For more than 100 years, the American Lung Association has worked to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Our work is accomplished through research, education and Advocacy. Money from the Corporate Cup goes to fund:
We fund researchers in Nebraska and nationwide to unlock the mysteries of lung disease to find better treatments and a cure. Priority is given to investigation of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and youth smoking.
The American Lung Association is the greatest single resource in the community for information and education about lung disease. Our education programs teach how to manage lung disease to increase quality of life for all ages, especially children. To combat the increase in children addicted to cigarettes, we start by talking with pre-school children. Over 2 million smokers have quit for good with the gold standard in smoking - Freedom from Smoking. The American Lung Association works through schools, residential summer camps, community and worksite classes, a multilingual help line and continuing education for medical professionals. We are dedicated to reducing deaths and hospitalizations by creating partnerships with key stakeholders such as parents, day care providers, school nurses, physical education teachers, coaches, physicians, respiratory therapists, and delivering proven programs.
The American Lung Association is the lead agency in the Omaha Asthma Alliance, which has worked successfully to reduce the number of asthma related deaths from 41 in 1998 to 21 in 2004. This includes working for legislation that allows kids to carry their inhalers in school. The ALA is a leader in the fight for clean indoor air through Smoke-free Omaha to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. We helped reduce the number of smokers in Nebraska from 50% in 1960 to 22% in 2005. In 1992 a cigarette vending machine bill was signed into law because the American Lung Association authored a bill and began the movement to remove cigarette vending machines from areas accessible to youth.