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FAAN Kids' Congress on Capitol Hill

WHAT: The third Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) Kids’ Congress on Capitol Hill , a gathering of children aged 6-18 with food allergies who will share their experiences with their elected representatives and encourage them to support food allergy legislation as well as fund food allergy education and research.

The children will meet with legislators, attend a Food Allergy Awareness Rally to recognize food allergy leaders, including the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , Dr. Anthony Fauci,and get to know other children who share their condition. Legislators invited to be recognized at the rally include Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT),and Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY). 

WHEN: Third FAAN Kids’ Congress on Capitol Hill, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2009

  • Food Allergy Awareness Rally at 9 a.m., Oct. 1, 2009 
  • Congressional Auditorium in the Capitol Visitor Center, Lower Level

WHERE: Washington, D.C. 

WHY: The children selected to serve as “Junior Ambassadors” for their states all have food allergies and are members of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, a nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, Va., that is the world leader in information about food allergy, a potentially fatal condition that afflicts approximately 12 million Americans. By talking to lawmakers about how food allergies affect them, these Junior Ambassadors can advocate for improved food allergy legislation, specifically, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act (H.R. 1378/S. 456), and encourage continued funding for food allergy research. 

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 has approximately 22,000 members in the U.S., Canada, and 58 other countries. It 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. To become a member or for more information, please visit FAAN at www.foodallergy.org.

Media Contact

Jennifer Roeder
Director, Marketing and Media Communications
Direct: (703) 563-3061
Cell: (301) 639-4811
E-mail: jroeder@foodallergy.org
Twitter: @JenRoeder