Play Safe in the Sun

Empowering Communities with Sun Safety Education and Skin Cancer Prevention

The Women's Dermatologic Society (WDS) proudly leads the Play Safe in the Sun program—an award-winning public health initiative focused on preventing skin cancer through education, early detection, and community outreach. Since its inception in 2004, the program has reached hundreds of thousands of individuals across the U.S., equipping them with tools and knowledge to make sun-safe choices.

Program Origins

The Play Safe in the Sun program was launched in 2004 with a generous $1 million grant from the 3M Foundation. This funding enabled the WDS to initiate a 15-city national tour, providing free skin cancer screenings and sun safety education to communities across the United States.

Award-Winning Recognition

In 2016, the program received the ASAE Power of A Gold Award, the highest honor from the American Society of Association Executives. This national recognition celebrates the program’s meaningful impact in promoting public health and advancing skin cancer awareness at the community level.

Program Highlights

  • Free Skin Cancer Screenings led by board-certified dermatologists
  • Sun Safety Education for children and adults, delivered through engaging, easy-to-understand materials
  • Complimentary Resources including sunscreen samples, UV-detecting bracelets, and prevention guides
  • Community-Based Outreach at parks, schools, sporting events, and festivals nationwide

 

2025 Events

  • March 15, 2025 – Run for the Rainbow for Children's Hospital of Mississippi (Ridgeland, MS)
  • April 12, 2025 – Life Beyond Sight 5K Walk (Detroit, MI)
  • May 17, 2025 – Lung Force Walk (New York, NY)
  • May 2025 – Omaha Storm Chaser Game (Omaha, NE)
  • June 21, 2025 – NCAA College World Series (Omaha, NE)
  • June 2025 – Get up! Get moving! Get back to school drive (Omaha, NE)
  • August 23–24, 2025 – Chicago Triathlon (Chicago, IL)

Stay tuned—additional events will be posted as they are announced.

 

Bring Play Safe in the Sun to Your Community

Design Your Own Outreach Event – Simple. Meaningful. Fun.

Looking to make a difference in your community? Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or new to service, creating your own Play Safe in the Sun outreach event is easy—and incredibly rewarding. You’ll help raise awareness about sun safety and skin cancer prevention, while representing the WDS mission in a way that’s local, personal, and impactful.

Event Ideas to Inspire You

WDS members have successfully hosted a wide range of creative and effective events, including:

  • Office-based skin cancer screening days with educational materials
  • School assemblies, classroom visits, or science fairs
  • Talks for local organizations, libraries, or community centers
  • Outreach at Little League games, professional sporting events, or fun runs
  • Workplace visits to offer screenings and sun safety tips to employees

Whether large or small, each event is an opportunity to educate and empower others to protect their skin

Ready to Get Started? Join the Movement:

  1. Brainstorm your event – Consider your community, audience, and ideal setting.
  2. Submit your event – Click here to complete the activity form
  3. Download resources – Access the full suite of WDS Sun Safety Materials to support your event.
  4. Reach out – Have questions or need ideas? Email us at wds@womensderm.org.
  5. Host your event – Have fun, make an impact, and don’t forget to send us your photos and feedback to wds@womensderm.org!

Click here to download our printable how-to-guide

What’s in Your Play Safe in the Sun Toolkit?

Every Play Safe in the Sun outreach event is supported by complimentary WDS materials, which may include:

  • Play Safe in the Sun brochures for public education
  • UV-sensitive color-changing bracelets for interactive learning
  • Sunscreen samples to promote healthy habits
  • AAD Skin Cancer Screening Forms – if planning to perform skin cancer screenings with board-certified dermatologists and WDS Members

These resources help make your event engaging, educational, and effective—so you can focus on connecting with your community and spreading awareness.

For more information or to get involved, please contact us at wds@womensderm.org.