MELANOMA EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
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EIN: 04-3528612
BASED: Peabody, MA, United States
CHARITY WEBSITE: www.skincheck.org
The mission of the Melanoma Education Foundation is to save lives by
promoting awareness of melanoma skin cancer and the importance of
early self-detection. Our primary focus is on educating high school and
middle school wellness teachers nationwide about melanoma and providing them with free lesson materials to educate their students.
The Foundation evolved from a father’s web site tribute to his son, Dan Fine of Peabody, Massachusetts, who died of melanoma in 1998 at the age of 26, and was incorporated as a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization in August, 2000.
Melanoma is an aggressive disease, the deadliest of all skin cancers and the one most likely to strike young adults. It is the most prevalent cancer in the 25 to 29 year age group and second most prevalent in the 15 to 29 age group. In women under age 39, the incidence is second only to breast cancer. The incidence is increasing at an epidemic rate and the number of new U.S. cases is more than double that of new HIV/AIDS infections. Nearly every melanoma death could have been prevented by early self-detection but most schools do not teach students about it. The consequence, according to a 1996 Centers for Disease Control survey, is that 74% of individuals in the18 to 24 age group and nearly half of older adults are tragically uneducated about the disease. Even primary care physicians are often under-informed about early detection of melanoma.The Foundation initiated services by developing an on-site training session, “Teaching High School Students About Skin Cancer,” for wellness educators and a classroom lesson including a student video and handouts.The SkinCheck® class has been adopted by over 1000 schools in all 50 states. Working with the Emerson College Health Communication Program the Foundation co-produced new melanoma videos for middle school and high school students, making the SkinCheck® class completely self-contained. The videos received a 2009 Gold Triangle award from the American Academy of Dermatology. The MEF health teacher education video received a 2010 Gold Triangle Award. The Foundation maintains a comprehensive educational web site at www.skincheck.org that has attracted over 24
million hits to date.
The Foundation also conducts outreach at school health fairs, regional wellness events, community organizations, and corporations.
The Foundation seeks to continue and expand high school and middle school educational services and to serve as a resource for health educators and other skin cancer organizations on the subject of melanoma education of teens. In addition to foundation and corporate grants funding for services is provided by individual contributions and by proceeds from special events.
The Foundation is classified as a 501(c) (3) Public Charity; Taxpayer ID is 04-3528612.
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