New Statewide American Lung Association Serves Lung Health of All New Yorkers

NEW YORK, NY (07/15/2008)(readMedia)-- On July 1, 2008, the American Lung Association of New York State and the American Lung Association of the City of New York consolidated to form the American Lung Association (ALA) of New York. By combining the resources and experience of regional offices across the state, the ALA of New York has maximized the educational programs, research initiatives and advocacy campaigns that promote the lung health of all New Yorkers.

The newly formed ALA of New York continues the work of protecting the respiratory health of nearly 20 million residents across the state. An estimated 2.5 million New Yorkers suffer from lung diseases including asthma, lung cancer, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). According to the American Lung Association's State of the Air: 2008 report, residents of all regions of New York State continue to breathe air with dangerously high levels of both particulate matter and ozone. Additionally, there are still 2.75 million adults and 140,000 children in New York still addicted to deadly tobacco products.

While there has been progress on many of these fronts, the ALA of New York continues the fight to improve access to care, educate the population about lung disease and treatment options, reduce access to tobacco, and clean up the air we breathe. Although the organization features a new name, the mission remains the same: to prevent lung disease and to promote lung health.

Prior to the consolidation, the ALA of the City of New York served the five boroughs and the ALA of New York State served the remaining 57 counties of the state. The organization will continue to promote the mission and efforts throughout the state. To ensure continuity and a smooth transition, the ALA of New York will be co-led by President Deborah Carioto, former President & CEO of the ALA of NYS, and Chief Executive Officer Louise Vetter, former President & CEO of the ALA of the City of New York.

For more information, please visit www.alany.org.

-30-

For more than a century, the American Lung Association of New York has been a pioneer and innovator in the prevention of lung disease and the promotion of lung health, dating back to the battles against tuberculosis at the turn of the century to today's war on asthma, tobacco use, air pollution, COPD and other related lung health issues. ALANY maintains its commitment to lung disease and remains flexible and responsive to the ever-changing needs of today's New Yorkers through the development of innovative public education, research, and advocacy programs. For more information about the ALANY or to support the work we do, call 1-800-LUNG-USA or visit us online at www.alany.org.