The Lyme Disease Foundation PO Box 332 Tolland, CT 06084-0332 Phone: 860-870-0070 24 Hour Hotline: 800-886-LYME (5963) email: info@lyme.org (please convert any documents you would like to send to the LDF into a PDF and then send via email. Thank you)	Help Support the LDF Your donation is tax deductible     Physician Referral LDF Order Form

 

New Lyme Awareness Bracelets Available here.

Get Your Tick Removal Kits here.

 

All issues of the Journal of Spirochetal and Tick Borne Diseases are now available at the Journal Site.

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The Lyme Disease Foundation (LDF) is the premier nonprofit dedicated to finding solutions for tick-borne disorders. Realizing the ability to find solutions involves a multi-discipline effort, the LDF includes the four cornerstones of progress (businesses, patients, government, and the medical community) to work together to find solutions to tick-borne disorders. The LDF is the only tick-related charity to meet federal standards to qualify as national nonprofit and has strong ties to the international scientific community. The LDF has an active media outreach, education (medical and public) and research programs. The headquarters is staffed by a team of full-time professionals, has a modest library of articles, is highly computerized, and has a database of about 100,000 tick-borne disease aware households. 87% of every donation goes directly to programs, with 13% supporting those programs. The LDF was cofounded in 1988 by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner, MBA, CPCU, CLU and Thomas E. Forschner, MBA, CPA at the request of researchers seeking a scientific forum where they could present a wide range of research results, conduct vigorous debate, nurture friendships, and foster new collaborations. They believed Lyme disease was serious and pervasive enough to need its own staffed nonprofit. This diverse and dedicated team of board members trailblazed into a world unaware of this disease, raising awareness from 0% to 88% within 2 years. The Forschner's were seeking help for Jamie their son, who was born with and suffered from Lyme disease. Although Jamie died in 1991 during a relapse, this team continues on in the hope that others will be spared from suffering similar anguish. Tick-borne disorders include: babesiosis, cat scratch disease (Bartonella), ehrlichiosis, Colorado tick fever, Lyme disease, Masters' disease, Query fever (potential biowarfare agent), Powassan encephalitis, relapsing fever (potential biowarfare agent), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tick paralysis, & tularemia (potential biowarfare agent). (Summary of the LDF's Accomplishments)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Board of Directors of the LDF Scientific Advisors (Current and Past) to the LDF)The distinguished Board includes the discoverer of the Lyme bacterium, a retired Congressman, business executives, physicians, researchers, patients, and public health officials. The LDF board meets quarterly to review and provide input into all LDF programs and activities.

TASK FORCES & LD COMMUNITY CAUCUS
The New Jersey and Midwest Task Forces conduct public and professional education programs, have input into public policy programs, and partner with public health officials. Each leader is active in their state's government tick-borne disease programs. Roberta Bethencourt, MSW, the NJ leader, is a social worker and is on the NJ Governor's LD Task Force. Renee Thaler, the Midwest leader, is a political consultant, works in partnership with the Illinois Department of Health, and has been successful in enacting LD legislation in Illinois. In 2002 the LD Community Caucus was established with these members, along with the Lyme Disease Society and Michigan Lyme Disease Association. This new group of people work together to present one unified voice to government officials on tick-borne issues.

AWARDS
The LDF has won awards for its educational activities as well as its Television Specials (Lifetime TV Network, Public Broadcasting System) as well as its website. (click here to see our awards)

 

PUBLICATIONS

Journal of Spirochetal and Tick-Borne Diseases (JSTD) is the first peer-reviewed scientific publication dedicated to tick-borne and spirochetal disorders. The JSTD is sent to medical libraries and health departments across the county.
Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases chronic LD supplement (Infectious Disease Society of America) was supported by the LDF and featured presentations from the LDF's International Conference.

RESEARCH
Research programs have funded over $500,000 in research, resulting in over 30 scientific publications, facilitating two patents and one technology transfer (an improved test) from the federal government to private industry. James Miller, PhD oversees the two-tier research program in order to ensure the credibility of the proposed research and the progress of the grants through publication. (click here for the Research section)

PUBLIC POLICY
The LDF has an active Public Policy program that educates legislators and government officials about the status of tick-borne disorders research, issues facing healthcare providers, and the plight of patients.
The LDF:

Testifies at Federal and State Hearings
Drafts and Supports Federal & State Legislation
Conducts Congressional Briefings educating members.
Conducts Lyme Disease Awareness Month Congressional Press Conferences
Organizes Lyme Disease Awareness Month March on Washington rallies to "Wake-up Washington!"
Drafts and Supports Federal & State Resolutions
Conducts the National Children's Lyme Disease Poster Campaign with selected posters displayed during Lyme Disease Awareness Month, reminding elected officials that tick-borne disorders affect us all.

MEDIA AWARENESS
The LDF is frequently solicited for interviews on a wide variety of tick-borne issues - from scientific advancements, to legislative opinions, and disease descriptions. Media programs include press releases, B-roll, scientific updates, interview referrals, and photos. The LDF has TV, radio, and print public services announcements that have aired across the country. Hosts are parents, researchers, puppets, Emilio Delgado "Luis" of Sesame Street, as well as rock-legend Billy Joel.
Appearances include:

20/20 - Nightline - Oprah - MTV's Real World - Univision - TV Tokyo - Today Show - ABC/NBC/CBS News - CNN - Geraldo - TIME - Modern Maturity - Newsweek - NY Times - Essense - Wall Street Journal - Parents - RN Magazine - U.S. Pharmacist - Consumer Reports - Outdoor Life - Golf Digest - Washington Post - Ebony

PUBLIC & COMMUNITY EDUCATION
The LDF has a very active education program consisting of over one hundred programs per year, from 20-mintute "lunch and learns", to 3-hour evening community presentations, to multi-day health fairs. The 1999 March-to-Victory education presentations visited over 20 cities across the US, educating thousands of people and medical professionals about tick-borne disorders. The extensive scientific, public, school, and workplace educational materials include tabletop displays, brochures, posters, videos, wallet cards, scientific packets, and much more. The LDF distributes thousands of brochures to schools, libraries, health departments, parks, scouts, and other groups every year. The LDF's quarterly LymeLight newsletter keeps people informed about the latest events and news. (click here for Community Education)

WEBSITE
The LDF website receives about 300,000 hits a month from nearly 100 countries and contains a wealth of information & photos about ticks, diseases they spread, and prevention techniques. This site is one of the top websites recommended by the Hartford Courant and is a referral site for numerous government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, as well as the Food & Drug Administration. It is Medinex and Study-Web certified as a credible source of healthcare information.

24-HOUR HOTLINE
This 24-hour Hotline (800-886-LYME(5963)), in operation since 1993, responds to over 80,000 inquiries each year from across the country and contains numerous information options, including proper tick removal, disease information, prevention techniques, physician referrals, and even information to help pet owners.

VOLUNTEERS
A wide variety of people volunteer their time and expertise to the LDF, including conference speakers, scientific advisors, JSTD reviewers, self-help group leaders, community educators, and a webmaster. The LDF assists registered support/self-help groups across the country with consultation and training programs. Patients and their families are referred to groups in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

 

Ace Hardware	BBI Clinical Laboratories
Ct. Agricultural Experiment Station	CVS Pharmacies
Family Circle Magazine	FrontierNet
Glaxo Pharmaceutical	GreenLight Sales Company
Home Depot	Igenex Laboratory
Illinois Department of Health	L'Oreal
Medical Diagnostic Laboratories	Payless*Cashways
Rotary	SmithKline Beecham
Speciality Labs	Texas Department of Health
Wal*Mart	Wampole Laboratories

Examples: In partnership with the Connecticut Rotary and the local health department, the LDF mailed 80,000 LDF brochures and tick-cards to residents of Greenwich, CT. Working with CVS Pharmacies the LDF distributed thousands of brochures and tick-cards throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. During different years L'Oreal and Hartz Mountain funded national TV and print educational ads. Greenlight distributed brochures throughout the country.




NETWORKING & REFERRALS
Every year we help tens of thousands of people looking for physicians or support groups, as well as clinicians or scientists looking for research collaborators or funding.

WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS
Combined Federal Campaign - LDF is the only tick-borne charity that meets federal standards to be considered a national organization. Community Health Charities - LDF is a full member of the Community Health Charities since '97 and an associate member since '91. United Way - LDF participates in United Way programs around the country.

Some of the programs include:

AL - United Way of Central Alabama	CA - United Way of the Bay Area
CA - United Way of San Diego	CT - Valley United Way (Ansonia)
CT - U.Way of Eastern Fairfield County	CT - United Way of Branford
CT - United Way of Norwalk & Wilton	CO - Mile High United Way
DE - United Way of Deleware	FL - Pinellas County
MD - United Way of Central Maryland	ME - United Way of Eastern Maine
MI - United Way of Michigan	NJ - United Way of Atlantic County
NJ - United Way of Bergen County	NJ - United Way of Burlington City
NJ - United Way of Ocean County	NY - UW of Chemung & Stueben Counties
NY - United Way of Dutchess Cty	NY - United Way of Northeastern NY
NY - United Way of Orange County	NY - United Way of the Tri State
NY - United Way of the Southern Tier	OR - United Way of Umatilla County
PA - United Way of Alleghaney County	PA - United Way of Butler County
PA - United Way of Chester County	PA - United Way of Erie County
PA - United Way of Southeastern PA	PA - United Way of Southwestern PA
WI - United Way of Fox Cities

 

Lyme Disease Foundation

PO Box 332
Tolland, CT 06084-0332
Phone: 860-870-0070 Fax: 860-870-0080

email: info@lyme.org

 

Web Master Dr. Leonard Schuchman

webmaster@lyme.org (Please NO Medical Questions)