Richard David Kann
Melanoma Foundation
Benefactor Opportunities

CONTRIBUTION: $75,000

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The SunSmart Cities & Colleges (SSC&C) initiative is to be established as a citywide and campus-wide campaign designed to elevate public awareness around skin cancer and melanoma prevention through community organizations and college students. For too long, the dangers of UV exposure and the importance of sun safety have been underestimated and insufficiently promoted. It’s clear that a more coordinated and cohesive effort is needed to educate the public about skin cancer prevention and early detection. The RDK Melanoma Foundation is at the forefront of this mission, driving meaningful change and leading the charge to raise awareness and protect future generations from the risks of skin cancer. To date, RDK initiated a public baseball park awareness program in Connecticut. For more than seven years, a major program with Mike Schmidt and the Philadelphia Phillies have provided activities around public awareness at Citizens Park and throughout Philadelphia. RDK has a partnership with a leading, international sunblock and skin care company, ISDIN, partnering in public venues for skin cancer awareness. There is a group of colleges that have partnered with RDK to place sunblock dispensers on their campuses. RDK is a partner with Tampa General Hospital to spread programs throughout the Tampa region. All of these existing individual programs and college partnerships can be scaled with the necessary activities and resources to support them. The timing is great to broaden the SunSmart Cities & Colleges initiative and, ultimately, save more lives through education.

KEY COMPONENTS:

• More public baseball initiatives with baseball groups of all ages, supporting their efforts to raise funds for sunblock dispensers and sun-safe structures for bleachers.
• Expand the success of the work with Mike Schmidt and professional baseball and/or football venues to support initiatives in and around stadiums, replicating what has been achieved with Citizens Park and the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Outreach to all major colleges and universities to create messaging around sun safety and sun-safe behavior, including early detection programs.

IMPACT STATEMENT:
The SunSmart Cities & Colleges initiative has the potential to transform how living and learning communities approach sun safety and skin cancer prevention.

By partnering with city and campus leadership, like we have in Philadelphia, Connecticut, and Florida, this initiative will take a multifaceted, community-driven approach to ensure that the message of sun safety reaches every corner of a community. Whether it is a municipality or a college, protecting individuals and families for generations to come is the goal of this initiative.

At the heart of the SunSmart Cities & Colleges initiative is the implementation of RDK’s innovative awareness and prevention programs. This campaign will extend the present areas, and into the fabric of everyday life around the country, making sun safety a fundamental public health priority. Through a combination of awareness activities, including sunscreen dispensers, SunSmart signage, media outreach, community events, and public resources, the initiative will engage residents and students at every level. These awareness activities ensure that critical information about UV exposure, prevention, and early detection is easily accessible and actionable.

The initiative will deliver educational and awareness materials tailored to inform the public, and provide physical resources like sunblock dispensers in public parks, playgrounds, campuses, and beaches, making
sun safety both visible and convenient.

BENEFACTOR RECOGNITION:

• Named in all press releases, articles, and magazine ads referencing the SunSmart Cities & Colleges (SSC&C) initiative.
• Name of individual, foundation, or company on all SSC&C materials.
• One runway table at one luncheon.
• Invitation to work strategically on the priorities for the initiative, and the launching of the colleges and universities.
• Special planning sessions with Mike Schmidt to establish the rollout for professional football and baseball locations. The goal of these sessions is to develop adoption through city leadership or the team management for a national effort around sports and sun safety programs.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
For more than two decades, the RDK Melanoma Foundation has been at the forefront of educating children and young adults about skin cancer awareness and prevention. Through our Students Against Melanoma (SAM) Clubs and SunSmart America, and the new online learning events that are digital programs for all aged children, the SunSmart Educational Initiative can be easy for children at school and outside of school, and through organizations, to access the education in a multitude of venues. From elementary school to high school, this multifaceted program delivers age-appropriate, comprehensive educational content. It can be part of school clubs, after-school programs, and serve as an asset to all forms of health care education initiatives, regardless of location.

This is a big opportunity for collaborative projects with pediatric practices and dermatology offices, as well as national cancer education initiatives. The goal is to build a sufficient structure for these educational programs through valuable channels and, as a result, be well-positioned to apply for national grants based on the documented success of the programs offered.

All the digital programs will produce outcome-based reports that are key components to any grant submission for program expansion.

