Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation
Our mission is to save lives through education about the prevention
and early detection of skin cancer, especially Melanoma.
The Foundation’s vision is “to educate children throughout the country and give them
the skills necessary to make healthy sun safety choices throughout their lives.”
As the Foundation grows we will continue to advocate for school districts throughout
the country to require sun safety education as part of their curriculum.
Click Here to donate to the Mike Schmidt Philadelphia Skin Cancer Initiative
The SunSmart America™ K-12 Curriculum and Resources
help promote sun safety education, prevention and early detection of skin cancer.
SunSmart America™ Resources
For more information click on the image above or click here >
SunSmart America™ Training
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SunSmart America™ Schools
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Palm Beach County Teachers
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Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation
Strives to Strike Out Melanoma With New Sunscreen Dispensers
West Palm Beach, FL
& Philadelphia, PA
Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt
Stacy Ostrau, Executive Director of the Richard David Kann (RDK) Melanoma Foundation traveled to Philadelphia to join Mayor James Kenney, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, Dr. Anthony Colletta, Executive Vice President and President of Facilitated Health Networks at Independence Blue Cross, and David Buck, Phillies Senior Vice President at City Hall on May 25, to formally unveil new sunscreen dispensers that will be placed in some of Philadelphia’s sunniest spots.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and most cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.
Baseball Hall of Famer, and part-time resident of Jupiter, Florida, Mike Schmidt, who has been candid about his personal battle with melanoma and is a huge advocate for the cause and a key member of the RDK Melanoma Foundation project team said at the unveiling, “I was honored to have Mayor Kenney partner with me and The Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation to make Philadelphia a SunSmart America City.”….
Advocate in the fight against Melanoma
Mike Schmidt
Baseball Hall of Famer
SunSmart America
City of Philadelphia
Download Free Smart Phone Apps for EPA (UV Index) and EWG (Sunscreen Guidelines).
Watch the You Tube video entitled, “Dear 16 Year Old Me”
Message From Our Founder and President,
Deborah K. Schwarzberg
“I founded the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation to educate the public in order to prevent people from becoming victims to melanoma and so that others wouldn’t lose their loved ones to this dreaded and deadly, yet avoidable, disease.
Please explore our website and join us in the fight to help educate the public about the dangers of exposure to the sun and how prevention and early detection can save lives.”
The Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation is a non-profit organization involved in skin cancer education. We educate the community through our SunSmart America™ K-12 Curriculum which provides school-based learning on sun safety and skin cancer. SunSmart America™, meets existing requirements in science, health, physical education and language arts.
We also provide other SunSmart America™ programs through this interactive website.
This site aims to provide a wealth of information for educators, parents, students and individuals who have been affected by this disease.
This includes:
- Important medical and scientific information about skin cancer – types of skin cancer, early detection techniques, statistics of skin cancer in the United States, UV radiation and UV Index.
- Training opportunities – SunSmart America™ Teacher/School Nurse Training for teachers, school nurses and daycare workers. SunSmart America™ Student Training for middle and high school students.
- School Programs – SunSmart America™ Schools – Sun Safety Policy Program is a program to assist schools in developing a sun safety policy. Students Against Melanoma (SAM) is a student program where students teach their peers about sun safety.
- SunSmart America™ K-12 Curriculum – This curriculum includes sun safety lessons, student activities and a pre & post test to measure student’s knowledge of sun safety. This curriculum meets existing requirements in science, health, physical education and language arts.
- Skin Cancer Prevention – Avoid Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma and Ocular Melanoma by wearing protective clothing, sun glasses and sun block to prevent sunburn and sun damage. Our motto is “Love The Skin You’re In.”
Current Events
For a list of all the Current Events – click here >
SAMPOSIUM 2019: Bringing students together for education, awareness and the prevention of melanoma
On October 12, over 100 students representing seven Palm Beach County Florida schools gathered at the Keiser University Flagship Campus in West Palm Beach for the 2019 RDK Melanoma Foundation Students Against Melanoma SAMPOSIUM. The purpose: to bring peers together...
