By Jane Bellet, MD
I am pleased to announce the winners of the 2016 Shade Structure Grant Program and the AAD member sponsors. This year, 19 organizations were each awarded a grant up to $8,000 to use toward the construction of a permanent shade structure. This brings the total awarded since the Shade Structure Grant Program’s inception in 2000 to 344 shade structures. Together, these structures provide shade each day for more than 600,000 individuals.
The program, which is part of the AAD’s Academy’s SPOT Skin Cancer™ campaign, is financially supported by the Academy and its members’ contributions.
Each year, the Academy reviews hundreds of grant applications. (The application process opens for 2017 in September 2016.) Unfortunately, the AAD cannot provide grants to every applicant. We select only the strongest applications that focus on sun safety education and those that assess the effectiveness of their education.
So what do you do if the shade structure you sponsored is not one of the grant recipients?
Fund it yourself! Hosting a fundraiser is an excellent way to raise awareness about the importance of sun protection and to build enthusiasm within your community for a shade structure. Donate now!
2016 AAD Shade Structure Grant Program recipients and AAD member sponsors:
Bascomb Elementary PTA, Woodstock, Georgia
Sponsored by J. Ellen Koo, MD, FAAD
Dolphin Bay Elementary PTA, Miramar, Florida
Sponsored by Jay S. Gottlieb, MD, FAAD
Fort Concho Elementary, San Angelo, Texas
Sponsored by Kay Johnston, MD, FAAD
Garfield Elementary School, Loveland, Colorado
Sponsored by Joseph Lillis, MD, FAAD
Gilbert Primary School, Gilbert, South Carolina
Sponsored by Asha James, MD, FAAD
Holy Nativity Episcopal School, Panama City, Florida
Sponsored by Jon Ward, MD, FAAD
Hubert Humphrey Elementary School, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sponsored by Aimee Smidt, MD, FAAD
John McIntire Elementary, Zanesville, Ohio
Sponsored by John Hibler, MD, FAAD
Las Sendas Elementary School and PTO, Mesa, Arizona
Sponsored by Stephen Kessler, MD, FAAD
Little Valley Elementary School PTA, St. George, Utah
Sponsored by Greg Jacobson, MD, FAAD
Melrose Leadership Academy, Oakland, California
Sponsored by Jason Fung, MD, FAAD
Mineral Springs United Methodist Church Preschool, Monroe, North Carolina
Sponsored by Marc Darst, MD, FAAD
Mission Consolidated Independent School District, Mission, Texas
Sponsored by Charmaine Browne, MD, FAAD
Riverview Middle School, Huntington, Indiana
Sponsored by Jennifer Hobbs, MD, FAAD
Skyline Heights Elementary School, Harrison, Arkansas
Sponsored by Lance Henry, MD, FAAD
Soaring Eagle Ecology Center, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
Sponsored by Brad Baack, MD, FAAD
St. Michael Special School, New Orleans, Louisiana
Sponsored by Patricia Hickham, MD, FAAD
Summit Street School PTO, Essex Junction, Vermont
Sponsored by Anita Licata, MD, FAAD
YMCA of West Central Florida, Lakeland, Florida
Sponsored by Marci Pepine, MD, FAAD
Dr. Bellet is a member of the Academy’s Community Outreach Programs Committee.