American Lung Association Announces New Chief Executive Officer; Lung Association's John Kirkwood to Take Office July 1, 2001.

Business/Health Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 2001

The American Lung Association today announced that John L. Kirkwood has been named the association's new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2001. Kirkwood is currently the Executive Director of the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago.

"We are thrilled that someone with nearly 30 years experience with the American Lung Association turned out to be the top candidate for this position," said John M. Coruthers, President of the American Lung Association. "John Kirkwood's experience in directing one of the Lung Association's strongest organizations for so many years as well as a number of nationwide research and fundraising initiatives makes us confident that he has the leadership and business focus necessary to help us achieve our mission of a world free of lung disease," added Coruthers.

John Kirkwood began his career with the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago in 1968 where he served on the program staff, working on the Lung Association's first air quality program. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Associate Director of Educational Services followed by Director of the Department of Environmental Health. Kirkwood left the American Lung Association briefly in 1972 to serve as Director of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region V where he was active in state and local lobbying.

In 1975, Kirkwood returned to the American Lung Association where, for the past 25 years, he has been the Executive Director of the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago serving as spokesperson for the constituent as well as overseeing all internal operations, program development and external relations.

On the national front, Kirkwood spearheaded the American Lung Association's Asthma Clinical Research Centers initiative. This $20 million project has enabled the Lung Association to expand its research capabilities in an effort to help improve the lives of the millions of Americans who have asthma, 10.6 million of whom have experienced an asthma attack in the past year.

John Kirkwood will succeed John R. Garrison as the CEO. Garrison is retiring from the organization after serving eleven years as Chief Executive Officer.

The American Lung Association has been fighting lung disease for nearly 100 years. With the generous support of the public and the help of volunteers, we have seen many advances against lung disease. However, our work is not finished. As we look forward to our second century, we will continue to strive to make breathing easier for everyone through programs of education, community service, advocacy, and research. The American Lung Association's activities are supported by donations to Christmas Seals(R) and other voluntary contributions. You may obtain additional information via the American Lung Association Web site at http://www.lungusa.org.