August
Communications Division | AAO | phone: 415.447.0258 | eyemd@aao.org | www.geteyesmart.org
National Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month Featured in this month will be information about amblyopia, a condition that can affect two to three percent of children and cause permanent vision loss. Also provided will be tips about preventing eye injuries in children, signs of possible eye problems, and general eye health. For more information, contact:
Prevent Blindness America | phone: 800.331.2020 | info@preventblindness.org | www.preventblindness.org
National Psoriasis Awareness Month Each August, the National Psoriasis Foundation sponsors Psoriasis Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness about psoriasis, educating the public, and dispelling myths about the diseases. Psoriasis is the most common autoimmune disease in the country, affecting 7.5 million Americans. It appears on the skin, often as red, scaly patches that itch, crack, and bleed. Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory joint and tendon disease. For more information, contact:
National Psoriasis Foundation | phone: 800.723.9166 | getinfo@psoriasis.org | www.psoriasis.org
Relay For Life Relay For Life, the world’s largest nonprofit fundraising event, involves teams of people gathering to celebrate those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease by raising money to support the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving mission and its vision of a world with more birthdays. Teams take turns walking or running laps while aiming to keep at least one team member on the track at all times. Relay For Life events are held in more than 5,100 communities throughout the US and 20 other countries from April through August. For more information, contact:
American Cancer Society | phone: 800.227.2345 | www.cancer.org or www.relayforlife.org
National Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is dedicated to finding a treatment and cure by funding and advancing a comprehensive research program; supporting SMA families through networking, information, and services; improving care for all SMA patients; educating health professionals and the public about SMA; enlisting government support for SMA; and embracing all touched by SMA in a caring community.
For more information, contact: Colleen McCarthy O’Toole | Families of SMA | phone: 800.886.1762 | info@fsma.org | www.curesma.org
August 1-7 World Breastfeeding Week Celebrations
La Leche League Groups observe World Breastfeeding Week with awareness-raising events from May to September. Funds raised support the mission of La Leche League: mother-to- mother support. For more information, contact:
La Leche League | lparrylll@aol.com | www.lllusa.org/wbw
August 4 National Kids DayNational Kids Day was created by the children’s crisis charity KidsPeace to give America an opportunity to celebrate childhood; to demonstrate our commitment to nurturing children; to inspiring our nation, our communities, and our families to love and appreciate children; and to prepare our children for a healthy, happy, successful future. Recognized by the US Congress, National KidsDay encourages adults to spend meaningful time with America’s children. For more information, contact:
KidsPeace | phone: 800.25.PEACE (800.257.3223), ext. 7797 | bevin.theodore@kidspeace.org | www.nationalkidsday.org
August 11-17 National Health Center Week
The second full week of August each year is dedicated to recognizing the service and contributions of community, migrant, homeless, and public housing health centers in providing access to affordable, high-quality, cost-effective healthcare to medically vulnerable and underserved people. For more information, contact:
Amanda Pears Kelly | National Association of Community Health Centers |phone:202.834.2592 | apearskelly@nachc.com | www.healthcenterweek.org
August 23 National Health Unit Coordinator Day
Each year since 1980, August 23 has been declared Health Unit Coordinator Day by many mayors and governors nationwide. The National Association of Health Unit Coordinators (NAHUC), Inc. is dedicated to promoting health unit coordinating as a profession through education and certification and compliance with the NAHUC standards of practice, standards of education, and code of ethics. For more information, contact:
NAHUC |phone: 815.633.4351 | office@nahuc.org | www.nahuc.org