'Tis the Season For Christmas Seals

ALBANY, NY (12/13/2010)(readMedia)-- The American Lung Association in New York is reminding New Yorkers that there is still time to support the Christmas Seals campaign by purchasing Christmas Seals® merchandise or making a donation. Christmas Seals holiday stamps have been used to decorate cards and packages since 1907. First issued by the Lung Association to combat tuberculosis, today the stamps help the Association raise money needed to fight new battles against cancer, influenza, asthma, tobacco use, air pollution and more.

"The mission of the American Lung Association in New York has grown over the years to include research into all respiratory diseases, including asthma, COPD and lung cancer," said Scott T. Santarella, President and CEO of the American Lung Association in New York. "Christmas Seals donations continue to be vitally important to our efforts to reduce the burden of lung disease on New Yorkers and fund important research dedicated to finding cures and improving patient outcomes."

Santarella noted that about 2.5 million state residents suffer from lung diseases including asthma, COPD and lung cancer. The Association depends on Christmas Seals® donations to help fund research, program efforts and advocacy to fight these diseases and improve the quality of life for those who suffer from them.

This year, the Lung Association is pleased to have Emmy-award winning actress and Lung Cancer survivor, Kathryn Joosten, as their Celebrity Chairperson of the campaign. Ms. Joosten is currently starring as Mrs. McClusky on the popular, award winning series Desperate Housewives. Prior to joining the Desperate Housewives cast, she was best known as Mrs. Landingham, secretary to President of the United States, (Martin Sheen), on the critically acclaimed and Emmy award winning NBC drama, The West Wing.

The Lung Association would like to encourage individuals to visit www.ChristmasSeals.org to share Christmas Seals® stories and shop for merchandise.

This year, the Lung Association has included a "share your story" section on www.ChristmasSeals.org, where people from around the country have posted personal and touching stories about how Christmas Seals® have become or remain a holiday tradition.

Gift merchandise includes vintage products like wrapping paper, adhesive gift tags, lapel pins and holiday ornaments. New products this year include a Christmas Seals® apron, sugar cookie mix and cookie cutters. Proceeds from the sale of all these items will help support the mission of the Lung Association.

For more information on the American Lung Association's Christmas Seals® campaign, visit www.ChristmasSeals.org.

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About the American Lung Association in New York

Now in its second century, the American Lung Association in New York is the leading statewide organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, or to support our work, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.alany.org.