Our team at Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics, in partnership with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the Georgia Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, recently donated a sunshade structure to Mary Lin Elementary School in Candler Park. Designed to help students avoid skin damage and possible dermatological illnesses, the structure serves as an example of Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics’ commitment to community-minded efforts.
“In front of the school, we have a wide walkway,” says Alice Brookner, co-president of Mary Lin Elementary School’s PTA. “Each day dozens of Mary Lin parents and students gather there for dismissal. There was no shade in this area. In the late spring and summer, the Atlanta sun is especially intense.”
After learning the school’s PTA was interested in a sunshade structure for the front walkway, Dr. Jodi Ganz from our staff helped spearhead fundraising efforts through the AAD’s Take a Hike Skin Cancer program. These sponsored walks use donations to provide grants for the construction of community sunshade structures.
With an additional monetary donation from Olansky, as well as assistance from the AAD and the Georgia Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Mary Lin Elementary School was able to meet the budgetary needs required to build the structure, which measures 54-feet wide and 14.5-feet tall.
“At Olansky, we see what kind of damage a lifetime of unprotected sun exposure can do to someone’s skin,” Dr. Ganz says. “Preventative efforts such as this are invaluable, and provide an extra level of safety for these children.”
Although planning and construction began before the pandemic, the sunshade structure became even more valuable once students began returning to Mary Lin Elementary for in-person learning in January. In addition to being used during arrival and dismissal, the structure provides much-needed space for the students to have recess, lunch, and outdoor lessons.
“The sunshade structure is an incredible gift after such a difficult year,” Brookner says. “We’re incredibly grateful to Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and the Georgia Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery for helping make it a reality for our students, faculty, and parents.”
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