Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon, PhD President and Founder
Awareness In Action
Thank you for supporting our Give2myVBF program. Donate to one of the ongoing fundraisers below. Each Give2myVBF page is customized by a
member of our VBF Family and donations go directly to the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation's (VBF) non-profit mission. Every contribution makes a difference.
You can also create your own! Click on the link below to create your own Give2myVBF personal fundraising page, for you or someone you love who is affected by a VBARS.
May is the International Month of Awareness for vascular birthmarks, anomalies, and related syndromes. Despite 2020’s Month of Awareness being impacted by COVID-19, the VBF community has succeeded in raising awareness! Take a gander at the collective efforts in raising awareness below.
CALIFORNIA: Dr. J. Stuart Nelson and Dr. Martim Mihm launch registration for the Annual 2019 VBF Conference and Clinic in Irvine, CA
INTERNATIONAL: VBF and Dr. Roy Geronemus featured in Newsbeam article for Done By One Program
VBF iTEAM Greece
INTERNATIONAL: VBF shared 2018 Annual Report
2018 Day of Awareness Events
VBF Anti-Bullying Pledge
Over 1,050 people have signed the VBF Anti-Bullying Pledge. Take 1 minute to stand with us against bullying. Sign the pledge today.
Alabama
Amanda Leger wins Buddy Booby’s Birthmark FREE book give away and sends adorable photo of a Read Along with her daughter and husband.
Arizona
Maria Torres- Salo creates Facebook Fundraiser for VBF’s Month of Awareness.
California
Linda hosts a Facebook Live session with VBF Expert Dr. Stuart Nelson on the topic of To Treat or Not to Treat on May 21, 2018.
Laura and Devin Fischer host classroom awareness event at St. Paul’s Early Childhood Development Center in Orange, CA to honor their son Caleb with a Buddy Booby’s Birthmark read along, goodie bags with informational materials, and bracelets for all the children.
Dr. Linda hosts a Facebook Live session with VBF Expert Dr. Stuart Nelson on the topic of To Treat or Not to Treat on January 11, 2018.
Ben and Alison Maddox created and shared a Give2myVBF page for their son Carson to celebrate his 6th birthday.
Colorado
Kelly & Trent Bossley celebrate Day of Awareness by reading “Buddy Booby’s Birthmark” and handing out VBF stickers to their son Nolan and daughter Lydia’s preschool class in honor of Lydia who has a PWS.
Michelle Lukaschewski with the Purple Polka Dot Team registers #TeamVBF for the Colfax Marathon in Denver, Colorado on May 19-20, 2018.
Connnecticut
VBF Board member Sharon Israel hosts Park Lane Jewelry fundraiser for VBF’s Month of Awareness in honor of her daughter Olivia who VBF helped network into treatment.
Eric Pixley spills his heart out in viral facebook video thanking his parents for supporing his journey living with a port wine stain birthmark.
VBF’s Global Ambassador, Eric Pixley, raps about his birthmark, encouraging others to #PutOnYourBirthmark on May 15 for VBF’s Day of Awareness.
Florida
VBF Physician Expert Dr. Ana Duarte and her team lead 200 people to Rock the Hearts at the Children’s Skin Center at the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
The Sheehan Family is hosting a Bravelets (Be Brave bracelets) online fundraiser in honor of their daughter Reagan. Purchase today and Bravelets will donate 25% to VBF in Reagan’s honor.
Lauren Sheehan hosts a Facebook Fundraiser for VBF in honor of her daughter Reagan.
VBF Board Member Jeff Bergen partners with teachers in Maine to sponsor a 1st grade classroom awareness campaign in honor of a little girl with KTS, donating informational materials, stickers, bracelets, and 80 Buddy Booby’s Birthmark books for each child in the class.
Michigan
Jody Lee and the Purple Polka Dot Race Team SOLD OUT the AR Workshop, where three people shared their birthmark stories while their group of 40 worked on projects, all while raising $628 for VBF through the AR Workshop’s gift and a raffle.
The Lee Family & Purple Polka Dot Team hosts 23 people at Yoga & Brunch on May 19 in Michigan and donates $761 to VBF’s mission.
Minnesota
Aubrey Meister wins a FREE Buddy Booby Book on Facebook during our March Madness: Mad About Buddy Booby Campaign, and gets her state on the map.
New Jersey
Crowned Mystic Mermaid of central New Jersey, Allison raises awareness for VBF through a Buddy Booby live read-along on Facebook.
New York
Dr. Linda hosts a Facebook Live session with VBF Expert Dr. Roy Geronemus and VBF Global Ambassador Scott Cupples on the topic Importance of Early Treatment of Vascular Birthmarks on March 16, 2018
Dr. Linda hosts a Facebook Live session with VBF Expert Dr. Milton Waner on the topic Treating Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations on February 27, 2018.
