NEW YORK, March 20, 2023 – The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation (VBF), the leading not-for-profit organization in the world for children and adults affected by vascular birthmarks, anomalies, and/or related syndromes (VBARS), is excited to announce that Lauri Firstenberg, Ph.D., has been appointed Chair of the Board of Directors. The position became effective November 21, 2022.

In her new role, Lauri Firstenberg will work synergistically with the President and Founder and the Chief Operating Officer to support the VBF mission.

“I have known Lauri for many years due to her daughter’s vascular anomaly,” says Linda Rozell-Shannon, Ph.D., President and Founder of the VBF. “She is brilliant, accomplished, and knows firsthand the struggles that our families endure in order to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Her expertise in the not-for-profit world makes me even more excited to have her at the helm of the VBF Board of Directors.”

Lauri Firstenberg, Ph.D., is a producer and curator based in Los Angeles with more than 25 years of leadership in the nonprofit sector. She is a parent of Edie Yvonne, who was born with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS). Lauri returned to the VBF Board of Directors in 2017 and now serves as Board Chair. She received her Ph.D. from Harvard University in the History of Art and Architecture department. Lauri is the founder of LAXART and IF Innovation Foundation and a founding partner of Via Art Fund.

“It is an honor to be able to serve as an ambassador of VBF as we turn to the organization’s 30th anniversary,” says Dr. Firstenberg. “This marks a critical moment in time to honor the phenomenal work of our tremendous founder, Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon, who is an angel to so many patients and families affected by vascular birthmarks, anomalies, and related syndromes. VBF has given our family hope, education, connection, diagnosis and a path to treatment. VBF has taught my daughter about philanthropy around a cause you are connected to at an early age. We can only hope that we can give back a fraction to VBF in light of what the organization and VBF’s dream team and leadership has given to our family and our community.”

About The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation

The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation (VBF) is an international charitable organization that networks families affected by a vascular birthmark, anomaly, and/or related syndrome to the appropriate medical professionals for evaluation and/or treatment, provides informational resources as well as sponsors physician education, mobilizes medical missions trips, and supports research and programs that promote acceptance for individuals with vascular birthmarks. VBF has networked over 125,000 children and adults into treatment. Established in 1994, by Founder and President, Linda Rozell-Shannon, Ph.D., VBF is the leading vascular birthmarks foundation in the world for patient education. For more information about vascular birthmarks, tumors or related anomalies and treatment options, please visit www.birthmark.org.

Media Contact:
Gina Rothe
Marketing & Communications
gina@birthmark.org
www.birthmark.org