Welcome to the American Lung Association’s
Legacy planned giving online newsletter.
Here, you can find stories about how your support impacts lives across the country by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. We hope you enjoy these stories and will share your feedback with us.
Jon’s Lasting Tribute
Jon Rosen chose to use Charitable Gift Annuities to honor the memory of his late father
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As a result, Jon became a longtime volunteer leader for the American Lung Association including serving as a National Board member, a position he now holds. He believes in “paying it forward.” His decision to create several charitable gift annuities has benefits for both the Lung Association’s work and for Jon.
“What I want people to know about purchasing a Charitable Gift Annuity, is that you will never regret it. In the end, to know that somebody with lung disease will live, will love, will be loved — for another day, another week, another month and beyond — it doesn’t get better than that.”
“Your payment will never change, regardless of how the stock market fluctuates. As annuity rates have increased, making a charitable gift annuity with the American Lung Association is an even more attractive investment.” — Jon Rosen
Your Support Advances Research
In the fifth edition of Advancing Research magazine, you’ll read about several current members of our research team who share insights about their Lung Association-funded projects.
Following are just a few highlights:
Dr. Kellie Smith
Dr. Kellie Smith shines bright as the recipient of our first-ever Pierre Massion Lung Cancer Discovery Award for her impressive investigation of anti-tumor immunity. Her project focuses on finding a way to prevent or delay relapses in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). More than 1.8 million people worldwide are diagnosed with NSCLC every year. Dr. Smith is specifically studying the body’s immune response that leads to a patient’s prolonged disease-free survival or a relapse.
Dr. Smith shares, “Understanding immune factors that promote or prevent relapse is crucial for developing new therapies that delay or prevent relapse in this patient population.”
Dr. William Zhengyang Zhang
Dr. William Zhengyang Zhang describes the important role iron may play in future COPD treatments. He says, “My background is people. I want to help COPD patients enjoy longer and higher quality lives. Using a reversed translational model— there’s a huge amount of pre-existing human data on iron accumulation in COPD—we’re hard at work to gain a better understanding of the complex relationship between the lung and iron with hopes of applying the biological mechanisms we uncover at the bench toward drug development in the near future.”
Dr. Andrea Pappalardo
Asthma researchers are leading lobbying efforts to stock albuterol inhalers in schools. Dr. Lynn Gerald used her previous research as a principle investigator in our Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) Network to change legislation in Arizona so that non-licensed personnel could administer this lifesaving medication. She then helped other states pass similar legislation.
Dr. Andrea Pappalardo, a recipient of American Lung Association’s 2021–2022 Public Policy Research Award, worked to worked to implement the same practices in Illinois.
“With climate change and pollution worsening, we are seeing higher prevalence of childhood asthma,” Dr. Pappalardo added. “It is so important that children have access to the care and medication they need so they can continue to thrive at school and reach their potential.”
21st Annual American Lung Association Report Revealed
This year’s report features several significant steps taken by the federal government in 2022 to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Of key importance, and long overdue, were the proposed rules released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to eliminate. menthol cigarettes and end the sale of flavored cigars. Menthol cigarettes and flavors in cigars make it easier for kids to start smoking and harder for them to quit.
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Congress also took important action in March 2022 to extend FDA authority over tobacco products to include e-cigarettes and other products containing synthetic, or non-tobacco, nicotine. The legislation set out clear deadlines for the FDA to take action and remove illegally sold synthetic nicotine products from the market.
However, the timelines laid out in the law for enforcement action were missed, allowing an untold number of e-cigarettes containing synthetic nicotine, many in kid-friendly flavors, to remain on the market. Despite the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce tobacco use and end the sale of flavored cigars, there is still much work to be done to end the youth vaping epidemic and address illegal synthetic nicotine products on the market. With strong enforcement action aimed at manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, importers, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s legal remedies against manufacturers selling illegal products, youth vaping can be significantly reduced and a healthier future for all can be ensured.
Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. See how your state compares and take action at Lung.org/research/sotc.
Receive Reliable Income and Tax Savings with a Gift to Save Lives
When you give through a charitable gift annuity (CGA), you can receive an annual income for life, and at the same time, enhance the American Lung Association’s research, education and advocacy that will help save lives now and for generations to come. With the recent increase in payment rates, now is an ideal time to create a CGA with the American Lung Association.
How it works:
You donate cash or appreciated securities worth $20,000 or more to American Lung Association. In return, you and/or another beneficiary will receive fixed payments for life.
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Payment rates can now go as high as 9.7 percent, depending on your age (you must be 55 or older). If you don’t need the income immediately, you can schedule payments to begin at least one year after your donation. The longer the deferral period, the higher your payment rate.
Why a charitable gift annuity is a good idea:
• Guaranteed fixed lifetime income at new higher rates with no stock market risk
• Current income tax charitable deduction
• Possible tax-fee income
• Potential estate tax savings
Ability to direct your gift to a specific purpose at the Lung Association
With the passing of the SECURE Act 2.0, donors are now able to take a one-time Qualified Charitable Distribution from their IRA to fund a charitable gift annuity. Our team would be happy to speak with you about the many creative ways you can benefit from this type of gift.
Sample Rates*
Please note that this information is not intended as legal or tax advice. Always consult an attorney or tax advisor to discuss the best options for your situation.
How You Can Help
There are many ways to get involved and help the Lung Association in its mission to improve lung health. You can…
- Encourage the young adults in your life to participate in the Lung Health Cohort study by visiting Lung.org/research/lung-health-cohort-study.
- Explore ways to create your legacy for the next generation. You can help realize a future free from lung disease for the young people you love. Visit Legacy.Lung.org to get started.
Your legacy could be a world free of lung disease. I’m here to help.
Your gift will make a lasting impact by helping save lives for years to come.
Cheryl J. Smoot
National Assistant Vice President,
Individual and Planned Giving
Phone: 312-801-7642
Cheryl.Smoot@Lung.org
We are here to answer any questions and to discuss these options to achieve your personal and philanthropic goals. Please email us with any questions you may have.