Dr. Linda hosts a Facebook Live session with VBF Psychosocial Expert: Leslie Graff on the topic Psychosocial impact of a vascular birthmark on January 25, 2018.
Save the date for the Catalanotto Foundation’s 8th Annual Golf Outing on August 6th 2018 at the Old Westbury Country Club.
VBF Physician Expert Dr. Gregory Levitin shares adorable photo reading the Buddy Booby’s Birthmark Book to his daughter Cora.
Mother and daughter team Cindy & Bailie Heston set to deliver informational materials to 18 local physicians, as they raise awareness in the Oklahoma area.
Pennsylvania
VBF Board Member Andria Gottsabend shares her family’s story through the Sisters with Birthmarks Give2MyVBF page to honor her two daughters, Olivia and Jessica, born 10 years apart, and both with beautiful birthmarks.
Andria Gottasbend, VBF Board Member, created a Give2myVBF page to share.
Mother & daughter team Carla Mannix and Jaysa ask for donations to VBF through Birthday Bracelets for Jaysa on Facebook, and their Birthday Bracelets for Jaysa Give2MyVBF Page.
Ava shares the story of how she overcame her PHACE Syndrome diagnosis to become an accomplished varsity cross country athlete, scholar and advocate for those with vascular birthmarks through her Birthmarks are Beautiful Give2MyVBF Page to benefit VBF’s research mission.
South Carolina
2017 VBF Catalanotto Perseverance Scholarship Award Recipient Harrison Wile pays it forward with a college informational booth and bake sale fundraiser for VBF at Clemson University in South Carolina.
Tennessee
Alice Cooper Rocks her Hemangioma, Let’s Roll in the Donations for Research and help her reach her 10,000 goal with her Give2MYVBF Page.
Texas
Kelsey Quinn and her family rock their own custom designed VBF- Hope T-Shirts for our Day of Awareness.
Gabriella Castellanos continues the #Biking4Alonso tradition in honor of her son with a PWS with two ride-along events at spin studios on May 5 in Polanco and May 17 in Arcos Bosques, and a Give2MyVBF page so that people all over the world can ride along virtually. Gaby also hosts a Facebook Live make-up tutorial to promote #PutOnYourBirthmark day.
United Kingdom
Dawn McKay of the UK raises awareness with an informational event at her daughter’s school.
India
Batool Kausha and Brig. R.K.Kaushal, a veteran from the Indian Army, distribute 100 VBF brochures and work with a panel of 12 doctors at a Vascular Birthmarks Awareness program in a medical camp in Bhopal city, capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh in Central India.
Crystal Hodges posts 31 Drawings of Awareness on her Facebook pagefor kids who show their favorite cartoon or superhero with a port wine stain. Very cute!
Amanda Leutenberg with EverGreyDesigns to host a t-shirt fundraiser for VBF of her custom designed Acceptance through Education VBF shirts for the VBF Month of Awareness in May.
At least 35 followers share their #PutOnYourBirthmark via Facebook Frames with Dr. Linda
Linda hosts Sponsor a Family Facebook fundraiser to raise funds to sponsor families to attend the VBF New York Conference
Ava and Bella, two young girls from the same town who just so happen to both have a PWS, create a Give2MyVBF Page: Bold & Beautiful Birthmarks: Ava & Bella’s Story
Daniela’s family continues the birthday tradition in her honor with a Birthday Fundraiser for Daniela
March Madness: Mad About Buddy Booby’s Birthmark
During our March Madness tournament, VBF shared Buddy Booby’s Birthmark, the story of VBF’s official mascot with a port wine stain, with families in the following states: AL, AZ, CO, DE, KY, MN, MO, NY, NK, PA, TN, TX, and WA, and even two countries: Canada and Australia! You can still get your state on the map today.
Photo Gallery
Dr. Linda & Moses Rockin’ the Dots in a custom Awareness Through Education T-Shirt.
Dr. Linda and Dr. Ana Duarte at the Vascular Birthmarks Conference in Miami.
The Catalanotto Family shares their #PutOnYourBirthmark photo.
Mystic Mermaid of central New Jersey, Allison, raises awareness for VBF through a Buddy Booby live read-along on Facebook.
Batool Kausha raises awareness at a medical camp in Bhopal city, capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh in Central India.
Dr. Levitin reads Buddy Booby Birthmark to his daughter Cora.
Eric Pixley of PortWineProud shares adorable #POYB photo.
Dr. Duarte and her team inspire 200 hearts at the Children’s Skin Center at the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Laura and Devin Fischer hand out goodie bags and Read Buddy Booby’s Birthmark while hosting a classroom awareness event to honor their son Caleb.
