location for about a year and a half and fund expanded staff hours for community drop-in times and mental health support groups.

Residents can learn more at la-dn.org.