Lung Health News, Spring/Summer 2006
American Lung Association Reorganizes to Provide More Local Services
The American Lung Association has entered its second century with new and innovative ways to more effectively fight lung disease and pursue our mission. As part of a nationwide plan to streamline efforts and reduce administration costs, more funds will be available for the internationally recognized life-saving programs and services your community needs.
“We are consolidating some of our accounting and administration activities so we can focus more resources on fighting lung disease and improving health,” says Laura Keegan Boudreau, acting chief executive officer of the American Lung Association of California.
The organization had been serving California through separately incorporated local offices, each assigned to their own territory. Under the new structure, the American Lung Association of California will be one organization serving the entire state with more local offices offering more local programs and services.
“There will continue to be local offices throughout the state that offer the kind of programs and services the public has come to expect from the American Lung Association,” Boudreau says.
Five local offices opted out of becoming one statewide organization and ended their affiliations with the American Lung Association ( Central Coast, including Monterey; Los Angeles County; Sacramento-Emigrant Trails; San Francisco and San Mateo Counties; and Santa Clara-San Benito Counties). They have formed a new organization called Breathe California that is separate from the American Lung Association.
“Those offices are not part of the American Lung Association anymore,” Boudreau explains. “But people in those communities will continue to be served by the American Lung Association. Just call 1.800.LUNG.USA and you will be connected to your nearest American Lung Association office.”
Restructuring is Part of Nationwide Trend
The American Lung Association’s efforts to streamline operations are part of a nationwide trend among nonprofit organizations. As demand has increased for health and social services, so has competition for charitable dollars, forcing nonprofits to find more effective ways of accomplishing their missions.
“The new structure with one statewide nonprofit organization will create an integrated, stronger, more effective structure to eradicate lung disease,” says Rick Donaldson, RCP, Ph.D., board chair for the American Lung Association of California.
Donaldson has been volunteering for the American Lung Association at the local, state and national levels for more than 30 years. He and other volunteer leaders who have invested years of service in the organization believe restructuring is critical for long-term survival.
“Our mission is as relevant today as ever, maybe even more so. As the asthma epidemic shows no signs of weakening, global warming threatens our health, tobacco use continues to be the number one killer, and millions around the world are still dying from tuberculosis, we know our work is far from done,” Donaldson says. “Streamlining operations and reducing overhead will allow us to focus more resources on what we do best – fighting lung disease.”
