FIRST Retains Financial Health, Supports Members Through 2020 Challenges

Despite the many challenges our members and organization faced in 2020, FIRST continues to hold a healthy financial position. We remain committed to using our financial resources to provide advocacy, research and specialized programs and services to our members and community.

Last year, FIRST realized its mission by:

• Funding grants to support members with skincare and higher education expenses
• Supporting the National Registry for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Disorders at Yale University, which conducts genetic testing at no charge to FIRST members
• Responding to emails, phone calls and social media posts seeking information or resources

Our ability to continue serving in this capacity is due to the generosity of our donors and dedication and hard work from our volunteers, staff, Board and Emeriti.

I am pleased to share this high-level summary of our annual income and expenses.

Sean McTernan is the Chief Financial Officer and leads the Finance Committee. McTernan and his wife Carolyn, have three children, Avery (9), Henry (7) and Claire (5) who has temperature-sensitive lamellar ichthyosis.
"FIRST has played a special role in our lives, particularly so in the early days of our youngest daughter's life, when few others could provide answers or perspective regarding ichthyosis,” he said. “We are sincerely appreciative of the role FIRST plays in supporting and advocating for those in the ichthyosis community and are happy to give back to the organization which has done so much for our family."
McTernan works for Brown Advisory where he is a Principal and Regional Investment Consultant. He lives with his family in the Philadelphia suburbs.