In The News

• THE BREATHING ASSOCIATION RECEIVES STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE CERTIFICATION

• ATKINSON NAMED DIRECTOR OF CESSATION SERVICES FOR THE BREATHING ASSOCIATION
  

• CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION CONTINUES WITH UNVEILING OF OHIO HISTORIC MARKER AT PERMANENT LOCATION
  
  
• HELPING CENTRAL OHIOANS BREATHE EASIER ATTRACTS TOP HONORS FOR THE BREATHING ASSOCIATION
  
  
• HISTORIC DEDICATION MARKS 100 YEARS FOR THE BREATHING ASSOCIATION

The Breathing Association Receives Standards for Excellence Certification.

Columbus – Each year nonprofit organizations serve thousands in their communities and spend endless hours working on projects to help others and further their mission. On May 8, 2007 at 11:30 am, three Central Ohio Nonprofits received The Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organization’s (OANO’s) Standards for Excellence Certification at a luncheon at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium.

OANO has adopted the Standards for Excellence to promote ethical practices and accountability in organizations. The standards help to bolster public confidence and support for the nonprofit sector by promoting ethical practices and accountability. Agencies receiving The Standards certification have achieved excellence in the following areas: Mission and Program, Governing Body, Conflict of Interest, Human Resources, Financial and Legal, Public Accountability, Fundraising; and Public Affairs and Public Policy.

More than 300 attendees were at the event and they represented the full diversity of the nonprofit sector.

OANO is a statewide membership association of nearly 600 nonprofit organizations representing the breadth and diversity of Ohio’s charitable nonprofit sector. OANO’s mission is to provide leadership, education, and advocacy to enhance the ability of Ohio’s nonprofit organizations to serve their communities.

The other Central Ohio recipients were The Columbus Foundation and Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

ATKINSON NAMED DIRECTOR OF CESSATION SERVICES FOR THE BREATHING ASSOCIATION

Columbus, OH --- Laura Atkinson has been named Director of Cessation of The Breathing Association in central Ohio.

Atkinson’s responsibilities include overseeing The Breathing Association’s Tobacco Cessation programs and services, working closely with the association’s Executive Director to ensure the departments strategic goals are met and representing the association in the community. With nearly 20 years of experience in the non-profit and private sector, Atkinson brings experience in program development, client services, corporate relations, marketing and promotion skills to The Breathing Association. 

“Atkinson’s expertise in client services and business development is a great fit for both our current need and to help us reach our goals for future growth,” said Marie Collart, Ph.D., president of The Breathing Association.

Most recently, Atkinson has served as President of Total Wellness Concepts LLC, a health promotion and corporate health and wellness consulting firm working with Fortune 500 companies, hospitals, insurance companies and non-profits nationwide in the design and development of cost effective health promotion programs and clinics.  Atkinson consulted with companies in developing local and national health initiatives. Atkinson has held positions in non-profit organizations such as Salesian Inner City Clubs, YMCA, YWCA and Genesis Healthcare providing health promotion programming and development services to economically disadvantaged women, youth and Appalachia.

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION CONTINUES WITH UNVEILING OF OHIO HISTORIC MARKER AT PERMANENT LOCATION.

Columbus, OH – Originally founded in 1906 as The Columbus Tuberculosis Society, December 5, 2006 marked 100 years of service for The Breathing Association. To celebrate this momentous occasion the Breathing Association received an Historic Marker to pay tribute to it’s accomplishments and service to the community. A dedication for this marker at it’s permanent home will take place on December 21, 2006 at 10am between 34 and 54  S. Third Street. Right in front of the Columbus Dispatch parking lot. This is the location of The Breathing Association’s original Tuberculosis Clinic.

What: Ohio Historic Marker Dedication for the Breathing Association
Who: The Breathing Association
When: Thursday, December 21, 2006 10am – 11am
Where: The Sidewalk between 34 and 54 South Third Street. Columbus, Ohio 43215

MARKER TEXT:
The Breathing Association was founded in 1906 as the Tuberculosis Society under the leadership of visionary Carrie Nelson Black. A tuberculosis (TB) dispensary was operated at 40 S. 3rd St. in Columbus for persons needing consultation and treatment. TB, known as the White Plague killed one out of nine persons in the early 1900’s.  A Open Air School was opened in 1913 for children in homes where there were one or more cases of TB. In 1931, the Nightingale Cottage was opened on Brice Rd. as a TB preventorium for children. As TB became controllable, the agency became focused on emerging lung health diseases. Today, The Breathing Association continues as a leading resource on lung health issues and preventing lung disease.

Other Events Planned for the Centennial Celebration Year:

• In February 2007, The Breathing Association’s final centennial celebration event will be the Centennial Gala presented by Grange Insurance and Nationwide Insurance to be held at the new WOSU Studio at COSI.

About The Breathing Association:
The Breathing Association, which provides a variety of lung health programs, has asthma management services for low-income children and adults with asthma that serves more than 800 persons annually. A United Way agency, The Breathing Association has been providing lung health prevention, education and services to residents of Central Ohio for 100 years.

