Legislative Updates

On March 19, 2008 the Governor of the State of New Jersey, Jon S. Corzine, approved a Proclamation declaring April as Vitiligo Awareness Month.

New Jersey is the second state (Florida being the first) to designate April as Vitiligo Awareness Month.

The National Vitiligo Foundation would like to acknowledge Maria Balarin, a resident of New Jersey and mother of two sons with vitiligo, who single-handedly spearheaded this endeavor.


The Proclamation reads:

WHEREAS, Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder of unknown cause that is characterized by white patches of skin, with a loss of pigment cells from involved areas; and

WHEREAS, Vitiligo is the most common disorder of skin coloration, affects from 0.1 to 2 percent of the population, and has a tendency to run in families; and

WHEREAS, those who have Vitiligo may have associated diseases such as autoimmune thyroid disease, pernicious anemia, Addison"s disease, and lupus; and

WHEREAS, increased awareness of this disorder and its association with other conditions will enhance chances for research to develop better therapies to offer those afflicted as well as research for preventative measures.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jon S. Corzine, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby recognize

APRIL 2008 AS VITILIGO MONTH

in New Jersey, in an effort to increase public awareness of this disorder.