LymeTV's 2025 IMPACT REPORT
With Gratitude
Reflecting on 2025, the word that comes to mind is Impact. For years, LymeTV has operated as a high-visibility, patient-led "start-up" fueled by the relentless passion of volunteers. This year, we proved that our model doesn’t just work—it influences national policy.
In July, I was deeply humbled to have my personal journey shared by Senator Susan Collins on the U.S. Senate floor. Having my story entered into the permanent Congressional Record was not just a personal milestone; it was a victory for every patient who has ever felt dismissed or invisible. It served as a formal reminder to our nation’s leaders that behind every statistic is a human life, & the reauthorization of the Kay Hagan Tick Act is a moral necessity.
While we influenced policy at the top, we remained true to our "boots on the ground" mission. We distributed over 1,000 bottles of repellent & 50 treated blankets to Maine’s most vulnerable populations, ensuring health equity stays at the center of everything we do.
Our progress in 2025 was made possible by your unwavering support. As we look toward the 2026 National Fly-In, I am more confident than ever that together, we are building a tick-smart world from the ground up.
With Gratitude,
Adina Bercowicz, MPH, Executive Director
FEDERAL POLICY &
SCIENTIFIC LEADERSHIP
LymeTV leads at the federal level, driving scientific research & policy change to modernize testing, treatment, & prevention standards.
Congressional Record Recognition
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) formally recognized LymeTV & entered Executive Director Adina Bercowicz’s patient journey into the official Congressional Record.
National Strategy Consultation
Selected by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to provide Expert Stakeholder consultation on the National Vector-borne Disease Strategy.
DOD Leadership
Our Executive Director & Director of Advocacy served in 2025 on the Department of Defense, Peer Reviewed Medical Research Programs, Tick-Borne Disease Research Program as Scientific Consumer Reviewers. The selection requires months of work with a rigorous critique process. LymeTV's leadership has been selected to serve on the CDMRP panels in '19, '21, '22, '23, '24, & '25–contributing to the impact assessment of millions of dollars in federal research funding.
Center for Lyme Action
Various Board members & volunteers participated in the Center for Lyme Action's annual Lyme Fly-In, where hundreds of patient advocates across the nation were successful in securing increased federal funding by educating their state representatives about the dangers of tick-borne diseases. Many of our team are also getting ready for the upcoming 2026 Lyme Fly-In as advocates & team leads.
MEDIA
Legislative Spotlight: Featured on News Center Maine alongside Senator Collins to advocate for the reauthorization of the Kay Hagan Tick Act to ensure a sustained $27 million federal research budget.
First Alpha-gal death in the U.S.: Provided expert scientific commentary on emerging threats like Alpha-gal Syndrome to protect public health across the Northeast.
EVENTS & PROGRAMS
OUR PSA ON NETWORK TV
Launched a national PSA campaign in partnership with the Center for Lyme Action to advocate for the Kay Hagan Tick Act. This project was a Strategic Intervention for Policy Change & funding to broadcast was pooled by peer-organizations Project Lyme, Patient Centered Care Advocacy Group, & TickWarriors, highlighting how our combined efforts created immeasurable impact.
TICK JEDI PROGRAM REACH
50,000 Students
Expanded our flagship youth education program to reach over 50,000 students with life-saving prevention habits. LymeTV's Tick JEDI Health Education Program™ is always growing, currently used by schools located in:
13 Maine counties, 12 states, & 1 Canadian school
Partner Spotlight
Advancing the Science of Prevention Education
In 2025, LymeTV partnered with Spruce Mountain Middle School to conduct critical focus groups with students as part of our IRB-Approved Survey Validation Project.
This collaboration is essential for ensuring that the Tick JEDI™ curriculum doesn't just entertain—it effectively changes behavior. By engaging directly with students through validated research methods, we are:
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Validating Educational Tools: Using student feedback to refine our pre- & post-test assessments for maximum scientific accuracy.
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Data-Driven Innovation: Transforming focus group insights into actionable curriculum updates that resonate with youth across different age groups.
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Evidence-Based Impact: Building a robust data set that proves the efficacy of The LymeTV Method to national public health stakeholders & grantors.
This school-based research project ensures that LymeTV remains at the forefront of evidence-based health education.
Tick JEDI Program Love!
The kids loved your program & they immediately put what they learned into practice all on their own!
~ Focus Group Parent
Your program's website & curriculum is easy to follow. My students really enjoy it!
~ Teacher in Maine
The first group of Tick Jedi's!!!!!!! 2nd grade!!!!!!
The kids were so excited to take the pledge at the end. They are definitely excited to get some of the worksheets as well. 3rd grade will be the next group of Jedi's!~ NJ School Administrator
ENSURING HEALTH EQUITY
- We directly distributed 1,000 bottles of repellent & 50 permethrin-treated blankets to Maine’s most vulnerable populations, bridging the gap in prevention access for unhoused & refugee communities.
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Collaborative Community Interventions: Partnered with local leaders—including Preble Street Clinic, Greater Portland Health, Hope Squad, & the Town of Yarmouth—to facilitate direct health education & resource distribution for at-risk & medically underserved populations.
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Youth & Community Engagement: Delivered high-impact prevention outreach in coordination with the Boys & Girls Club, Yarmouth Lion’s Club, & various community health events to cultivate a "tick-smart" culture across the region.
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Strategic Workforce Development: Represented LymeTV at the Maine Public Health Association (MPHA) Annual Conference, engaging in expert-led workshops to align our initiatives with emerging public health trends & expand the reach of The LymeTV Method.
FUNDING
While our core operations are sustained by a foundational grant, our growth depends on community & corporate partnership. In 2025, we successfully expanded our impact through Walmart Community Grants & new corporate sponsorships. Join us in 2026 to scale these life-saving programs further.
CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers play a vital role in the success of our community. Our volunteers help the organization in many ways, including planning community & fundraising events, educating the public, & helping with pipeline programs. Between partner organizations, schools, & tick-borne disease patients, LymeTV is fortunate to have a very active group of supporters who truly believe in our mission.
As always, the incredible support of our volunteers is a critical part of everything we accomplish. LymeTV's all-volunteer team provides pro-bono work that keeps our mission advancing.
In total, 14 volunteers contributed their time to support our life-saving mission in 2025. Our team is a group of amazing, dedicated Tick JEDIs from all over the world.
To each of them we say: Thank You!
Thank You For Making An Impact!
Our accomplishments are possible because of supporters like you.
