Volunteer and Staff Awards

Dr. Linda Ford is a trailblazer in the fields of asthma, allergy and immunology, whose decades of leadership and service have transformed lung healthcare both locally and nationally. As founder of The Asthma & Allergy Center and a pioneering clinical researcher, she has led hundreds of studies that helped bring lifesaving asthma and allergy treatments to patients worldwide. 

A past National President of the American Lung Association and longtime volunteer leader, Dr. Ford has dedicated her career to advancing education, research and advocacy. From shaping national policy and professional standards to championing community-based initiatives like the Lung Force Expo in Omaha, her influence spans generations of patients, physicians and advocates. 

Dr. Ford’s commitment extends beyond medicine into mentorship, education and public service, especially in improving care for children with asthma. Her legacy is defined by innovation, leadership, and an unwavering dedication to ensuring healthier lungs and healthier lives for all. 

Linda is a key part of the American Lung Association’s history; her passion is definitely our gain and we have been the benefactor of decades of outstanding service. 

Dr. Jane Taylor exemplifies the heart of volunteer excellence through her compassion, leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing lung health. A dedicated advocate and educator, she has made an extraordinary impact across multiple regions by strengthening programs, elevating community engagement and championing inclusion at every level of service. 

From her early leadership in Kansas and Western Missouri to her continued impact in Pennsylvania, Dr. Taylor has helped shape key American Lung Association initiatives, including the Fight For Air Climb, LUNG FORCE Expo, and Asthma Educator Institute. As a top national fundraiser, raising more than $146,000 personally, and a skilled connector of people and purpose, she has inspired countless individuals to support the mission. 

Her innovative spirit is reflected in initiatives like the Zebra Award, which celebrates inclusive advocacy, and Tools to Schools, a collaborative program expanding asthma education for healthcare professionals. Whether mentoring peers, leading teams or advancing statewide partnerships, Dr. Taylor brings people together to create meaningful, lasting change. Her work continues to improve lives and strengthen communities in the fight for healthy lungs. 

Her dedication is indeed an asset to the Lung Association. Congratulations to Dr. Taylor on receiving the 2026 American Lung Association Volunteer Excellence Award! 

Peter Berger embodies the very essence of volunteerism, transforming personal adversity into powerful advocacy, leadership and impact. A 20-year firefighter/paramedic with the Broward Sheriff’s Office - Fire Rescue, Peter lives with COPD and cancer resulting from occupational exposure. Yet, he refuses to let these diagnoses define him. Instead, he has become a driving force for lung health awareness and change. 

Since joining the American Lung Association as a Fight For Air Climb participant in 2019, Peter has raised more than $160,000 individually and helped generate over $850,000 in total event revenue. As Chair of the Fight For Air Climb Miami, his leadership has elevated sponsorships to record levels and significantly expanded community engagement. Beyond fundraising, Peter serves on the COPD National Patient Advisory Council, leads advocacy efforts locally, and contributes nationally through education, media and public policy initiatives. 

With a relentless “give-it-my-all” mindset and a deeply personal commitment to improving the future for his three sons—and families everywhere—Peter Berger stands as a remarkable example of how one volunteer can create lasting, meaningful change. 

One could not ask for a more loyal, dedicated volunteer. Congratulations Peter on receiving the 2026 American Lung Association Volunteer of the Year Award. 

Lori Younker has built and sustained one of the American Lung Association’s most impactful mission portfolios, combining visionary leadership with operational excellence to improve lung health nationwide. Overseeing a $7 million budget and a team of 39, Lori drives programs that deliver measurable outcomes, including the Lung HelpLine, which supports more than 120,000 annual interactions, and the rapidly growing Lung Health Navigator program, which provides ongoing care that improves patient outcomes and quality of life. 

Under Lori’s leadership, these programs have grown through significant and innovative investments from national partners. She has also introduced creative outreach initiatives, including lung cancer screening awareness at major public events, and pioneered novel approaches such as integrating COPD screening into tobacco cessation services—an innovation with potential for national adoption. 

Beyond program innovation, Lori is widely recognized for empowering people—mentoring staff, building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of inclusion, positivity and shared success. Her ability to connect with individuals, develop talent and inspire collective action has strengthened the Lung Association’s reach and impact for decades. Through strategic vision, collaboration and an enduring commitment to service, Lori continues to elevate mission delivery and transform lives. 

