Vascular Birthmarks Foundation

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Vascular Birthmarks Foundation

• An international charitable organization that
  provides
• support and informational resources for
  individuals affected by hemangiomas, port wine
  stains, and other vascular birthmarks and tumors,
  sponsors relevant research and promotes physician
  education.

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Founded in 1994 by Linda Rozell-Shannon

• VBF was founded by Linda Rozell-Shannon in 1994
  after her daughter Christine was diagnosed with a
  hemangioma and she found that there was no
  foundation, no website, no book and very few
  resources
• Linda searched for a surgeon to remove
  Christines hemangioma and found Dr. Waner.
  Together they formed VBF and wrote the first book
  on the subject Birthmarks A Guide to
  Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations

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October 1995 - First clinic established at Albany
Medical Center

• Linda meets Dr. Martin Mihm at Albany Medical
  Center. Dr. Mihm joins the board of VBF.
• Linda works with Dr. Mihm to establish the first
  multi-disciplinary treatment center for vascular
  birthmarks at Albany Medical Center.
• Linda introduces Dr. Waner to Dr. Mihm and
  research on Vascular Birthmarks begins.
• Dr. Mihm meets Dr. North in Arkansas, where Dr.
  Waner was from, and research becomes published.

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1996-Board of Directors Established

• Linda adds more doctors and parents of children
  with birthmarks to board
• Name is officially changed from Hemangioma and
  Vascular Birthmarks Foundation to VBF.
• 501 C 3 papers are filed, making VBF official.
• VBF networks an average of 50 individuals a
  month.
• Over 40 letters are received weekly in the mail
  and over 25 phone calls per week are answered.
• Numerous newspapers stories and television news
  features are done on VBF which launches VBF
  nationwide.

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August 1996 www.birthmark.org founded

• Linda takes off the summer and works with a
  friend to create the VBF website.
• Linda begins work with Mike Steffano of the PWS
  group which later becomes Birthmarks.com.
• VBF receives it first donations as a charitable
  organization.
• VBF receives hundreds of emails its first week,
  mainly from physicians seeking information.
• VBF publishes a chart for physicians to assist
  them in how to diagnose a vascular birthmark.

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Progression of Hope

• 1997

• 2005

From a One Person Parent Support Group to an
International Network of Families and Physicians
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1997

• VBF receives its official legal status as a not
  for profit
• Formed Board of Directors
• Established Second Treatment Center in Buffalo,
  New York
• Networked over 1,000 Patients into Treatment
• Linda attends and speaks at Hemangioma Hope
  Conference for families with birthmarks

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1998

• Solidified Operational Logistics
• Issued Foundation Bylaws
• Opened Foundation Office in Latham, NY
• Established Third Treatment Center in Charleston,
  SC
• Networked over 1,000 Patients into Treatment,
  bringing VBF to over 3,000 patients networked

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1999

• Positioning for Expanded Impact
• Established Scientific Advisory Board
• Held First Fundraising Gala
• Established Fourth Treatment Center
• Networked over 1,000 Patients into Treatment
  bringing new total to over 4,500 patients
• Linda speaks at national conferences
• Linda is first non-doctor invited to write a
  chapter in a medical textbook on vascular
  birthmarks.

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2000

• Staffed for Exponential Positive Impact
• Sponsored Conference in Charleston SC
• Addressed American Academy of Dermatology
• Established Executive Director Med. Advisory
  Board
• Distributed First Newsletter
• Established Fifth Treatment Center
• Networked over 1,000 Patients into Treatment,
  totaling over 6,500 patients
• Awarded Best Pick Website by Yahoo

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2001

• Accelerating the Pace
• Featured on Discovery Channel Health Segment
• Initiated Annual Polo Fund Raising Event
• Distributed Medical Text to 500 Med Schools
• Added Family Physician Resource Lists
• Established Sixth Treatment Center
• Networked over a total of 8,000 cumulative
• _ Created Ask the Doctor Website Feature

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2002

• Fulfilling Our Mission
• Funded Research and Physician Education Grant
• Acquired Influential Honorary Chair Persons
• Cemented Annual Polo Fund Raising Event
• Developed Professional Marketing Collateral
• Addressed three Major Conferences
• Established Seventh through Ninth Treatment
  Center
• Networked over 10,000 Cumulative Patients into
  Treatment

