About us

History of the National Psoriasis Foundation

Psoriasis patients advertisementIt all started with a tiny classified ad in a Portland, Ore., newspaper on Aug. 29, 1966 asking people with psoriasis to call Beverly Foster. Beverly's husband placed the ad on her 30th birthday, hoping to find people she could talk with about her severe psoriasis.

Within a week, Beverly received more than 100 phone calls. She began organizing meetings, and in 1967 she led the formation of the Psoriasis Society of Oregon.

In 1968, Beverly Foster and a dedicated group of volunteers, physicians and researchers founded the National Psoriasis Foundation and began raising money for psoriasis research.

Today, the National Psoriasis Foundation is the leading national non-profit organization supporting psoriasis research and advocating for the needs of the psoriasis community. The NPF is headquartered in Portland, Ore., with community divisions and volunteers across the U.S.


Media resources:

  • Media kit: Access downloadable fact sheets about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (including information about the Foundation's programs, initiatives and history), and images available to the media.
  • Survey panels: The National Psoriasis Foundation conducts regular surveys to understand the experiences and opinions of people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
  • Press releases 
  • Current news 
  • Contact information 

National Psoriasis Foundation

Mission: Working to find a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and to eliminate their devastating effects through research, advocacy and education.

Contact us:
Email: getinfo@psoriasis.org
800.723.9166

6600 SW 92nd Ave.,
Suite 300
Portland, OR 97223


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