Why Israel’s skin cancer rates are dropping
In these hot summer months when we’re all outdoors and enjoying the sun, it’s more important than ever to protect against skin cancer. While the sun offers us much needed vitamin D, there are also unfortunately many harmful effects of too much sun exposure. In this...
From the Surgeon General…
Shop, Share and Save!
Every time you make a purchase on Amazon, a percentage goes back to our Foundation. Click here to see how easy it is.
Grant Funding
The Melanoma Foundation has been provided grant monies by the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Broward Community Foundation, Lost Tree Village Foundation, Toppel Foundation, Quantum Foundation, Florida Department of Health, Graham Eckes Foundation, JFK Medical Center Auxiliary, Palm Beach Country Club Foundation, Palm Beach Cancer Institute Foundation, Health Foundation of South Florida, The Walter & Adi Blum Foundation, Palm Healthcare Foundation’s B.J. & Paula Harris Fund, among others… Read More >
Check The UV Index And UV Health Alerts
For more information on the Ultraviolet Index Forecast
Discover Your Skin Type
Which Type of Skin Do You Have?
These 4 types of skin are present in almost every region in the world.
Memorial Page
For more information on the Ultraviolet Index Forecast
Make a Donation
Every Donation Makes a Difference
One out of every fifty people will be at risk to develop melanoma, and Florida is the state with the second highest incidence of melanoma in the country…
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, please contact us.
Tanning Bed Pledge
SunSense Survey
Give us a sense of how SunSmart you are.
Are You At Risk? Survey
Answer a few questions and find out if you are at risk, today.
Tanning Bed Facts
The World Health Organization has determined that UV rays from tanning beds cause cancer.
Current News From The Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation
To sign-up and join to receive the e-newsletter with all the current information of what is happening with the Foundation, click here >
Hart of Gold 2022
RDK – Lilly Pulitzer
May 14th, 12pm-4pm 10% giveback event from TWO Lilly Pulitzer Locations! Worth Avenue & Palm Beach Gardens. 10% of sales in this time frame, will go to support the RDK Melanoma Foundation. The New Summer Collection will be available.
Melanoma Awareness Day at The Ballpark
Sunday, May 22Melanoma Awareness Day at The Ballpark We will be enjoying a 1:05 pm Sunday ballgame between the Los Angeles Dodgers and our Philadelphia Phillies, all while reminding everyone to stay sun safe. Please email zack@melanomafoundation.com or call...
SAMPOSIUM 2019: Bringing students together for education, awareness and the prevention of melanoma
On October 12, over 100 students representing seven Palm Beach County Florida schools gathered at the Keiser University Flagship Campus in West Palm Beach for the 2019 RDK Melanoma Foundation Students Against Melanoma SAMPOSIUM. The purpose: to bring peers together...
Sunscreen in Florida Schools
Florida will finally be joining the list of states that allows students to use sunscreen at school. For years sunscreen has been viewed as an over the counter drug similar to Advil and Aspirin by the FDA. Because of this categorization and the concern that some...
Melanoma Rates Rise Steeply Among Women Ages 18 – 39
A recent study by the American Academy of Dermatology revealed an alarming trend in skin cancer rates among Caucasian women. “Research presented at the 2019 American Academy of Dermatology Summer Meeting in New York shows that between 1970 and 2009, rates of melanoma,...
Contact the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation
The Melanoma Foundation is one of the first organizations in the country that has been on the cutting edge of skin cancer preventive education and the only organization in Florida. After extensive review of health education literature, the Foundation selected the successful SunSmart curricula from Australia on which to base its many programs and adapt to local educational standards and environment. The Foundation utilizes SunSmart America™ for grades K-12.
Melanoma Awareness | RAY Automatic Sunscreen Dispenser | Melanoma Awareness Month | Sun Guardian – #RDKSAM
Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation
v: 561-655-9655 | f: 561-655-9650
2751 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, West Palm Beach, Florida 33405