Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the largest private funder of food allergy research in the world, today announced its Contains: Courage™ campaign, a five-year effort to highlight the “ingredients” that make children living with food allergies extraordinary, raise historic funding in support of families managing food allergies, and educate Americans about the disease. To support its research and advocacy efforts, FARE has already raised $45 million of its $200 million goal. As part of the kickoff, FARE debuted an official campaign video that amplifies children’s voices and encourages families across the country to share their stories by emphasizing their gifts, talents and courage.
Food allergy is a critical and growing issue, currently affecting more than 15 million Americans, including one in 13 children or roughly two in every classroom. Of the millions of children living with this disease, more than 40 percent have required emergency room care or experienced a severe or life-threatening reaction. According to a recent FARE-supported study analyzing state-by-state data, severe food allergy reactions have climbed dramatically over the last decade. Medical claim lines with food allergy diagnoses have increased in nearly every state since 2009, with the highest spikes in North Carolina (up 332%), California (up 316%) and New Hampshire (up 282%).
Despite this serious and ever-growing public health concern, many Americans are not aware of the severity or complexity of the disease, or that there is currently no cure for food allergies.
“Children with food allergies deserve the confidence and peace that their peers take for granted, and to not be labeled by their allergy but rather recognized for what makes each of them unique and special,” said Lisa Gable, FARE’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are at an inflection point, when new innovations poised to positively impact families are on the horizon. Through the Contains: Courage™ campaign, we’re ready to change the conversation around food allergies in a way that will change lives for the better.”
The campaign will initially be launched in 10 major U.S. markets with activities in early 2019, meeting food allergy families where they live, work and play. Over the course of the five-year campaign, FARE will enter new markets in all fifty states, with the goal of helping children and families living with food allergies tell their story. By partnering with donors, sponsors, healthcare providers, school districts, universities and non-profits, FARE will ensure that communities have the tools they need to spread the word about food allergies and raise a historic amount of funding for research, therapies and treatments to improve the quality of life of children and adults who are affected.
FARE would like to especially thank its inaugural Contains: Courage™ campaign partners: the Bunning Family, David A. Crown, DBV Technologies, Halen Brands, Helen and David Jaffe, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation and the Ira and Diana Riklis Family.
“The Contains: Courage™ campaign will drive the future of research and therapies for this disease, which does not yet have a cure, and educate the public about the complexity of living with food allergies,” said David G. Bunning, chairman of FARE’s board of directors. “Advances in therapies and treatments, along with new diagnostic tools, have the potential to save lives and improve the quality of life for the millions of people living with and affected by food allergy. We are at a critical time to advance the science behind treatments as we work toward a cure.”
To learn more about FARE and the Contains: Courage™ campaign, visit www.FoodAllergy.org.
