News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   RSS Icon Subscribe | Receive news releases by e-mail

FAAN Announces Winners of its Annual Awards

Individuals, Preschool, and Restaurant Honored for Work on Behalf of Food Allergy Community

FAIRFAX, Va. (April 1, 2011) – In recognition of their invaluable contributions to the food allergy community, FAAN (The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network) is pleased to announce the winners of its 15th Annual Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference (MCF), Third Annual Grandparent Awards, and its Second Annual Youth Special Achievement Awards.

From an allergist in California who often speaks to food allergy support groups and even wrote and performed a song about food allergies during a presentation for school nurses, to a teenager who has trained elementary school students and teachers about food allergies, every honoree is deserving of these awards. 

The achievements of these individuals, schools, and companies who have won these awards merit high praise. Food allergy, a potentially life-threatening medical condition, is still widely misunderstood; therefore any effort to educate others or to protect those with food allergy is to be commended.

“This is our opportunity to honor those who not only ‘get it,’ but who are standing up and making their voices heard on behalf of the 12 million people in the U.S. who have food allergies,” said Eleanor Garrow, FAAN’s Vice President of Education and Outreach. “We hope that others will be inspired by their work and join us in our mission to raise awareness, be advocates, educate, and support research for food allergy.”

The annual Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference were created in 1996 to honor individuals and corporations who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference in the lives of individuals with food allergies. The awards are named after Mariel Christine Furlong, daughter of Anne Muñoz-Furlong, the founder of FAAN.

The following is a list of 2011 winners:

Youth Special Achievement Award

Adam Fitzgerald, Duxbury, Mass.
Claire Spence, Albuquerque, N.M.

Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference

Community Service
Dena Friedel, Lewis Center, Ohio (Support Group)
Jennifer Murphy, Delmar, N.Y. (Support Group)
Congregation Beth Shalom, Wilmington, Del. (Other)
Desi Tucker, Renton, Wash. (Other)

Food Industry
Legal Seafood, Boston, Mass.

Health Professional
Richard Wachs, M.D., Voorhees, N.J.
Michael Welch, M.D., San Diego, Calif.

School
Burke United Methodist Preschool, Burke, Va. (Preschool)
Patricia Kazanjian, Delmar, N.Y. (Preschool)
Joanne D’Agostino, Virginia Beach, Va. (Principal)
Marie Pratt, Longmeadow, Mass. (Principal)
Stacie Anderson, R.N., Virginia Beach, Va. (School Nurse)
Lauren Eicher, R.N., Pelham Manor, N.Y. (School Nurse)
Havena Marks, San Diego, Calif. (School Staff)
John Stevens, Ashburn, Va. (School Staff)

Grandparent Awards

Paul Mennett, Sandwich, Mass.
Lilla Shirk, Marshalltown, Iowa

The awards will be presented at FAAN’s 18th Annual Food Allergy Conferences in Baltimore, MD on April 2, Oak Brook, IL on April 16, and Anaheim, CA on June 11. For more information on food allergies, please visit www.foodallergy.org.

About FAAN

Founded in 1991, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is the world leader in information, resources, and programs for food allergy, a potentially life-threatening medical condition that afflicts as many as 15 million Americans, including almost 6 million children. A nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, Va., FAAN is dedicated to increasing public awareness of food allergy and its consequences, to educating people about the condition, and to advancing research on behalf of all those affected by it. FAAN provides information and educational resources about food allergy to patients, their families, schools, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry, and government officials. On May 9, 2012, FAAN announced its intent to merge with the other leading food allergy organization, the Food Allergy Initiative, pending state regulatory approval. To become a member or for more information, please visit FAAN at www.foodallergy.org.

Media Contact

Nancy Gregory
Media Relations
(703) 563-3066
E-mail: ngregory@foodallergy.org