What is the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation?

The late Mr John Ilhan founded the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation in 2006. It is a philanthropic foundation dedicated to promoting research and educating the public about the issues and causes surrounding anaphylaxis for Australian Children.

What is anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening, severe allergic reaction caused by eating food or coming into contact with another product that provokes allergy. At least one in twenty children suffer food allergies and of these, about one in ten could suffer a severe reaction, causing anaphylaxis.

"One person in a hundred is at risk of anaphylaxis - or about 200,000 Australians, enough to fill the MCG twice over."

Who does the Foundation help?

In its short lifetime, the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation has either worked with or contributed to the following:

anaphylaxiSTOP
In 2007, the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation joined forces with anaphylaxiSTOP and its founder, Erica Lane, to channel even more funding into research and education.

Royal Childrens Hospital
The Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation supports the Allergy Clinic based at the Royal Childrens Hospital.

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
The Foundation has committed $450,000 towards research based at the Murdoch Childrens Institute.

The Alfred Hospital
The Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation has provided $300,000 towards research conducted at the Alfred Hospital.

Firbank Grammar School
The Foundation has worked closely with Firbank Grammer School to develop the 'Health Living Program' and the 'Fast Ideas Safe recipes for Kids' cookbook.

Anaphylaxis Australia
Anaphylaxis Australia Inc is a charitable, non-profit organisation established in 1993 to support and assist those affected by anaphylaxis.

Victorian State Government
The Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation worked with the Victorian State Government to commit an extra $430,000 per annum to expand the allergy clinic at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. The Foundation also helped launch a program by the Victorian State Government to commit an additional $1.5 million to train teachers and childcare workers in the area of food allergy management and the application of an Epipen.