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.
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.”
Click Here to donate to the Mike Schmidt Philadelphia Skin Cancer Initiative
SunSmart America™ K-12 Curriculum
These resources promote the SunSmart America™ message and provide teachers with information and a range of classroom activities on skin cancer and sun protection. These materials were developed with the help of The Cancer Council in Australia, Palm Beach County School District Teachers and Curriculum Specialists and the Medical Education Committee of the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation. This resource is available to teachers and schools throughout the country.
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”
From the Surgeon General…
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.
Make a Donation
Every Donation Makes a Difference
One out of every fifty people are at risk to develop melanoma. Education is the key to prevention.
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.
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