This year, the American Lung Association celebrated 120 years of impact. Our history is filled with public health achievements, like being among the first to connect air pollution with lung health and discovering the gene that causes cystic fibrosis.
But we’re not resting on our laurels—not when there is so much work to do. Especially here in South Florida, where lung health has never been more important. That’s why we need you.
As a nonprofit organization, we rely on our community—volunteers, donors, trusted community partners, peer-to-peer fundraisers and event participants—to help us fund research, programs and services that save lives. It’s a constant need because the challenges are great, and the stakes are high.
The Challenges
Nearly 1 million South Floridians live with a lung disease, including lung cancer, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This number includes more than 70,000 children who have asthma, which is one of the main illness-related reasons that students miss school.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths here in Florida and across the country. According to our 2024 “State of Lung Cancer” report, the rate of early diagnosis in our state is far too low, at only 25.3%, and only 15.7% of high-risk Floridians were screened with a low-dose CT scan. We need to raise these rates to save lives. When lung cancer is caught early, the five-year survival rate improves to 63%.
Youth vaping has become a public health crisis. Nationally, about one in four high school students vape. 4,000 kids start vaping every day. Vaping is dangerous and can cause irreversible lung damage and impacts to brain development. It’s also highly addictive. One vape pod can contain the same amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. Youth who vape are four times more likely to try a cigarette and three times more likely to become addicted to nicotine.
The Solutions
The American Lung Association is more focused than ever on our strategic priorities: defeating lung cancer, championing clean air for all, improving the quality of life for those living with lung disease and creating a tobacco-free future.
We’ve made strides in recent years.
We’re breathing new life into lung disease research. We’re increasing investments, empowering promising scientists and expanding industry collaboration to accelerate discovery and innovation. This year alone we funded 139 research grants, totaling $22 million, to help us identify, treat and cure lung diseases that affect millions of people across the country. For example, our research funding has contributed to new lung cancer therapies. In fact, fifty-five new therapies have been approved by the FDA, giving life and hope to those living with the disease.
Our Saved by the Scan campaign is helping increase the rate of lifesaving lung cancer screening. Since the 2017 launch, more than one million people have taken the two-minute eligibility quiz and lung cancer screening rates among high-risk individuals have increased by 170%.
Finally, we are committed to addressing the youth vaping crisis and creating a tobacco-free future for generations ahead. We’re implementing a comprehensive public health approach for parents, teens and schools that includes education, policy change, prevention, intervention and cessation to help youth become and stay vape-free.
Join Our Lung Health Movement
We need your help to keep up the momentum and deepen our impact here in South Florida.
We’re seeking passionate individuals who want to move lung health forward in our state and lend their professional expertise and personal experiences to our South Florida Leadership Board and event committees. These volunteer groups consist of physicians, healthcare professionals and cross-industry leaders, who help drive our work locally by serving as mission ambassadors, leveraging their networks and fundraising.
Additionally, the steadfast support of socially conscious partners enables us to create meaningful community programs and events that fuel and expand our vital mission work. Signature events like our Fight For Air Climb Miami, Las Olas Wine and Food Festival and LUNG FORCE Sunset Soiree bring thousands of community members together, boost awareness and raise critical funds.
So, even though we just celebrated a milestone anniversary, we’re just getting started. Come join us to supercharge lung health in South Florida. Because when you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.
Interested in getting involved? Contact Chrissy Cohen, Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Florida, at Chrissy.Cohen@Lung.org or (954) 727-0907.