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ResultsThe First 7 Years

• Networked over ten thousand patients into
  treatment
• Distributed Medical Text Books to US and Canadian
  Medical Schools
• Established Nine Worldwide Treatment Centers
• Facilitated Medical Research
• Featured on Discovery Health Channel
• Presented to The American Academy of Dermatology
• Co-authors First Guide Book for Parents on
  Hemangiomas and Vascular Birthmarks.
• Established Physician Education Program
• Orchestrated Four Family/Physician Medical
  Conferences

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2003 - VBF

• VBF adds new chapters including Sturge Weber
  Syndrome Community Group
• VBF Partners with Klippel Trenaunay Foundation
• VBF adds Canadian Connection
• VBF establishes Chapter in Israel
• VBF assists in establishing 2 new treatment
  centers in the United States
• VBF conducts second international Port Wine Stain
  Conference in NYC
• VBF networks over 14,000 into treatment

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2004 VBF

• VBF networks over 17,000 individuals into medical
  treatment worldwide
• VBF establishes Orphans With Birthmarks
• VBF establishes Artists With Birthmarks
• VBF establishes First National Day of Awareness
• VBF receives congressional resolution proclaiming
  May 15th as our Day of Awareness
• VBF has numerous PR campaign and fund raising
  campaigns nationwide
• VBF is recognized as leading not for profit for
  children and adults with birthmarks in the world

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2005 VBF

• VBF adds VBF Europe as our European Chapter
• VBF establishes Babies With Birthmarks Guidelines
• VBF establishes Ask the Expert network
• VBF President and Founder receives Jefferson
  Award
• VBF celebrates 2nd Annual Day of Awareness and
  expands to International Day of Awareness
• VBF establishes VBF Kids Who Care Program
• VBF networks over 20,000 into treatment worldwide
• VBF is cited in national television programs
• VBF President begins PhD in Education to focus on
  vascular birthmarks education
• VBF receives one million dollars for research
• VBF President joins AAPO Vascular Anomalies Task
  Force

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2006 - VBF

• Networking over 1500 annually into treatment
• Chapters in India and Australia
• VBF Experts grow to 25 leading world experts
• Conference held in Boston
• VBF funds major hemangioma research
• VBF gets 1.5 million hits each month

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2007 - VBF

• VBF totals over 25,000 networked into treatment
• VBF Asia established
• VBF conference held in Irvine, California
• SWSC extends branch to Canada
• VBF President conducts dissertation on
  hemangiomas and has worldwide participation via
  VBF worldwide websites
• VBF receives 1.8 million hits each month on
  worldwide websites

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2008 - VBF

• VBF President and Founder receives VOICES 20,000
  award on Montel Williams show
• VBF President graduates with PhD in Education
  dissertation on hemangiomas
• VBF holds first gala in NYC
• Conference and clinic held in NYC
• VBF receives over 2 million hits monthly
  worldwide
• VBF hires PR firm and has national coverage
• VBF featured in NY Times
• VBF chapter in Poland established

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2006 VBF

• VBF expands to New Zealand, Australia, Asia and
  India
• VBF adds SWSC in Canada and establishes VBF
  Canada chapter
• VBF partners with Buddy Booby Birthmark Book and
  makes Buddy official mascot
• VBF holds first latin dancing fund raiser with
  great success
• VBF funds 4 major research projects
• VBF holds first All Vascular Birthmarks
  Conference in Boston
• VBF partners with Wandas World, a tween musical
  about a girl with a birthmark to be presented at
  2006 conference
• VBF 2006 Day of Awareness goes worldwide
• VBF adds multi-lingual Ask the Expert and other
  experts
• VBF President and Founder meets First Lady Laura
  Bush

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Providing Hope

• If not for this foundation, we would still be
  sitting and waiting in fear that today could be
  the last for Christian, now we have hope.
• Sandy (Christians Grandma)

• Before finding the VBF and its resources for
  finding proper care, we were at a loss. VBF gave
  us the contacts that no one else seemed to know
  about or understand.
• Kate S. (Julias Mom)

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2009 and Beyond

• Realizing the Vision.
• Establishment of many more Treatment Centers
  across the US and Worldwide
• Babies With Birthmarks Guidelines established by
  major medical academies
• Chapter established in Russia
• Increased Awareness Accessibility to Options
• Discover Cause of Birthmarks through Research
• Legislation passed to require insurance companies
  to cover treatment of all children with
  birthmarks.
• No Child Will Remain Untreated!

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Together we can make a difference!