Lori leads with the American Lung Association mission in the forefront, and we congratulate her on receiving the 2026 Hoyt E. Dearholt Distinguished Professional Service Award.  

Michelle Edwards has transformed the American Lung Association’s digital advocacy program, building a stronger, more responsive grassroots network that advances public policy and protects lung health nationwide. By modernizing the organization’s advocacy platform and leveraging data-driven strategies, she expanded campaigns from 180 to 311—a 73% increase—while doubling the average number of campaigns per state. 

Through close collaboration with advocacy teams across the country, Michelle ensures action alerts are timely, targeted and impactful, enabling rapid mobilization on critical issues. Her work has improved advocate engagement, strengthened reporting capabilities, and ensures policymakers hear directly from constituents at pivotal moments. 

Widely recognized for her collaborative spirit, responsiveness and strategic mindset, Michelle empowers colleagues with tools, guidance and innovative approaches—from message development to new engagement tactics like text and digital outreach. With nearly 37 years of dedicated service, Michelle Edwards continues to drive meaningful advocacy outcomes while fostering a culture of inclusion, support and shared success across the organization.

In response to a sector-wide, post-pandemic decline in charitable giving, Sophie Reeds led a transformative digital fundraising strategy at the American Lung Association grounded in donor insights and cross-team collaboration. By spearheading a comprehensive market research initiative, and aligning strategies across the Marketing, Development and Mission teams, she helped redefine how the organization engages supporters. 

The resulting FY2026 digital campaign integrated refreshed messaging, targeted audiences and expanded channels—including paid media, email and connected TV—leading to a 43% year-over-year increase in December paid media revenue and reversing a multi-year decline in year-end email giving. Through thoughtful leadership, strategic innovation and strong partnerships, Sophie not only drove immediate revenue growth but also established a more effective, donor-centric foundation for the future of fundraising.

Tom van Zijst transformed acknowledgment processing for the Constituent Services department by automating two critical, time-intensive workflows and delivering measurable gains in efficiency, accuracy and scalability. By streamlining acknowledgment letter sweeps and automating regional reporting, Tom reduced hours of manual work each week, accelerated turnaround times and minimized the risk of human error. 

These improvements have enabled faster, more reliable donor communications while freeing staff to focus on higher-value priorities. Beyond technical enhancements, Tom fosters a collaborative and supportive environment by providing clear documentation, training resources and hands-on guidance. His approachable, solutions-oriented leadership empowers team members to work more independently and confidently, strengthening both individual capability and overall organizational effectiveness. 

Hoyt E. Dearholt Distinguished Professional Service Award Recipients

• 1983  Jean McCorrison         
• 1984  Gerald W. Orr 
• 1985  Edward Carter 
• 1986  Hubert R. Slack 
• 1987  Franklin Brough 
  Andrew M. Mirabole 
• 1988  George R. Williams 
• 1989  Sandra R. Kessler 
• 1990  William J. Pfeifer 
• 1991  Donald R. Ford 
• 1992  Jack E. Damson 
  Fran DuMelle 
• 1993  John L. Chancellor, Jr. 
• 1994  James E. Pender 
• 1995  Karen A. Monaco 
• 1996  John L. Kirkwood 
• 1997  Dale C. Hollern 
• 1998  Astrid Berg 
• 1999  Norman Childs 
• 2000  Anthony P. Najer 
• 2001  Rolando Andrewn 
• 2002  Carl Booberg 
• 2003  Martha Bogdan 
• 2004  No Award Given 
• 2005  Harold Wimmer 
• 2006  Kathy Fackler 
• 2007  Karen Fulton Holine 
• 2008  Ed Miller 
• 2009  Janet M. Widmer 
• 2010  Carol Ruggieri 
• 2011  Deborah Brown 
• 2012  Paul G. Billings 
• 2013  Bill J. Pfeifer 
• 2014  Penny Gottier Fena 
• 2015  June Deen 
• 2016  Janice E. Nolen 
• 2017  Patrice McKone 
• 2018  Rusty Burwell 
• 2019 Brenda Olsen 
• 2020 Susan Rappaport 
• 2022 Joy Meyer 
• 2023 Sue Swan
• 2024 Kevin Stewart
• 2025 Cheryl J. Smoot
• 2026 Lori Younker

Will Ross Medal Recipients