Email from Breathe Southern California Asthma Awareness and Honoring Clean Air Champions. May 2025   MARC MY WORDS: May is For Awareness, Action and Honoring. May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. Unlike Mother’s Day where we show love to our mothers, or Memorial Day, where we honor the sacrifice of fallen soldiers, with Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, we highlight how common it is, and the challenges and risks facing those with one of the most common chronic lung diseases. Over 23 million adults and nearly 5 million children have been diagnosed with asthma. Yet despite it being common and treatable, asthma is the cause of nearly 4,000 deaths each year. Sadly, most of these deaths are preventable. It’s no accident, though, that May was also the month we chose to hold our Breath of Life Awards to highlight and celebrate champions of clean air and lung health. Spending an evening with community leaders to remind them how valued they are felt gratifying and necessary. Given how this year began with horrendous and unprecedented wildfires that many are still recovering from, we saw how quickly the priority on lung health was moved front and center, especially for those suffering from lung conditions. The wildfires sounded a visceral alarm on the importance of the air we breathe and ensuring the quality of our air. For millions of people who don’t think twice about our region’s air quality, despite it being among the worst in the nation, the invisible was made visible. Our lungs are the gateway to literal and better living through the air we inhale. But when the air we inhale is filled with thick wildfire smoke, containing the vaporized toxic residue of every natural and man-made item that once existed in an entire neighborhood, we can easily understand the threat that polluted air places on our health, and reality that our environment matters. It was a long overdue evening to honor those who are truly making a difference and fighting the good fight by promoting clean air and lung health solutions like zero emission trucking, public transportation, clean energy, and eliminating tobacco use. We are still in the middle of the effort to effect long-term change for our air, our environment, and our public health. Long term change takes coordination, stamina, persistence and tenacity, and the work of many people who share a vision for transformation and who are willing to roll up their sleeves and act for the betterment of the community. We were thrilled to honor Richard Katz. Cliff Gladstein, WattEV, and the City of Beverly Hills, each of whom metaphorically rolled up their sleeves to make our air cleaner and our environment healthier. And in doing so we reminded everyone in attendance just how vital the work is that Breathe SoCal is doing. For myself it was great to actually see people I haven’t seen in a while, all busy with our jobs and having family lives, time can fly so to be surrounded by wonderful humans committed to change, was inspiring. We also got to share about breathe southern California programs along with our dedicated staff of health educators who are working on the front lines with asthma patients through our BEAM in-home patient support program, conducting wildfire prevention education, and cleaning our air with monthly BlueSky LA volunteer events. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate, donated so generously to our mission and shared in the night of finding out more about our honorees and the valuable work they are doing in California. If you weren’t able to attend, take a look at our digital program and learn more about our honorees and the event. From COPD to lung cancer to asthma to the environment, we are committed to the research education and outreach necessary to make real change happen. With support from partners, donors, and volunteers, like yourself, we are doing just that. To make a gift to help improve lung health and air quality for everyone in Southern California, consider giving what you can today. In health, Marc Carrel President & CEO Our Inspiring 2025 Breath of Life Honorees A night filled with gratitude for our clean air and lung health champions. Pictured from left to right, Hon. Richard Katz - Civic Leader Award, Mayor Sharona R. Nazarian for the City Of Beverly Hills, Marc Carrel, CEO and President of Breathe Southern California - Presenter, Cliff Gladstein - Breath of Life Award and Umar Javed for WATT EV - Innovation Award. Some Asthma Stats and Solutions for our Kiddos Asthma Awareness Week We had an incredible Asthma Awareness Week in Los Angeles! Huge thanks to all our partners who helped make it possible. Children Hospital Los Angeles, Pomona wellness center, asthma and allergy foundation of America, Sharkninja, Kleenex, CA Dept. of public health...Your support helps us spread awareness, educate our community, and improve the lives of those living with asthma. See more HERE! and make sure to follow us on instagram. @breathesocal Find Out More! 📅Upcoming Events From Research Forums to community gardens, our spring calendar is packed with opportunities to breathe easier together. Breath of Life Health Fair! Come join the fun and find out about helpful community resources, cool EV info and awesome surveys = cool giveaways, plus lung health screening! *Saturday June 21st! 11am-3pm REGISTER TODAY! Calling all Volunteers! 🌿 Ready to get your hands dirty and really make a difference you can feel proud of? Come plan some trees, create shade and help the environment! SIGN UP TODAY! Now more than ever we need to fight for our lung health and cleaner air. Please donate and help Breathe Southern California focus on our mission to help all of Southern Californians Breathe Easier™. Donate For Updates on All things Lung Health, Air Quality and Amazing Community Events Follow Us!   Breathe Southern California | 5858 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 300 | Los Angeles, CA 90036 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice