Surgeon General Lushniak And Congressman Dent Join Shade Foundation In Event To Promote Sun Safety

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rear Admiral Boris D. Lushniak, M.D., M.P.H, Acting U.S. Surgeon General, and Hon. Congressman Charlie Dent (R - PA) were among the featured speakers at the Shade Foundation's Sixth Annual Pitchin' Posters Congressional Reception, held May 21 in Washington, D.C.

The Shade Foundation equips children with the knowledge, materials, and motivation necessary to prevent skin cancer through engaging educational programs and donations of sun safety materials. The Shade Foundation works closely with the US EPA SunWise Program, an environmental and health education program that teaches children about sun safety.

The event was held to honor the national winners of the foundation's annual SunWise with Shade Poster Contest. Thousands of school children from across the country participate in the event by submitting poster designs, which highlight sun safety and skin cancer prevention.

This year, a fourth-grade student from Texas won the Grade Four to Eight category in a national online vote. Several elementary school students from Utah and New York were also recognized in the Kindergarten to Grade Three category. Shade Foundation board member Mrs. Pam Dent, wife of Congressman Dent, served as co-Chair of the poster contest and the event, along with Washington-based attorney Mark Robertson, who also serves as Secretary and General Counsel to the Shade Foundation.

"We congratulate our poster contest winners and all participants from across the country. We appreciate their efforts to help spread awareness about sun safety through education," said James Norton, Chairman of the national Shade Foundation Board of Directors.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy was recently praised for the SunWise program's educational efforts and support of the Shade Foundation's annual poster contest in a letter submitted by members of the Congressional Skin Cancer Caucus. The letter was signed by Congressman Dent and fellow Congressmen Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Peter T. King (R-NY) and James P. Moran (D-VA). A copy was sent to Surgeon General Lushniak.

"We are tremendously grateful to the Surgeon General, Congressman and Mrs. Dent, the members of the Congressional Skin Cancer Caucus, and the EPA SunWise Program for all of their advocacy and support of the Shade Foundation and its mission," Norton said at the event.

Shade Foundation of America, The Children's Skin Cancer Education & Prevention Foundation, is the only national children's foundation devoted to skin cancer education and prevention. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2002 after founder Shonda Schilling's very public battle with malignant melanoma, our mission is to prevent skin cancer and eradicate melanoma through the education of children, parents, educators and the community throughout the USA and territories. www.Shadefoundation.org. Find them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNpK_w5eJYg

SOURCE SHADE Foundation of America