The mission of the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation is to educate the community about the prevention and early detection of skin cancer, especially melanoma, its deadliest form.
Dear 16-Year Old Me
One person dies from melanoma every fifty minutes, one out of every fifty people are at risk for melanoma, and Florida is the state with the second highest incidence of melanoma in the country. Melanoma is the only cancer that is increasing each year, while all others are decreasing. We can significantly reduce the number of people who die from this disease that is 100% preventable: if we educate our community.
SunSmart America™ K-12 in schools, is the core curriculum of the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation, it is the only program in the country that educates students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The Foundation has trained students, teachers, school nurses, parents and school administrators nationwide, thus facilitating the development of new sun safety programs and resources. Benchmarked to meet FCAT and Next Generation Sunshine State standards, the Foundation has gained the support of the school Superintendents, their teaching body and staff.
Students against Melanoma (SAM) is the Foundation’s peer-based club in middle and high schools. The SAM Club Program has been in existence since 2007 and continues to grow as new clubs emerge yearly. This unique opportunity for students has helped the Foundation to win two of its thirteen American Academy of Dermatology Gold Triangle Awards. This is a critical time for children to acquire positive knowledge that will help them to create good habits to serve them throughout their adult lives.
All middle and high schools should have a SAM Club. The model allows students to receive community service hours, and to participate in fundraising and philanthropy. Clubs meet as often as they wish, but at least once a month as they gather to create events for their school, and to partner with the Foundation to celebrate Melanoma Awareness Month in May. SAM members attend community events, carrying forth the Foundation’s mission, as well as being ambassadors of good health and sun safe education.
Also recognized during Melanoma Awareness Month, is the Melanoma Monday Art Contest in Schools, celebrated throughout the county. The Foundation has been implementing this program since 2001, with first place awards as great as Sun Shades for schools and other prizes. The event culminates in a well-attended community event and award ceremony, filled with fun and awareness. In the 2013-2014 school year, The School District of Palm Beach County awarded the Foundation a formal Proclamation at the May 2014 School Board meeting, where prizes and awards were distributed to the winning students, teachers, and schools. The Foundation also received a Proclamation from the City of West Palm Beach, and Congresswoman Lois Frankel recorded the work of the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation in the Congressional Record in Washington, DC. It is the Foundation’s desire to make the Melanoma Monday Art Contest a statewide program in the near future, one of many efforts to make Florida the “Sun Safe” Sunshine State. Be sure to watch your emails for your invitation to participate in this important contest next spring (March 1, 2015) or call the Foundation at 561-655-9655 to receive the rules, attachments and submission dates.
- default_titleThe US Surgeon General announced a “Call to Action” for the country regarding sun safety awareness, prevention and early detection.
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SAM Clubs – In the 2013-2014 school year, A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts became the newest Students against Melanoma (SAM) Club and Palm Beach Central High School is right behind them. All clubs were able to gather for an Inter-council meeting at the Foundation’s executive offices, located in The Palm Beach Post Building. Upon review, students agreed it was a great year and they are looking forward to many new outreach opportunities on the horizon.
- default_titleThe Foundation provided six summer internships for students.
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The Sun Safe “Selfie Art Contest” carried by The Palm Beach Post, offered the community an opportunity to post their most sun safe photos! Submissions were uploaded to the Foundation’s Facebook page, and voting for grand and first prizes packages of $500 were ongoing during the month of July 2014! Look for the contest again in May 2015.
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Foundation Board member Dr. Manju George donated an engaging and educational exhibit to the South Florida Science Center’s, S.T.E.M. program, which circulates around Palm Beach County Middle Schools during the school year.
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The winning artwork for the annual Melanoma Monday Art Contest in Schools will be used for a public service announcement poster in schools. “Great job” to everyone that participated; hopefully all schools and teachers will join in next year! Private schools are welcome to participate.
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The Law offices of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley created a public service announcement for television, showing the importance of melanoma prevention and detection. It aired in May of 2014, which is Melanoma Awareness Month.
