Who Started Children's Skin Disease Foundation?

Children's Skin Disease Foundation (CSDF) was founded by Francesca Tenconi, a California teenager on her 16th birthday. At age 11 Francesca was diagnosed with pemphigus foliaceous, a serious, potentially fatal skin disease. While receiving treatment at several university hospitals, she met other children with skin diseases.

Francesca felt an organization was necessary to focus on the unique problems of children and teenagers who suffer from skin disease and to raise funds to help these children.

To support this happening, Francesca told her family and friends to give no gifts for her 16th birthday - just make contributions to start a foundation. Four days after her birthday (May 29, 2000), Children's Skin Disease Foundation was formed.