Deborah Kann Schwarzberg is the founder of the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation, which through innovative educational programs informs the public — particularly adolescents — of how to prevent melanoma, a deadly but avoidable cancer. Debbie has also collaborated with the Mass General Cancer Center on educational and fund-raising events and introduced many potential donors to the hospital.
Established in 1995 after her brother Richard died at age 45 from melanoma detected at an advanced stage, the non-profit foundation bases its educational program on the SunSmart™ skin cancer prevention campaign of the Cancer Council Victoria in Australia. The foundation’s SunSmart America™ curriculum includes segments for every grade from kindergarten through senior year of high school and provides classroom materials in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and Portuguese.
By educating the public about sun safety as well as skin cancer prevention and early detection, Debbie — through the foundation she established in her brother’s memory — is saving lives.
