Food Allergy Research & Education Salutes Food Allergy Action Heroes Across the Country During Food Allergy Action Month
McLean, VA (PRWEB) April 30, 2015 -- Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to food allergy, is encouraging Americans to recognize food allergy as a serious public health issue and to take action during the month of May to make an impact for those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
Food Allergy Action Month is an expansion of Food Allergy Awareness Week, which is observed this year May 10-16 and was created by FARE in 1998. This week-long occasion was created as a way of bringing attention to food allergy, and is now the anchor of FARE’s month-long awareness activities.
For this year’s theme, FARE is recognizing everyday heroes who help keep those with food allergies safe and included at school, work, and home: our “Food Allergy Action Heroes.” People like 13-year-old Jack Yonover, who recently directed the documentary film That Bites! about food allergies and raised more than $7,600 to benefit FARE at his screenings at a local theater. Throughout the month, FARE will be profiling Jack and other exemplary community members and encouraging others to honor their personal Food Allergy Action Heroes through special recognition, notes of thanks, and/or honorary donations to FARE.
“When you live with food allergies, having support is critical. We salute these everyday heroes – school nurses, educators, allergists, family members and friends – who help ensure that individuals with food allergies can live safe, productive lives with the respect of others,” said James R. Baker, Jr. M.D., CEO of FARE. “Food Allergy Action Month is a time of heightened awareness and action in the food allergy community, and we are pleased to be able to lead this effort to improve the public’s knowledge of the condition and empathy toward those with food allergy.”
FARE has a number of initiatives and activities planned for Food Allergy Action Month that supporters can participate in, and across the country, families, individuals, schools and corporations will be observing the month in a variety of ways. Highlights of FARE’s May programming include:
• FARE’s Food Allergy Action Month calendar, which provides one action individuals can take each day to support the food allergy community.
• FARE’s #TealTakeover campaign encourages individuals, organizations, schools, and businesses to paint their community teal, the official food allergy awareness color. One example is Niagara Falls and Terminal Tower in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, which will both be lit in teal on May 11.
• The FARE National Food Allergy Conference will be held on May 16-17 in Long Beach, Calif. Attendees will be encouraged to wear teal and take action in their community following the event.
FARE’s comprehensive online headquarters -- http://www.foodallergyweek.org – includes a number of resources to help make Food Allergy Action Month a success in local communities, including:
• Posters with an eye-catching Food Allergy Action Hero theme that can be printed and posted in schools and community centers. A premium version of the poster, as well as brightly-colored stickers can be purchased from FARE’s online store.
• A new fact sheet handout from FARE that can be used to help others understand the serious nature and broad impact of food allergies.
• Shareable graphics with food allergy facts and sample social media posts that can help individuals spread the word online.
• Be A PAL: Protect A Life educational materials to help teach children how to be a friend to someone with food allergies are available for free download. To accompany the complimentary materials, Be a PAL pencils, stickers, and posters can be purchased in FARE’s online store.
• A special edition “Raise Food Allergy Awareness Package” product bundle is available for purchase in FARE’s online store. It includes bumper stickers, teal ribbon lapel pins and a variety pack of FARE’s educational posters.
Resources listed above can be found by visiting http://www.foodallergy.org/food-allergy-awareness-week/resources.
Special thanks to Food Allergy Action Month Official Partner, Skeeter Nut Free™.
Additional programs and information will be announced throughout the month. For more information about Food Allergy Action Month and Food Allergy Awareness Week, please visit http://www.foodallergyweek.org.
About FARE
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) works on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. This potentially deadly disease affects 1 in every 13 children in the U.S. – or roughly two in every classroom. FARE’s mission is to improve the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and to provide them hope through the promise of new treatments. Our work is organized around three core tenets: LIFE – support the ability of individuals with food allergies to live safe, productive lives with the respect of others through our education and advocacy initiatives; HEALTH – enhance the healthcare access of individuals with food allergies to state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment; and HOPE – encourage and fund research in both industry and academia that promises new therapies to improve the allergic condition. For more information, please visit http://www.foodallergy.org.
Nancy Gregory, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), http://www.foodallergy.org, +1 703-563-3066, [email protected]
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