HELPING CENTRAL OHIOANS BREATHE EASIER ATTRACTS TOP HONORS FOR THE BREATHING ASSOCIATION

“SmokeFree Columbus” and “Be Aware of Dirty Air” Campaigns Recognized for Excellence During May Awards Ceremonies by Both OANO and MORPC

(Columbus, OH) – The Breathing Association has had an accolade-filled two weeks as it recently received both the “Excellence Award for Central Ohio” presented by the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations (OANO) and the “2006 Clean Air Award” presented by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC). 

“SmokeFree Columbus” Wins OANO’s Inaugural Excellence Award
The “SmokeFree Columbus” campaign was honored May 4 during the first ever Ohio Nonprofit Excellence Awards luncheon. The Breathing Association launched the winning  “SmokeFree Columbus” campaign in 2004 to educate City Council and Columbus voters on the deadly effects of second-hand smoke. Council passed and the voters supported an ordinance making all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, smoke-free. 

Columbus’ smoke-free law, passed first by the City Council and eventually the voters, went into effect January 31, 2005 requiring workplaces, including bars and restaurants, to be smoke-free and making Columbus one of eleven smoke-free communities.  Nationally, there are 11 states with comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws that cover bars and restaurants. Internationally, entire countries, such as Ireland, have adopted smoke-free policies.

“Be Aware of Dirty Air” Wins MORPC’s 2006 Clean Air Award
Breathing clean, pollution-free air also fueled the launch of the “Be Aware of Dirty Air” campaign that took top honors with MORPC. Winning the “2006 Clean Air Award” on May 16, the campaign that launched this past winter targeted pregnant women and mothers.

The Breathing Associations Takes Top Honors With OANO and MORPC
Its major goal was to educate both groups about the harmful effects of pollution-filled air and secondhand smoke on their unborn babies and infants. Including phone alerts the day before high pollution days, news stories warning about the harmful effects secondhand smoke and educational posters and refrigerator magnets, the campaign was bolstered by its inclusion of study results that found pollution andsecondhand smoke can cause harm to infants’ and unborn children’s lungs, making them more susceptible to asthma and other serious problems.

“As we kick off our centennial year, it is gratifying to recognize that others do appreciate the commitment and hard work of a dedicated staff consultants and Board,” said Marie E. Collart, President and CEO of The Breathing Association about winning both awards. 

About Secondhand Smoke:
Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals of which at least 250 chemicals are known to be toxic or carcinogenic.  There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and no ventilation system is designed to remove the poisonous and cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke.

About The Breathing Association:
The Breathing Association, which provides a variety of lung health programs, has asthma management services for low-income children and adults with asthma that serves more than 800 persons annually. A United Way agency, The Breathing Association has been providing lung health prevention, education and services to residents of Central Ohio for 100 years.

For information about quitting smoking, smoke-free policies, “SmokeFree Columbus” or the “Be Aware of Dirty Air” campaign, please contact Mitch Greenwald at 614-280-9280

HISTORIC DEDICATION MARKS 100 YEARS FOR THE BREATHING ASSOCIATION

Centennial Celebration to Include Induction of Honorary Board of Trustees, Reunion of Nightingale Cottage and Fresh Air School Children and Unveiling of Historic Marker 

Columbus, OH – Originally founded in 1906 as The Columbus Tuberculosis Society, December 5, 2006 marks 100 years of service for The Breathing Association. To celebrate this momentous occasion, some very special guests will be on hand.  Festivities will include the introduction of the members of the honorary board of Trustees, as well as several “children” served by The Breathing Association during the years of the Tuberculosis crisis more than 60 years ago.

What: Centennial Celebration and Historic Dedication for the Breathing Association
Who: The Breathing Association
When: Tuesday, December 5, 2006. 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Where: Nationwide
3 Nationwide Plaza
250 South Front Street
Main Atrium
Columbus, Ohio 43215
           
A reunion of the Nightingale Cottage and Fresh Air School Children will precede the celebration and will take place at 4:30pm in the Nationwide cafeteria. The special presentation and Ohio Historical Society plaque dedication will begin at 6:00 pm.

Details:
The Breathing Association will hold a Historic Site Dedication Ceremony for its original location in Downtown Columbus. In conjunction with the Ohio Historic Society, the organization will unveil an historic plaque, announce its Honorary Board of Trustees and hold a reunion for the Nightingale and Fresh Air School  “children”.

About the Honorary Board of Trustees:
The Honorary Board of Trustees will be introduced during the Centennial Celebration. Each board member has been selected and bestowed this honor for having contributed to the development and growth of The Breathing Association. The centennial year honorary board of trustees includes Representative Joyce Beatty, Rob Crane, M.D., Bishop Timothy J. Clarke, Archie Griffin, Matthew D. Habash, Chad A. Jester, Senator I. Ray Miller, M. Valeriana Moeller, Ph.D., Councilwoman Charleta B. Tavares, Phil Urban and Senator Gene Watts.

Other Events Planned for the Centennial Celebration Year:

• In February 2007, The Breathing Association’s final centennial celebration event will be the Centennial Gala presented by Grange Insurance and Nationwide to be held at the new WOSU Studio at COSI.

About The Breathing Association: