Community
Volunteer Spotlight

Ninfa Cantu

"Nuevo Amanecer" is Spanish for "a new dawn"—and that phrase has special meaning for Ninfa Cantu. She‘s a leader for the Nuevo Amanecer Bilingual support group in San Antonio, Texas—the first Psoriasis Foundation affiliated bilingual group in the nation. A member of the National Psoriasis Foundation since 1992, Ninfa has been a catalyst for psoriasis awareness for years. "I will continue to do my part to fight to find a cure, which will be our new dawn," says Ninfa. "That is what all of us with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are looking toward."

Ninfa was named Psoriasis Foundation Volunteer of the Year at the 2007 National Conference in Las Vegas on Aug. 18. She has worked with Hispanic media to get the message out about the Psoriasis Foundation, and participated in Psoriasis Awareness Month and World Psoriasis Day activities. And, when recent health issues challenged her, she found a support group co-coordinator, Cecil Ortiz, to help. She and Cecil have been effective at breaking down the cultural stigma around psoriasis. "I feel blessed and humbled to receive this award," says Ninfa. "I am grateful for the opportunity to learn more about psoriasis, to learn how to accept my psoriasis and to help others cope with the disease."

PJ Leary

She never backs down from a problem. She's always happy to offer a sympathetic ear. She consistently takes a leadership role in the volunteer community and sets a positive example for others. These are just a few ways to describe PJ Leary, who was named National Psoriasis Foundation Volunteer of the Year in August 2006.

Leary, who was diagnosed with psoriasis when she was 16 years old, has been a member of the Psoriasis Foundation since 2000. Since then, she has participated in medical and media outreach activities, and has attended all four Psoriasis Foundation Capitol Hill Day events. In 2002, she started a support group in her hometown of Raleigh, N.C. She is also an active user of the Foundation's online message board, often responding to other members' questions and offering encouragement and support.

Volunteers play an important and valued role in the National Psoriasis Foundation, raising awareness about the disease, and helping others who suffer from it. Their efforts help advance the Foundation's mission of improving the lives of people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The Psoriasis Foundation Volunteer of the Year award recognizes initiative, sustained commitment, and impact and innovation in reaching the psoriasis community.

Charlie Berger

As a longtime volunteer with the National Psoriasis Foundation, Charlie Berger is a passionate advocate for the work that the Psoriasis Foundation does within her community of Boca Raton, Fla. A dermatology nurse and affiliated support group leader, Charlie says this about volunteering: "The National Psoriasis Foundation has provided me with a way to give back to my community both on the local and national level."

When the National Psoriasis Foundation® 2005 National Conference was held in Boston last August, Charlie was presented with a unique volunteer opportunity. She shared her passion for volunteering with her daughter, Sharon, a Boston resident.

Sharon and Charlie volunteered their time as a team, assisting Foundation staff in nearly all aspects during the conference.

"Volunteering was a great mother-daughter project," says Charlie. "Sharon finally met and worked with the people and staff that have meant so much to me."

What would Charlie say to people interested in volunteering this year? "It is such a wonderful and moving experience," she says. "You leave with a feeling of great satisfaction and pride."

Scott Smithhisler

When Scott Smithhisler, of Portland, Ore., was first diagnosed with psoriasis, he was fortunate to have the resources and support to help manage his disease. Working for a Fortune 500 employer with health benefits and a flexible work schedule allowed Scott to find the treatment that best worked for him.

But Scott decided that finding help for himself was not enough–he wanted to help others with psoriasis by volunteering with the National Psoriasis Foundation. Scott was referred to the Foundation by his own doctor, and he wanted others to know they could find the same information, advocacy opportunities and connection through our organization that he had found.

One of Scott's volunteer activities is to educate medical professionals in his community about the benefits of connecting their psoriasis patients to Psoriasis Foundation programs. Recently, after finding it difficult to get on a doctor's schedule, he discovered that offering to speak at a staff meeting allowed him to educate everyone in the office at one time.

When asked how difficult it was to speak to the group, he said, "When you talk about the Foundation and the great work it does, it is easy."

Scott's experience is not unique. Volunteers around the country are meeting with their doctors, visiting other local medical professionals, and sharing how their patients can discover the benefits of connecting with the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Lara's work paid off. Rep. Gerlach's office let the Foundation know recently that he would like to work with us to support our efforts in Washington, D.C. to increase psoriasis awareness and research.

This is just one example of how a little of your time can be so valuable to so many others. We invite you to join us as we work for those with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.