The state of food allergies is changing at a fast pace. As the rate of food allergies have increased, it has become more and more evident that change must happen to help people managing this condition. With greater awareness comes more research studies, more clinical trials, and more hope for treatments.
Kids With Food Allergies (KFA), the food allergy division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), has been on the front lines of awareness efforts. We saw our hard work pay off with two major advocacy wins for people managing food allergies that came largely from AAFA and KFA’s advocacy efforts.
Your support made this happen. You gave generously to make sure people with food allergies can have better quality of life.
In 2021, you helped us:
- Host 31 Days of Action for National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, as well as Food Allergy Awareness Week, that included updated shareable graphics, food allergy Twitter chats, TikTok Knock-Out Myths video series, educational webinars, and our first Remembrance Day
- Co-host two externally-led patient-focused drug development (PFDD) meetings – one on childhood asthma and one on food allergies – to share the reality of managing these diseases with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other stakeholders for the development of better treatments
- Focus on health equity for Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous Americans and continue to raise awareness about our Asthma Disparities in America Report
- Publish our 2021 Allergy Capitals™ and 2021 Asthma Capitals™ reports to help people recognize, prevent, and manage asthma and allergy symptoms and understand how where they live may impact their conditions
- Host a webinar on the latest research on food allergy anaphylaxis in infants and toddlers
- Continue ground-breaking research on severe allergic reactions in infants and toddlers
- Hold our first Advocacy Action Day where more than 300 AAFA and KFA community members contacted their Senators and Representatives to share the impact of food allergies and highlight what people who manage food allergies need to live healthy and full lives
- Host a Zoom-In on Health Equity so patients and advocates from across the U.S. could let Congress know what policies can help improve the lives of people managing food allergies and other allergic diseases
- Influence the passing of two laws that will protect school children with food allergies and asthma and improve food allergy research and sesame labeling
- Advocate for improved food labels and adding ingredient information to online points of sale for food
- Send a letter to the FDA to raise awareness about the need for clearer food labeling
- Sign a letter with other patient advocacy groups in support of the Food Labeling Modernization Act (FLMA) (H.R.4917/S.2594)
- Send a letter to Massachusetts State Congress to support H.2222/S.1498, an act enabling trained school personnel to administer life-saving epinephrine treatment and S.1462, an act relative to the storage of epinephrine at schools
- Send a memo in support of S.1043, an act to amend the public health law in relation to requiring cafeteria staff to be trained in preventing and responding to anaphylaxis
- Translate several of our asthma and allergy educational handouts into Spanish
- Continue to educate the food allergy community about COVID-19 and vaccines
- Revamp the school resources on our Kids With Food Allergies website
What will 2022 look like? At KFA, we feel it is full of potential. More people are beginning to see the impact of food allergies and want to see change. And we know that’s because of your generosity.
Your year-end gift to KFA can continue our work into 2022 and continue to save lives through support, advocacy, education, and research. KFA is committed to a better 2022 for people managing food allergies. Will you help us?
If you prefer to mail a check, postmark your gift by Dec. 31 and send to:
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
PO Box 424053
Washington, DC 20042-4053
We appreciate your ongoing support.
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