Statistics have shown that one out of every ten children have a birthmark. 3 out of every 1000 people have a “port wine stain” birthmark. Despite it being relatively common, those with the birthmark are still discriminated against in society as others assume the mark is contagious or harmful in some way. According to many medical journals, many kids with the birthmark will suffer long-term social anxiety, bullying, depression, stigmatization and self-esteem issues. Evan Ducker saw education and awareness as an easy, worthwhile solution to this problem.

At age 4 Evan, who was born with a port wine stain birth mark, asked why none of the characters in his story books had a birthmark like his. That one question became the inspiration for him and his mother to write Buddy Booby's Birthmark. It is the first children's book of its kind, created by a child with a birth mark based on real life experiences.

It wasn’t long before the book caught on and Evan was asked to travel across the state on his days off, visiting different schools, and teaching kids about birthmarks.  In 2006 in response to receiving thousands of positive emails from parents and children with birth marks Evan created an annual, global "read-along" in schools, distributing free copies of his book and spreading tolerance. An estimated 60,000 students from 800 schools in 20 countries participate in this project - Evan has become the only child to ever create and run a global reading initiative of this kind and size.