| SHADE FOUNDATION OF
AMERICA
In February of 2001, at the age of 33, Shonda was diagnosed
with stage 2 malignant melanoma. A fair skinned, lifelong
sunbather, Shonda was shocked to learn skin cancer could be
deadly. A total of 5 surgeries left 25 scars crisscrossing
her back, arms, legs and chest. Immediately, responsible sun
habits were implemented in her daily routine and in the routine
of her family. The Schillings developed a new relationship
with sunscreen and sun protective clothing. Her children were
taught to play indoors to avoid being in the sun during the
prime sun hours of 10-4, a very difficult task in the desert
state of Arizona, where the Schillings were living at the
time.
Later that year, during the 2001 World Series,
Shonda's husband Curt Schilling won the World Series co-MVP
honor for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The media quickly picked
up on her skin cancer scare. Her story was featured in People
Magazine, Glamour, Family Circle, Pregnancy, Good Housekeeping
and on ABC's "The View." Shonda invited Good Morning
America and the nation into the operating room to witness
her fifth and final surgery, hoping her sun-safety message
might inspire others to get their skin checked and alter their
sun habits.
In 2002, Shonda accepted the Melanoma Monday
national spokeswoman role with the American Academy of Dermatology
(AAD). An overwhelming response from fellow melanoma survivors
resulted in Shonda creating The Shade Foundation of America
(www.shadefoundation.org) in September 2002. Her goal was
to change society's attitude towards sun exposure.
In 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency
teamed up with The SHADE Foundation to promote SunWise, a
sun-safety curriculum for schools. The launch of this partnership
was heard by 20 million people through media exposure. Hundreds
of school principals across the country signed up to teach
the SunWise program in their classrooms. The partnership earned
Shonda and The SHADE Foundation the "Excellence in Cancer
Awareness" award from the Congressional Families Program
of the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation in Washington,
DC.
Shonda also launched the Shade Foundation’s
annual SunWise Poster Contest in conjunction with the Arizona
Diamondbacks and the Arizona Department of Health. Thousands
of kids would learn sun-safety by drawing a SunWise poster
for the contest. That same year, Shonda was awarded the Girl
Scout World of Humanity Award by the Arizona Cactus- Pine
Girl Scout Council. In her honor they lunched the SHADE Badge
for scouts to earn.
In 2004, SHADE's east coast presence was launched
when Shonda moved to Boston, MA as her husband began pitching
with the Boston Red Sox. Shonda partnered SHADE with the Dana
Faber Cancer Institute to launch the SunWise Prevention Initiative
in MA. She was recognized nationally with the Speaker Thomas
J. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. Award for Public Service by
the Greater Boston Federal Executive Board. Shonda teamed
up The SHADE Foundation with the Boston Red Sox to begin the
SunWise Poster Contest in Massachusetts, which again resulted
in overwhelming success. Thousands of students entered the
contest and learned skin cancer prevention techniques. The
American Academy of Dermatology recognized Shonda's awareness
efforts with an individual achievement Gold Triangle Award.
She was given the Alumni of the Year Award from Zeta Tau Alpha
Sorority and received the Outstanding Fundraiser Award by
the Association of Professional Fundraisers. As the Boston
Red Sox won the World Series, even more media exposure was
given to Shonda's crusade with The Shade Foundation.
In 2005, Shonda ran the PF Chang's Rock N
Roll Marathon and the Boston Marathon raising $150,000 for
The Shade Foundation. Shonda graciously accepted an honorary
doctorate degree in public service from Framingham State College.
She was awarded the exceptional women's award for community
service by Boston radio station Magic 106.7. Shonda testified
before the Arizona state legislatures in an effort to help
pass the current law requiring schools to teach the SunWise
curriculum in the state of Arizona. Shonda and her family
appeared in a public service print advertisement promoting
sun-safety in Sports Illustrated's popular swimsuit issue
and in a television PSA that aired in New England and around
the country.
Shonda partnered SHADE with Major League Baseball
and the Play it Smart When it Comes to the Sun Program in
2005, generating awareness in MLB Parks around the country
and at the MLB All-Star Game in Detroit.
In 2006, Shonda finished her 2nd Boston Marathon
on behalf of the SHADE Foundation. She received an honorary
Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Merrimack College and
was given the Lady Baden Powell Good Scout Award by the Boston
Minuteman Council. Shonda continued the Play It Smart When
It Comes to the Sun program with MLB and reach millions of
Americans with her sunsafety message during media appearances
with Geraldo At Large, Women's World Magazine among other
local channels across the country.
THE ALS ASSOCIATION
Surviving melanoma has not interfered with Shonda's crusade
to find a cure for ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a 100% fatal neuromuscular
disease. Since 1992, Shonda and her husband Curt have been
instrumental in developing public awareness and fundraising
campaigns to improve the services of the ALS Association.
Together they have donated and raised over 5 million dollars
for ALS. Shonda serves on the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia,
Arizona and Massachusetts chapters. She represents ALS at
numerous functions including lobbying in Washington D.C. for
government funding and before the FDA to get the first trial
drugs approved. She chaired the "The Shonda Schilling
Say It with Flowers" Luncheon in Arizona which raised
over $250,000 in three years. Shonda regularly visits ALS
patients, their family members and caregivers, and is involved
in helping with a variety of events associated with ALS.
In 2001, ALS Association National Office presented
Shonda with the Lawrence A. RAND Award recognizing her nationally
for continued service and dedication. She was awarded the
All-Star Award by ALSA in 2002. She along with her husband
received the Catfish Hunt Award from the North Carolina Chapter
of the ALS Association.
In 2004, Shonda and her family participate
in ALSA's National ALS Awareness Month public service announcement
and received the “Telly Award” for excellence
in a national television commercial. In 2005, Shonda peddled
50 miles in the Positive Spin for ALS. Along with Boston Red
Sox wife, Dawn Timlin, Shonda launched the first "Say
It With Flowers Luncheon" in Boston raising $150,000.
In 2006, the event would raise $200,000 for ALS.
In 2005, Shonda launched the ALS Association's
"Say It With Flowers Boston" along with Red Sox
wife Dawn Timlin. The event raised $150,000 in it first year
and $200,000 in 2006.
PERSONAL
Shonda Michelle Brewer grew up in Maryland and graduated from
Towson State College majoring in journalism. She worked in
television production for Home Team Sports in Baltimore until
marrying Curt Schilling in 1992. They have four children:
Gehrig, (5/27/95), Gabriella, (5/22/97), Grant, (10/13/99)
and Garrison, (6/27/02). The family resides in Medfield, MA.
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