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Chicagoan named national Volunteer of the Year by National Psoriasis Foundation
Lillian Pagano honored for exceptional volunteerism to help millions with psoriasis
PORTLAND, Ore. (June 15, 2011)—The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) named Lillian Pagano, of Chicago, their 2011 Volunteer of the Year. The annual award recognizes an outstanding volunteer for their contribution to those with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Learn more »
A 27-year member of the Psoriasis Foundation, Pagano's dedicates numerous hours helping the 7.5 million Americans living with psoriasis, a chronic, genetic disease of the immune system that appears on the skin, and psoriatic arthritis, a related joint disease that affects up to 30 percent of those with psoriasis.
"Lillian represents all of our incredible volunteers who play a critical role in the work of our organization,"said Krista Kellogg, National Psoriasis Foundation Board of Trustees member and chair of the Foundation's Outreach Committee. "Her passion to help others and her natural leadership skills inspires everyone she meets. We thank her for all she does to help those with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis."
In 2010, Pagano co-chaired the Foundation's Walk to Cure Psoriasis in Chicago, where she recruited local dermatologists to create walk teams and fundraise, as well as led her own team as one of the top fundraisers. In addition, she chairs the Foundation's community division in Chicago, which will train and recruit NPF volunteers for advocacy, fundraising and outreach at a local level; and supports newly diagnosed patients as a mentor through the Foundation's One to One mentor program.
As an advocate, Pagano lobbies for federal support of psoriatic disease on Capitol Hill and meets with lawmakers in her community. Earlier this year, she led advocacy efforts in Illinois, working with the NPF on a state initiative to reduce costly copayments for phototherapy treatments.
Pagano received the Volunteer of the Year award on June 6 at the NPF's National Volunteer Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
June 15, 2011
About the National Psoriasis Foundation
National Psoriasis Foundation is the world's largest nonprofit organization serving people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Our mission is to find a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and to eliminate their devastating effects through research, advocacy and education. For more information, call the Psoriasis Foundation, headquartered in Portland, Ore., at 800.723.9166, or visit www.psoriasis.org. Follow the Psoriasis Foundation on Facebook and Twitter.