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I SUPPORT AAFA NEW ENGLAND

As this tumultuous year closes, our Annual Appeal has never been more important. We ask you to join us with your financial support as we continue our work to provide you with our educational programming, advocacy, and support for research that we know helps to improve the quality of life for all who are affected by asthma and allergies.

Here are some of the ways your support has allowed us to serve our community in 2020:

  • Education Programs offer our community access to professionals in the fields of asthma and allergies, presenting topics of interest supported by expert panelists.
    • Speaker Series Seminars are streamed live, recorded, and available on demand. Our Spring and Fall 2020 Speaker Series included:
      • A three-part Asthma Action Series, featuring Arnita Roberts-Christie, RN, BSN, MS, Patient Engagement Liaison at GlaxoSmithKline. Lisa Bartnikis, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital supported the first in the series by adding her extensive professional experience.
      • “You Deserve The Truth About Vaping” on the dangers of e-cigarette use and vaping products, presented in collaboration with Improbable Players and panelists Sharon Levy, MD, MPH and Alicia Casey, MD, both of Boston Children’s Hospital.
      • “COVID-19 and Its Physical and Emotional Effects on the Asthma and Allergy Community” with Jennifer LeBovidge, PhD, Attending Psychologist, Division of Immunology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc, Mass General Hospital for Children, Food Allergy Center, and Tregony Simoneau, MD, Division of Pulmonary Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital.
  • Children’s Programming provides perspectives on asthma and allergies for the young members of our community and their parents. In 2020, we were proud to present:
    • A delightful virtual story time read by Heather Mehra, the co-author of the
      “No Biggie Bunch” children’s book series with Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc,
      Mass General Hospital for Children, Food Allergy Center who fielded questions.
    • A family concert by Kyle Dine, internationally known singer-songwriter and food allergy musician who empowers and educates children and families with food allergies, helping to keep them safe.
  • Advocacy for improvements in public policies that impact our asthma and allergy community. Among the issues taken up by AAFA New England were:
    • AAFA New England coordinated publication of an allergy policy perspective in “Common Health for the Commonwealth” titled: “Asthma: A Growing Public Health Problem,” contributed by Jonathan Gaffin, MD, Co-Director, Severe Allergy Program at Boston Children’s Hospital.
    • AAFA New England voiced support for H.R. 7647, a bill in the U.S Congress to promote healthcare affordability during the COVID-19 public health emergency by protecting patients’ annual out-of-pocket limits on prescription drugs.
    • AAFA New England supported legislation in Massachusetts that would require food allergy management plans at schools be developed for all students diagnosed with food allergies.
    • AAFA New England supported Massachusetts Legislature’s S.2931 “Laura’s Law,” an act to ensure safe patient access to emergency care, inspired by Peter DeMarco.
  • Support for Research is made available by AAFA New England’s posting in our Asthma & Allergy Bulletin of opportunities for patients to help in the important clinical study phases of research being conducted at:
    • Boston Children’s Hospital
    • Brigham and Women’s Hospital
    • The Food Allergy Center at Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Support for our Asthma and Allergy Community is an important part of our mission.
    • Respiratory Care Items (over 18,000 donated peak flow meters, mouthpieces, and nose clips) are being distributed for those who need it most through community health centers, schools, and patients and families in underserved communities.
  • Awareness through our Bulletin, the AAFA New England Website, and Social Media provide timely, accurate information.
    • Asthma & Allergy Bulletin is published three times per year with the support of The Thoracic Foundation. Recent Bulletin articles have included:
      • A discussion we opened on the topic of “Disparities in Our Healthcare Delivery System.”
      • A spotlight on COVID-19 to give our community much-needed, actionable articles and charts on how the coronavirus impacts people with asthma and allergies, as well as resources for parents and students.
      • An article on asthma, a growing public health problem.
      • A look at food allergy diagnosis and treatment: past, present, and future.
    • AAFA New England’s Website is meant to be a “go to” resource for our asthma and allergy community which provides:
      • A COVID-19 Resource Information Page with links to information of use for people with asthma and allergies and their caretakers.
      • Information on Speaker Series events and other programs of AAFA New England.
      • Resources to help answer questions about asthma and allergy disease.
    • AAFA New England Social Media are the means for our community to interact and exchange information and ideas.

AAFA New England is proud of our accomplishments and initiatives. Please consider making a financial contribution by December 31st. With your help, we can do even more to support our asthma and allergy community.

DONATE NOW

We thank you for your support of AAFA New England.

We wish you a safe and peaceful holiday season with best wishes for the New Year.

Sincerely,
David Guydan
Executive Director

If you missed any of our Speaker Series Programs, please go to our website to view recordings of the events.