From the Asst. Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services:

The purpose of this letter is to extend a personal invitation for you to attend the 2008 State of Illinois Food Allergy Awareness Week Campaign Kick-Off Event. The Campaign Kick-Off event is scheduled to take place on Monday, May 12, 2008, at 10:30 AM in the Children’s Memorial Hospital’s Main Lobby, located at 2300 Children’s Plaza in Chicago (on Lincoln, just south of Lincoln and Fullerton).

As an advocate for children’s health, your participation will enhance the effectiveness of this annual campaign. The kick off event will show strong support for the campaign goal of increased public awareness of the need to reduce the childhood health risks that result from food allergies.

Illinois First Lady Patti Blagojevich announced that the special focus of this campaign will be targeted at educating school personnel, parents and other caregivers on the dangers of food allergies. The campaign is based on the concern that among school children who have allergies, 84% will experience a reaction while attending school. The campaign is directed toward all educational facilities, including child care facilities, community learning centers, public and private primary and secondary schools. In addition, various facilities and organizations serving children such as after-school organizations, park districts, libraries, and social clubs will be included.

The Illinois campaign will include distribution of informational brochures, posters and web page advertisements. Throughout the summer, key public events, as well as summer schools and children camps, will be targeted. The brochures and other materials will be made available, to these entities, to increase the awareness of their staff, as well as assist them in educating the children and families they serve about the risk of food allergies.

We appreciate your ongoing commitment to children and hope that you will be able to participate in this important campaign kick-off event.