Former ALA President to Serve as Christmas Seals Chairperson in Atlanta
(November 1, 2010)—
The former president of the American Lung Association in Georgia, David Seibert, will serve as Atlanta’s official chairperson for the 2010 Christmas Seals® campaign.
Seibert, who served as ALA president from 2001-2002, was diagnosed with emphysema, at the age of 35. Emphysema, along with chronic bronchitis, becomes COPD, the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Fifteen years after his initial diagnosis, Seibert underwent an experimental double lung transplant at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital. Today he is one of the longest known lung transplant survivors.
In 1996 Seibert joined the American Lung Association’s Board in Georgia and began advocating on behalf of the organization for healthy air and healthy lungs. He was named Board Member for Life and was presented with the Triumph Award in 2003. Today Seibert continues to volunteer with the American Lung Association.
“We are thrilled to welcome David as our Atlanta chairperson for the 2010 campaign,” said Martha Bogdan, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Southeast, Inc. “The Christmas Seals® rich holiday tradition continues to positively impact our fight for air at the local level by supporting services and programs surrounding healthy lungs and healthy air.”
The Christmas Seals® tradition is rich in history. In 1907, when tuberculosis was widespread and claimed the lives of countless individuals, treatment facilities called sanatoriums sprung up around the country, but most were makeshift and could only care for a few patients at a time. One of these sanatoriums in Delaware, which was in desperate financial straits, was run by a doctor named Joseph Wales. Dr. Wales asked his cousin, Emily Bissell, for help in raising money to care for the patients. Emily came up with the fundraising idea of the Christmas Seals® and the American Lung Association has used this concept for over one hundred years.
For more information on the history of Christmas Seals® or to place your order, make a donation or to share your personal Christmas Seals® story please visit www.ChristmasSeals.org.
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About the American Lung Association in Georgia Now in its second century, the American Lung Association in Georgia is the leading organization in the state working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association in Georgia, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lungGA.org.
