Tony-Award Winning Actress Anika Noni Rose Helps With Asthma Awareness

Note to Editors: Ms. Rose may be available for interviews to discuss the American Lung Association’s Christmas Seals Campaign and her own personal battle with asthma. Please contact Carrie Martin, Carrie.Martin@lung.org for more information.

Washington, D.C. (October 11, 2011)—

The American Lung Association announced its 2011 Christmas Seals Celebrity Chairperson today: actress, singer and Tony Award winner, Anika Noni Rose.

Throughout the history of the American Lung Association’s Christmas Seals Campaign, celebrities and entertainers ranging from Cary Grant and Shirley Temple to Bob Hope and Cybil Shepherd have all lent their time and talents to raise visibility for the more than century old fundraising campaign.

“We are thrilled that Anika Noni Rose is helping the American Lung Association raise visibility for this year’s Christmas Seals Campaign and at the same time, raise awareness about the importance of asthma-management,” said Charles D. Connor, President and CEO of the American Lung Association.

Ms. Rose is the star of such Broadway shows as Caroline, or Change and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and hit films like Dreamgirls and Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. Her television credits include HBO’s  No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and most recently CBS’s The Good Wife. She has joined the American Lung Association as Christmas Seals Celebrity Chairperson to share her story and speak out for those with asthma.

Ms. Rose’s battle with asthma started in graduate school, when she was official diagnosed with the disease.

According to Ms. Rose, “I didn’t believe the doctor. Then one day I was sitting in my living room and I kept hearing this high-pitched whistle – one of those background noises that can drive you batty! I went around the house checking the stove, the heater and even turned off the TV. I finally realized it was me. It was my chest whistling! That was the beginning of my journey with asthma, which attacks the very thing that makes my living – my voice, my air.”

Christmas Seals, holiday stamps used to decorate cards and packages, were first issued by the Lung Association in 1907 to combat tuberculosis. Today, the money raised through the Christmas Seals Campaign helps the Lung Association fight new battles against asthma, lung cancer, influenza, tobacco use, air pollution and more. The Christmas Seals Campaign is the nation's oldest direct-mail fundraising campaign, and the most successful campaign of the year for the American Lung Association.

“I want to do everything I can to help people with asthma better manage their disease,” said Ms. Rose. “My personal experience with asthma has been a big struggle. Serving as the Lung Association’s Christmas Seals Celebrity Chairperson will help me help other people with asthma to better manage their disease in order to lead a healthy and productive life.”

For more information on the American Lung Association’s Christmas Seals Campaign, visit www.ChristmasSeals.org.

About the American Lung Association
Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization 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 or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lung.org.

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About the American Lung Association
Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization 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, a Charity Navigator Four Star Charity and holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.LungUSA.org.