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The Foundation received recognition and a significant donation from SAFESUN, a foundation in Boca that features a yearly 5K run www.facebook.com/RunFromTheRays. The Foundation has worked with them during the 2013-2014 school year in support of sun safety for families, and hopes to bring its message further south and saturate the Boca Raton area.
- default_titleThe 2013-2014 Melanoma Monday celebration took place at Kreusler Park in conjunction with Palm Beach Parks and Recreation and Palm Beach Aquatics. There was an annual one-mile swim and a 5K race; the day included lots of games, crafts, and awareness for families.
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Major Events and Fundraisers: 15th Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show at The Breakers, SPRAYS ~ NO UV RAYS, Spa Cara in Palm Beach, Wipe Out Melanoma at Kreusler Park, Bloomingdales - The Gardens Mall “Hot” event fashion show, mARTini’s for Melanoma and Run from the Rays 5K in Boca Raton.
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Presentations and Outreach: The West Palm Beach Green Market, Jupiter Tequesta Athletic Association, Lion Country Safari Rhino Month, South Florida Water Management, Palm Beach Post, “Take Your Child to Work Day,” Women’s Club of Jupiter, Brian Thomas 5K Race, Clinics Can Help, FPL “Power to Share,” and the West Palm Beach Employee Health Fair to name a few.
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- default_titleSignage was created in conjunction with Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation, and is visible around the county, so be mindful and locate one at a location near you!
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PR was at a high. The Palm Beach Post and The Palm Beach Daily News took a strong leadership position this year, writing several articles and healthy living supplement in support of the Foundation’s mission while educating the public. The New York Times had a reporter visit the Foundation to work together to contribute the “voices” of many survivors and tanning bed users (to be seen in an up and coming article.) The Foundation is recognized as the “go to” people for the most current information to blanket the community for a sun safe life.
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The School District of Palm Beach County has once again, been supportive of the Foundation’s mission. Superintendent Gent has encouraged the Foundation’s important work, and has included a sun safety message on his Parent Link™ phone call to over 186,000 families! Prior to the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, Lisa Richman, Executive Director, was present and spoke at the teachers’ meeting for PE/Health, as well as the Science Symposium. Before school was dismissed, Mrs. Richman addressed all the principals of elementary, middle and high schools, to bring attention to the importance of educating K-12 students. One of the community’s own, teacher Brian Thomas has been an inspiration to the Foundation, and a plea to do “Just One Thing” for 2013-2014 should be on the lips of all educators!
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The 2014-2015 school year presents many opportunities for the Melanoma Foundation. The Foundation is seeking community leaders and partners that share its mission, so this important message may be brought to all – faster and wider.
The Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation will never yield in its efforts to bring awareness regarding the dangers of unprotected over exposure to the sun and the use of “indoor tanning beds.” Everyone is welcome to visit the website and sign the “No Tanning Pledge.”
The Gardens Mall, Students against Melanoma Clubs (SAM) and the Foundation have created a yearlong partnership entitled “Love The Skin You’re In,” demonstrating safe alternatives to tanning beds and over exposure to the sun. This will be presented to students during high risk times each year such as prom, homecoming, and school breaks. A back to school fashion show has been presented, and a “stamp out” melanoma scavenger hunt is under way; look for other lively events along with the Foundation’s famous “all telling” Dermaview machine and awareness tables. We hope to inspire the student body and have them commit to “NO TANNING” as they exchange old world thinking for a healthy life. Look for SAM at the Green Markets, athletic fields and sporting events at your school this year!
Through the PE/Health, science and School District media channels, more information regarding events and contests will appear on a regular basis so students and families will have current information. The Foundation is committed to contributing a monthly article or tip on sun safety, to be posted on each individual school’s website; start looking for “Rays”ing Sun Safety Awareness!
Links to information about examining oneself for possible skin cancer, as well as many resources, events, volunteer opportunities, and the latest news regarding skin cancer, melanoma and legislation are on the Foundation's website. Did you know the Foundation has a Facebook and Twitter account? Follow along, post, and tweet, tweet, tweet! One SAM student is working hard and has a six-month plan to get the Foundation a million tweets!
Thank you to The School District’s Wellness Promotion Task Force and the School Board, for partnering with the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation for a safer and better life for children and the community.