KEY COMPONENTS:

• Expand RDK’s current digital online (K-12) learning multimedia model.
• Collaborate with educational partners to support and advance the youth education model.
• Advance the Students Against Melanoma (SAM) Clubs program to include more student club alliances and medical groups that treat children and young adults.
• Partner with organizations and share the educational digital programs. The programs can be used at group events like science clubs, sports clubs, health programming groups, and teen organizations, to establish participation-based programs to exponentially expand the educational initiative in the youth segment.

IMPACT STATEMENT:
By supporting the SunSmart Educational Initiative, you are helping instill lifelong sun safety habits in children and young adults, equipping them with the knowledge to protect themselves from harmful UV exposure and reducing the long-term risk of melanoma. Our innovative approach combines interactive digital learning for younger students and leadership opportunities through Students Against Melanoma (SAM) Clubs for older students, fostering both education and advocacy.

With additional support, we can expand this initiative to reach even more school-aged children. Increased funding will allow us to create more digital programs and include the distribution of sunscreen dispensers and discounted sun-safe structures for schools. Your contribution plays a direct role in empowering the next generation to champion sun safety and lead the fight against skin cancer.

Together, we can make a lasting impact by reducing the risks of melanoma, and ensuring that children across the country grow up with the tools and knowledge to protect themselves and their communities from UV exposure.

By supporting the SunSmart Educational Initiative, you are helping to scale programs that equip students, parents, and educators with essential knowledge about sun safety. Ultimately, your support helps instill
lifelong sun safety habits in children and families, reducing the risk of skin cancer and making a lasting impact on future generations.

BENEFACTOR RECOGNITION:

• Named in all press releases, articles, and magazine ads referencing the SunSmart Educational Initiative programs.
• Two runway tables at the first luncheon and one runway table at the second luncheon.
• Will be featured in a two-page article in Palm Beach Society magazine with family photos.

CONTRIBUTION: $250,000

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
For more than 25 years, the RDK Melanoma Foundation has successfully leveraged Melanoma Monday, a nationally recognized day on the first Monday in May, to promote skin cancer education through the Kinney Art Contest. This initiative engages students at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels by incorporating age-appropriate, fact-based lessons into the classroom, encouraging them to create artwork that reflects their understanding of skin cancer prevention and awareness. Students compete for prizes and scholarships, and gain crucial knowledge about melanoma and how to protect themselves. The winning students, along with their teachers and schools, receive valuable recognition and awards, further incentivizing participation and raising awareness in their communities.

IMPACT STATEMENT:
The art contest has proven to be a very effective and inspiring tool for spreading the message of sun safety, especially in counties across Florida and select areas in other parts of the country. By combining creative expression with education, we’ve been able to make a lasting impact on young people and their communities.

The National Student Skin Cancer Awareness (NSSCA) Design Campaign, launching annually in September for awards in May, will expand beyond traditional art submissions to include a wide range of creative outlets such as music, dance, and multimedia designs. This evolution makes the program more expansive, allowing students to use various forms of expression to promote knowledge of melanoma awareness and to inspire sun-safe behaviors.

Using all forms of creative expression, the goal is to engage a broader range of student talent and interest. The resulting projects will be shared through a nationwide social media campaign annually throughout the month of May, significantly increasing the reach and impact of the RDK project.

By supporting this initiative, you help empower students to become advocates for melanoma prevention and early detection through their creative work. Your involvement will provide more resources, and access to vital education, ensuring that melanoma awareness becomes ingrained in the participants for generations. Together, we can expand the success of the Kinney Art Contest and inspire youth across the country to take action against skin cancer, fostering a lasting cultural change.

This program will engage youth in a dynamic way, encouraging them to become advocates for skin health.

BENEFACTOR RECOGNITION:

• Naming rights for the program (e.g., (Donor’s Name/Foundation) National Student Skin Cancer Awareness (NSSCA) Design Campaign.
• Serve as an official judge on the panel to choose the contest winners for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for elementary, junior high, and high school.
• Opportunity to present the awards through an online presentation format or in person.
• Recognition of donor in all press releases, articles, and magazine ads referencing the campaign.
• Two runway tables for two years at the annual luncheon, plus 12 additional seats.
• Recognition and opportunity to speak for two years at the annual luncheon.
• Featured in a two-page story/article on the initiative in Palm Beach Illustrated with family photos.