Our History

Founded by four African-American physicians: Browing Allen, MD, Wallace C. Marine, MD, Elmer Anderson, MD and Theodore Blevins, MD.

Sickle Cell Summer Camp established by LAC/USC Medical Center with 27 campers in attendance.

Founded by Darleen Powars, MD and Directed by Kenneth Morris. 

Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation becomes lead organization for the Sickle Cell Summer Camp program.

Sixty-three (63) campers in attendance.

The SCDRF establishes the Tutorial Remedial Education Program (TREP) for children with SCD. 

The SCDRF receives California state certification as a Sickle Cell Counseling Center.

The SCDRF provides sickle cell trait education and testing in LAUSD schools.

Mary E. Brown, SCDRF volunteer, directs the Sickle Cell Summer Camp Program.

Mary E. Brown hired at the SCDRF as a bookkeeper and as the Camp Director for the Sickle Cell Summer Camp.

Mary E. Brown named as Executive Director of the Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation.

California begins universal screening for sickle cell disease of all newborns.

The SCDRF is awarded a multiyear with the state of California Genetic Disease Branch to provide trait counseling & testing to parents of infants identified with a hemoglobin trait through newborn screening.

“Sickle Cell Disease Summer Camp, Experience of a 22-year Community-supported Program” article published in Clinical Pediatrics Journal, authored by Darleen Powars, MD and Mary E. Brown.

1957-1992 the Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation awarded over two million dollars in research grants.

The final research grant was awarded to Yutaka Niihara, MD for his research on the effects of L-Glutamine in persons with sickle cell disease.

The Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation changes name to Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of California (SCDFC).

The organization’s priorities change to provide direct programs, services and education to the sickle cell disease communities throughout the state of California.

The SCDFC holds first camp weekend for teens with sickle cell disease at Camp Max Straus in Glendale, CA. Approximately 30 teens in attendance.

In February, hydroxyurea was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults with sickle cell disease.

Mary E. Brown named President and CEO of the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of California.

SC Crew Teen transition program established. Approximately 12 teens and parents participate in program.

The SCDFC and Children’s Hospital Oakland establishes a partnership to provide sickle cell disease education to healthcare providers and  consumers throughout the state of California. 

In doing so, bridges the gap between the northern and southern California sickle cell communities.

Family Weekend camp held at the Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the Painted Turtle Camp in Lake Hughes, CA.

July 2004: Camp Crescent Moon held at the Painted Turtle Camp with 100 campers in attendance. 

Camp Crescent Moon finds new home at the Temescal Gateway Park in Pacific Palisades, California.

The SCDFC establishes the BabySteps Parent Education Program for parents of children ages 0-5 with sickle cell disease with 5 year funding from the Maternal Child Health Bureau.

The SCDFC partners with UCLA to conduct a Pain Study for teens with sickle cell disease.

The SCDFC partners with Children’s Hospital Oakland Sickle Cell Center to aid in the data collection for the Adult Sickle Cell Quality of Life Measurement System (ASCQ-Me).

The SCDFC is hit by the economic downturn in the country. Staff layoffs and office downsizing. The SCDFC receives free office space from the Community Health Charities of California.

The SCDFC re-establishes contract for Hemoglobin Trait Follow-up Services and becomes the agent for the state of California for the Newborn Screening Hemoglobin Trait Follow-up Program.

The SCDFC begins to rebuild and stabilize infrastructure.

Pacific Sickle Cell Regional Collaborative (PSCRC) established to improve the healthcare and quality of life for children and adults with sickle cell disease.

The SCDFC relocates to Ontario, California.

Sickle Cell Clinic at MLK Jr., Outpatient Center established for adults with sickle cell disease.

The SC Crew Teen Transition Program re-established with 18 teens registered.

Camp Crescent Moon celebrates 50 years of summer camp with 92 campers in attendance. The FDA approves L-glutamine powder for the treatment of sickle cell disease on July 17th.

Inaugural session of Camp Gibbous, a summer camp for teens with sickle cell disease held on August 18-20th with 27 teens in attendance.

The SCDFC Board of Directors reviews and approves a 5-year strategic plan authored by Mary Brown and Jennifer Fields, MPH.

Tony Gonzalez offers his services to the SCDFC for legislative support.

Jennifer Fields & Mary Brown write the first proposal for State support.

Tony Gonzalez leads the SCDF & CIBD through the halls of the State Capitol.

June 2019: Governor Gavin Newsom signs AB74 Budget Act of 2019, approving $15 million. These funds will support the development of five adult clinics around the state of California.