With FTD Awareness Week quickly approaching, we asked AFTD advocates to help us obtain a resolution or proclamation in every state, and the community has definitely risen to the occasion. Thanks to our advocates, we have a proclamation and/or resolution recognizing FTD Awareness Week in 9 states, with another 18 states not far behind.

FTD Awareness Week (September 22-29) helps spread awareness of FTD nationwide. Back in May, State Sen. Michelle Hinchey led the way with a resolution in New York, which was quickly followed by AFTD advocate Wanda Smith, who obtained a resolution in California. In June, advocate Jeanne Cestone successfully obtained a resolution in Delaware.

Currently, advocates are working towards resolutions in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. In many of these states, a successful resolution is in the very near future.

AFTD advocates have also made significant efforts in achieving proclamations, beginning with AFTD Ambassador Debbie Elkins, who led the way in obtaining a proclamation in West Virginia. Ciarra Holliday Hammack of Oklahoma and Carin Hawkins of Maryland soon followed with their respective successes. Kerri Engebrecht obtained a proclamation in Tennessee, and just last week, Bill Behrendt and Jack George found success in Ohio with proclamations issued by the state and the city of Lima. Even more recently, Billie Klesch-Sheeran obtained a proclamation in Texas, and thanks to AFTD Ambassador Dawn Kirby, Paris, Ill., will be announcing their proclamation in early September.

These proclamations are just the beginning. AFTD Advocates have requested proclamations in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawai’i, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

We are beyond grateful for your contributions thus far and want to keep the momentum going! If you would like to obtain a proclamation or resolution in your state, contact plaidoyer@theaftd.org to get started. For further information and instructions on obtaining a proclamation or resolution, please check the most recent AFTD Advocacy Webinar. To stay informed of AFTD’s advocacy initiatives, become an advocate today! 

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Together, we have made strides toward a more educated and informed community, and this is just the beginning.