Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation Collaborates with Palm Beach County Schools

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL – May 10, 2018 – The Month of May is nationally recognized as skin cancer awareness month and the first Monday in May is known as Melanoma Monday. In support of this vital public service message, the Richard David Kann (RDK) Melanoma Foundation collaborated with schools throughout Palm Beach County Florida to implement a fun and educational contest for students “RDK Melanoma Monday Art contest”.

The Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation’s mission is to save lives through education about the prevention and early detection of skin cancer, especiallymelanoma. 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 they will continue to advocate for school districts throughout the country to require sun safety education as part of their curriculum.

“Congratulations to all the schools, teachers, students and principals that participated in the 2018 RDK Melanoma Monday Art contest,” said Stacy Ostrau, Executive Director of RDK Melanoma Foundation. “We were so impressed by the amazing artwork submitted this year and the clear message of being sunsafe in all the submissions.  This educational art contest provides vital information for young people about early detection and awareness of melanoma, and sun safety tips- so greatly needed in the Sunshine State,” Ostrau added.  

The student winners of this year’s contest from Palm Beach County include:

Grades K-5: 1st place - Skyler Fain Sunset Palms Elementary School; 2nd place- McKinley Cupit, Beacon Cove Elementary; and 3rd place - Regan McGinnis, Beacon Cove Elementary School. Honorable Mention (1)- Jackson Lynch, Beacon Cove Elementary. Honorable Mention (2)- Lindsey Gammill, Beacon Cove Elementary and Honorable Mention (3)- Sarah Kranz, Meyer Academy.

1st place winner, Skyler Fain

Grades 6-8: 1st place- Arianna Barona, LC Swain Middle School; 2nd place - Jariah Irizarry, LC Swain Middle School; 3rd place- Autumn Saunders, Woodland Middle School. Honorable Mention - Aidan Skolnick, Meyer Academy. 

1st place winner, Arianna Barona

Grades 9-12: 1st place - Antonio Ruiz, Lake Worth High School; 2nd place- Timothy Phung, Park Vista High School and 3rd place- Miguel Zurita, Lake Worth High School. Honorable Mention- Isabela Valdes, The Benjamin School and Cameron Pirozzi, The Benjamin School.

1st place winner, Antonio Ruiz

Awards will be presented to the student winners of the 2018 RDK Melanoma Monday Art Contest on May 17, 2018 from 3-6pm at The School District of Palm Beach County Boardroom located at 3300 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach, Florida.

This initiative, as well as the foundation’s SunSmart America™ K-12 curriculum, programs and resources, has enabled RDK Melanoma Foundation to win thirteen Gold Triangle Awards from the American Academy of Dermatology. One person dies from melanoma every fifty minutes; with education, melanoma is almost 100% preventable!

About Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation:

The Richard David Kann (RDK) Melanoma Foundation has been working locally and nationally for over 23 years to educate students grades K-12 on the importance of sunsafe behavior and raise awareness about the life-saving techniques for early detection of skin cancer, especially melanoma, its deadliest form. Their newest initiative involves the distribution of sunscreen dispensers in parks, beaches, schools, and outdoor areas, where sun exposure is excessive. The unique Students Against Melanoma (SAM) Clubs in middle and high school, and the SunSmart America™ curricula, programs, and resources, have educated hundreds of thousands of students, families and communities on sun safety behaviors and techniques for prevention and early detection of skin cancer. Today RDK and Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt are working to build sun safe cities and baseball stadiums by supporting the distribution of sunscreen dispensers, building off the successful program launched in Philadelphia in spring 2017. Deborah Kann Schwarzberg is Founder and President of the RDK Melanoma Foundation.