United Methodist Church Preschool receives grant sponsored by Darst Dermatology
Mineral Springs United Methodist Church Preschool RECEIVES
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY SHADE STRUCTURE GRANT
Mineral Springs United Methodist Church Preschool in Monroe, NC has been named a recipient of an American Academy of Dermatology 2016 Shade Structure Program Grant. The grant will provide the Mineral Springs United Methodist Church Preschool with $8,000 for the purchase and installation of a permanent shade structure over its playground. Dermatologist Marc A. Darst, a member of the Academy, sponsored the school’s application.
“Children and teens are especially vulnerable to the damaging effects of the sun because of the amount of time they spend outdoors,” said Dr. Darst. “I am proud to sponsor Mineral Springs United Methodist Church Preschool’s grant application and remind everyone that seeking shade is an easy way to reduce your risk of skin cancer. Educating children and teens when they are young about the importance of sun protection can help them develop sun-safe habits that will last a lifetime.”
While skin cancer is highly treatable when caught in its earliest stages, skin cancer can be deadly. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is now the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old, and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old.
Current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. It’s important for everyone to protect their skin from the sun by seeking shade, covering up and wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher,” said Dr. Darst.
Mineral Springs United Methodist Church Preschool will host a dedication ceremony after the shade structure is installed.
Mineral Springs United Methodist Church Preschool is one of 19 organizations to receive a 2016 grant. Since the Academy founded the Shade Structure Grant Program in 2000, more than 320 shade structure grants have been awarded to organizations across the country. These structures provide shade for more than half a million individuals each day.
The Academy’s Shade Structure Grant Program is open to non-profit organizations that serve children and teens under the age of 18 and incorporate sun safety into their activities. Grants are to be used for permanent shade structures over outdoor locations that are not protected from the sun, such as playgrounds, pools, eating areas and other locations. Academy members encourage local organizations to apply for the grants and write letters of support, a requirement for the consideration of applications.