Check back as we add more events See past events for more ideas Worldwide
– Put On Your Birthmark Campaign #askaccept #VBFawareness #birthmark
– Ask/Accept Anti-Bullying Video Campaign – Send your video clip to crystal.vbf@gmail.com Alabama
– Deer Valley Elementary class – celebrates post-laser treatment with a ‘Dots Day’ California
– The Maddox Family – Help Celebrate Carson’s 4th Birthday!
– Rachel Hudson – Hadlee’s Halo Give2myVBF fundraiser page Nevada
– Rachel Anderson – blog about being beautifully_marked New Jersey
– Sharon Israel – Park Lane Jewelry Flash Fundraiser
– Kim Vitale – Give2myVBF Fundraising Page
– Smart Cover – logo on website
North Carolina
– Elissa Rifkin – post Day of Awareness info on social media
– Ashley Carroll – collage of friends and family who #PutOnYourBirthmark for her daughter
– Tara Loiselle-Podvojsky – Mei’s before and after story
– Angie Mann McDuffie – Visit on facebook
– Patty Titus Shropshire family – Visit on facebook Ohio
– Andreah Forbes Shared photo on Facebook Pennsylvania
Andria Gottsabend Olivia’s Walk for Birthmarks
Jaysa Mannix donate in honor of birthday Texas
Martha Griffin and Angie Shank – Birthmark Bash 2016 Family Picnic – May 15th Washington
– Carol Kowalski – promoted on social media Canada
– Jessica Wessels – posted logo on business website and Facebook page
– Sherry Crummy – shared photos on facebook Trinidad
– Kianna Smith – making a video to raise awareness United Kingdom
– Birthmark Support Group – Family Fun Day – May 22
– Aisling – shared eight birthmark stories and collage on blog
– Amy Elsegood – no make up selfie Russia
– Olga Bachuk – Put On Your Birthmark photo on Facebook The Philippines
– The Parcia Family – expresses thanks to VBF for helping their princess Mexico
– The Castellanos family – Did You Know…?series of facts India
– The Kaushal family – Put On Your Birthmark and outreach to other women with vascular birthmarks Lebanon
– The Assi family – Shared Jade’s story and Put On Your Birthmark photo Dominican Republic
– Johanna Infante and family – Put On Your Birthmark Australia
– Amber Dawkins – shared facts about her port wine stain Australia
– Michelle Leane – posted story and photo of her birthmark for the first time Indonesia
– Ratna Mulyany – daugther’s Arizona
– Cynthia Burr – visit on Facebook
2015 Day of Awareness Events
Baby Reagan’s Bravelets campaign raised over $345
Check back as we add more events
Alabama
· Misti Nicole – shared Guilianna’s hemangioma journey California
· Lauri Firstenberg – Edie’s JoinMe page
VBF Parent Rep Natalie and Treasurer Brian Bolinger – Texas,
October 2009 – Silent Auction and Texas Hold ‘Em –
Annual event and largest Day of Awareness fundraiser. Their daughter
Nicole had a hemangioma.
VBF Secretary/SWSC Co-Director – Tiffany Ethington and son Glen
Ethington. Tiffany and Glen have an annual interview on noon news
to raise awareness. Glen has Sturge-Weber syndrome/facial Port Wine
Stain, and organized a newsletter and pen pal group for kids with
birthmarks and their siblings/friends called “Glen’s
Gang”. VBF Chapter Director/SWSC Co-founder Glenda Ethington
also helped organize this annual event.
VBF Executive Assistant Basia Joyce – VBF Walk/Run organizer.
Basia’s daughter Anna had a hemangioma.
VBF Director of Musicians with Birthmarks Jenny Legary –
Jenny is putting on a show in NY. Jenny has port wine stain.
VBF Parent Rep Danielle Vlahos – Each year Danielle hosts
a “Jeans Day” at her workplace. Danielle’s son
Cole had a hemangioma.
VBF Parent Rep Lianne Chase – Team running in the VBF
Walk/Run in NY. Lianne’s son Cody has a lymphatic malformation.
VBF Legal – Barbara Rothaupt – VBF Walk/Run organizer
VBF President Dr. Linda Shannon and daughter Christine Shannon
– VBF Walk/Run organizer. Christine had a hemangioma on her
lip and was the inspiration for the organization of VBF.
VBF Parent Rep Elysa Baron and her daughter VBF Student Rep
Saige Cavayero – Selling VBF Kids Who Care bracelets and organizing
a team for the VBF Walk/Run. Saige was the inspiration for the bracelets.
She designed them as a fundraiser for the first VBF Day of Awareness.
Glen’s Gang and the VBF Kids Who Care program used Saige’s
original design for adult bracelets and designed a blue/white swirl
bracelet for children. Saige had extensive facial hemangioma.
