Food Allergy Research & Education Welcomes Elise Purcell to Board of Directors

McLEAN, Va. (April 7, 2017) – Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization working on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies, is pleased to announce the election of philanthropist Elise Purcell to its Board of Directors.

Purcell, of Seattle, is the mother of two sons with food allergies who brings her long-standing personal commitment to improving the quality of life and health of individuals with food allergies to the FARE Board of Directors. Together with her husband, she previously founded the Northwest Food Allergy Initiative and helped raise nearly $1 million in support of food allergy education and research programs.

“For many years, Elise has been at the forefront of efforts to accelerate food allergy research in her native Seattle and to train others about the severity of food allergies, and we are excited about the experience and passion that she brings to FARE,” said Janet Atwater, chair of FARE’s Board of Directors. “It is clear that Elise cares deeply about advancing FARE’s mission on behalf of the millions affected by food allergies.” “We are fortunate to have a group of incredibly committed members of the food allergy community who bring their expertise and dedication to FARE’s Board of Directors,” said James R. Baker, Jr., MD, CEO of FARE. “It is with great pleasure that we welcome Elise to our Board.”

In cooperation with Seattle Children’s Hospital, Purcell helped launch the first nurse educator program in the Northwest to train parents and teachers about food allergies. She also serves as a community board member for the Seattle Food Allergy Consortium and as a board member for Strong4Sam.org, a foundation that funds research and development of pediatric cancer cures.

“My entire family strongly believes in giving back. Food allergies are personal for us, so we are driven to doing everything we can to advance research to ensure that no more lives are lost to this disease, and to educating communities as part of efforts to keep people with food allergies safe and included,” Purcell said. “I am excited to be joining the FARE Board and look forward to working with FARE to make a difference in the lives of millions who manage life-threatening food allergies.”

FARE’s Board of Directors is comprised entirely of individuals with personal connections to food allergy – either as a parent or as an adult with food allergy.

For more information about food allergies and FARE’s programs, visit www.foodallergy.org.