Newswise — To encourage communities across the country to protect children and adolescents from the sun’s dangerous rays, the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) has awarded Shade Structure Grants to 19 schools and non-profit organizations. Since its launch in 2000, the Academy’s Shade Structure Grant Program has awarded more than 325 shade structure grants to organizations across the country, which provide shade for more than half a million individuals each day.
“Children are particularly vulnerable to harmful ultraviolet rays because of the amount of time they spend outdoors,” said board-certified dermatologist Brett M. Coldiron, MD, FAAD, president of the Academy. “The Academy is proud to work with these organizations to provide proper shade over playgrounds, pools, recreational areas, and learning spaces, which is a simple way to reduce the risk of skin cancer.”
Current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. To reduce the risk of skin cancer, the Academy recommends seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and applying broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when outdoors.
The Academy awarded its 2015 AAD Shade Structure grants to the following organizations:
-Belle Hall Elementary, Mt. Pleasant, South CarolinaSponsored by Diana Antonovich, MD, FAAD-Blossomwood Elementary School, Huntsville, AlabamaSponsored by Melinda Birchmore-Musick, MD, FAAD-Champaign Church of the Brethren, Champaign, IllinoisSponsored by Ellen Jacobsen, MD, FAAD-Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired, Kansas City, MissouriSponsored by Amy Nopper, MD, FAAD-Colvin Run Elementary School, Vienna, VirginiaSponsored by Suraj Venna, MD, FAAD-Fluvanna County High School Athletics Booster Club, Palmyra, VirginiaSponsored by Joshua Black, MD, FAAD-French Creek Valley Christian Campus, Saegertown, PennsylvaniaSponsored by Peter Pless, MD, FAAD-Grandview Elementary, Manhattan Beach, CaliforniaSponsored by Ashley Magovern, MD, FAAD-Great Plains Zoo, Sioux Falls, South DakotaSponsored by Kelly Jerstad, MD, FAAD-Holy Redeemer School, College Park, MarylandSponsored by Jane Chew, MD, FAAD-James Workman Middle School, Cathedral City, CaliforniaSponsored by Donald R. Scott, MD, FAAD-Londonberry School, Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaSponsored by Kathryn Bonnett, MD, FAAD-Marguerite Montgomery Elementary School, Davis, California Sponsored by Meghan Zavod, MD, FAAD-Miss Tina’s Preschool, Inc., Greenwood, Arkansas Sponsored by Sandra Johnson, MD, FAAD-Parents for Canalino, Carpentaria CaliforniaSponsored by Patricia Walker, MD, FAAD-Ridgetop Elementary, Austin, Texas Sponsored by Moise Levy, MD, FAAD-Springfield Public Schools Early Childhood Special Education, Springfield, Missouri Sponsored by Dean Mittman, MD, FAAD-Stiles Point Elementary, Charleston, South CarolinaSponsored by Betsy Furukawa, MD, FAAD-Union County Elementary School, Blairsville, GeorgiaSponsored by Perry Scallan, MD, FAAD
Academy members play an integral role in the program by encouraging local organizations to apply for the grants and by writing letters of support, a requirement for consideration of applications. The program is open to non-profit organizations that serve children and teens under the age of 18 and have incorporated a sun safety program into their activities for at least one year. Grants are available for permanent shade structures over outdoor locations that are not protected from the sun, such as playgrounds, pools, eating areas and other locations.
For organizations interested in offering a sun safety program, the Academy has developed a curriculum for 8- to 13-year-olds to promote healthy self-esteem through education about skin, hair, and nails. The Good Skin Knowledge lesson plans and accompanying activities include sun safety education, which qualifies for the sun safety awareness program when in place for a year prior to application for a Shade Structure Grant.
The Academy’s Shade Structure Grant Program is financially supported by the Academy and its members’ contributions. This program is part of the Academy’s SPOT Skin Cancer™ campaign to create a world without skin cancer through public awareness, community outreach programs and services, and advocacy that promote the prevention, detection and care of skin cancer.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 18,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org. Follow the Academy on Facebook (American Academy of Dermatology), Twitter (@AADskin), or YouTube (Academy of Dermatology).
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