Family and Volunteer Events
Donna Ducker and Evan Ducker – International Event – Buddy
Booby Read-Along – Buddy Booby is the mascot for VBF. Mother
and son authored the “Buddy Booby’s Birthmark”
book about a booby bird with PWS. Evan Ducker has a facial PWS
Lisa Burdick – Saegertown, PA Collection Box
Allen Stotler – Sunrise, FL – Collection Box and VBF Starter
Kits
Arlin Diaz – Hopelawn, NJ – Collection Box
Mike Jackson – Newton Centre, MA – VBF Starter kits
Rita Jones – Grand Saline, TX – Collection Box
Kate Steele – Dekalb, IL – Collection Box and VBF
informational materials – In Honor of Aliyah Steele and VBF
Karenina – Advance, NC – in Honor of daughter, Juliana
Grubb – VBF informational materials
Bianca Shemper – Hattiesburg, MS – VBF Stickers
Kathy Wyrick – Lake City, FL – Article in local
paper and informational pamphlets
Jan and Andrew Dreger – 3rd annual Awareness Day Event
at family
owned/operated restaurant- Campbell’s Boat House in Media, PA. Percentage
of sales donated to VBF
JoAnn Campbell – Media, PA – Buddy Booby Birthmark Read
Along to students at St. Cornelius School. JoAnn is a teacher in
Chadds Ford, PA. Also, video montage shown to students of grandson
Owen Dreger.
Rabbit Hill Nursery School – Springfield, PA – Buddy Booby
Read Along to Owen Dreger’s Pre-school class.
Vanessa Beall – Aptos, CA – Collection Box –
In honor of Lillie Nichols
Christine Sylvester – Milwaukee, WI – postcard and
sticker campaign to friends and family
Kathleen Miller – Slingerlands, NY – Lunch and Learn,
collection box – In honor of Camryn Shea Miller
VBF Chapter Events
VBF Latin America – Andrea Domingues – São Paulo, Brazil
– Medical Lecture – Each year Andrea hosts a meeting of People
with Hemangioma and Linphangioma Brazil. The conference is organized
by ABRAPHEL, a Brazilian association for people with Hemangioma
and Lynphangioma. Andrea’s daughter, Gabrielle, has Proteus
syndrome.
VBF India – Santo Banerjee – Kolkata, West Bengal, India
– Writing an article in the local newspaper. Santo’s
son, Sumangal, has SWS.
VBF Poland – Ewelina Ochab – plans pending
Sturge-Weber Syndrome Community (SWSC) – Lexington, KY
– Tiffany and Glen Ethington – Tiffany and Glen have an annual
interview on noon news to raise awareness. Glen has SWS/PWS and
organized a newsletter and pen pal group for kids with birthmarks
and their siblings/friends called “Glen’s Gang”.
Glenda Ethington , SWSC – distributing informational
pamphlets to local hospitals/doctors.
Disclaimers
This list in no way is to be construed as containing the ONLY physicians who treat vascular birthmarks. There are many other physicians who are qualified and have great expertise in this area. This list contains some physicians who have become a part of our resource list. We briefly mention what some of these physicians treat if we have that information under their name and address. If you are a physician or if you know of a physician who should be added to our resource list, please use our Physician Enrollment Form.
Dr. Linda & Moses Rockin’ the Dots in a custom Awareness Through Education T-Shirt.
Dr. Linda and Dr. Ana Duarte at the Vascular Birthmarks Conference in Miami.
The Catalanotto Family shares their #PutOnYourBirthmark photo.
Mystic Mermaid of central New Jersey, Allison, raises awareness for VBF through a Buddy Booby live read-along on Facebook.
Batool Kausha raises awareness at a medical camp in Bhopal city, capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh in Central India.
Dr. Levitin reads Buddy Booby Birthmark to his daughter Cora.
Eric Pixley of PortWineProud shares adorable #POYB photo.
Dr. Duarte and her team inspire 200 hearts at the Children’s Skin Center at the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Linda & Moses Rockin’ the Dots in a custom Awareness Through Education T-Shirt.
Dr. Linda and Dr. Ana Duarte at the Vascular Birthmarks Conference in Miami.
The Catalanotto Family shares their #PutOnYourBirthmark photo.
Mystic Mermaid of central New Jersey, Allison, raises awareness for VBF through a Buddy Booby live read-along on Facebook.
Batool Kausha raises awareness at a medical camp in Bhopal city, capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh in Central India.
Dr. Levitin reads Buddy Booby Birthmark to his daughter Cora.
Eric Pixley of PortWineProud shares adorable #POYB photo.
Dr. Duarte and her team inspire 200 hearts at the Children’s Skin Center at the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
