In October 2024, the American Nonsmokers’ Right Foundation presented 14 awards across six categories to individuals, organizations, and businesses for exceptional community organizing, political campaigns, and stellar research all leading toward achieving the goal to improve public health and reduce health disparities by protecting everyone from exposure to secondhand smoke. 

Catalyst Award 

Carol McGruder, Valerie Yerger and Dr. Phil Gardiner are the founders of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council who have initiated and have galvanized a national movement to have menthol removed from tobacco products.  This award recognizes their tenacious perseverance and advocacy efforts, acknowledging that their tireless work has made a difference and will help save countless lives for generations to come.

Excellence in Academic Research

Three esteemed researchers were recognized:

  • Suzaynn F. Schick, PhD, for her steadfast commitment to public health and for continuously spreading awareness on the science of secondhand smoke to community decision makers across the nation;
  • Michael Tynan, MPH, for his work to promote healthy environments for workers, especially casino workers, and documenting secondhand smoke exposure levels in smoke-filled casinos: “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Your Lungs”; and 
  • Eric Crosbie, PhD, MA, for his continued work to study levels of secondhand smoke in non-gaming areas of casinos where workers, families and the public are exposed. 

Maintaining the Smokefree Gain 

Alliance for a Healthy Montana – For preventing roll-back attempts in 2023-24 from electronic cigarettes and the cigar bar industries and for defeating efforts to defund Montana’s Tobacco Use Prevention Program.

Tobacco Free Nebraska – For strengthening policies in Nebraska to include opening new casinos smokefree. Congratulations on your successful efforts to protect the public and workers in Nebraska’s state-licensed casinos. 

Tribal Smokefree Advocacy Award 

Jay Macedo – For his tenacious perseverance and advocacy efforts with the Yurok Tribe. His tireless work made a difference and will help save countless lives for generations to come.  

The Yurok Tribe – For its leadership safeguarding public health and adopting the comprehensive Yurok Tobacco Responsibility Ordinance. The Yurok Tobacco Responsibility Ordinance is unique compared to most other Tribal commercial tobacco policies because it includes: All commercial tobacco products – cigarettes, vapes, chew, and emerging tobacco products – are prohibited while exempting Yurok traditional tobacco use.

Advancing Workers Justice Award 

United Auto Workers (UAW) was recognized for its leadership and members of Region 9 for prioritizing smokefree air to guarantee worker health and safety, particularly casino workers in NJ and PA.  

Smokefree Business Award

PARX Casino – in acknowledgment of its leadership for providing a safe, smokefree environment for all employees and patrons in their Pennsylvania properties.

In addition, the American Lung Association presented the C Everette Koop Award – Unsung Hero Award to some exceptional individuals who tirelessly work to bring smokefree air to their workplaces. The award was presented to the members of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) that have inspired a strong worker-led movement for smokefree casinos. CEASE leaders and members are frontline casino workers including table games dealers, slot techs, cleaning staff, and security officers. With no background in politics or public health, these individuals have become seasoned spokespeople in the press and advocates with legislators. They have used their personal time to attend hearings, rallies, media events, and meetings with lawmakers and legislative staff in their efforts to achieve permanent smokefree workplace protections.

Recognizing those that exemplify bravery, advocacy and excellence in the pursuit of smokefree air for all was a highlight of 2024 Clearing the Air gathering. See the full recap above with the proud and beaming faces of this year’s award recipients, and see a video about Clearing the Air® Institute below.

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ABOUT AMERICANS FOR NONSMOKERS’ RIGHTS Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR), sister organization to ANR Foundation, is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for nearly 50 years, since 1976, to protect everyone’s right to breathe nontoxic air in workplaces and public places, from offices and airplanes to restaurants, bars, and casinos. ANR has continuously shined a light on the tobacco industry’s interference with sound and life-saving public health measures and successfully protected 61% of the population with local or statewide smokefree workplace, restaurant, and bar laws. ANR aims to close gaps in smokefree protections for workers in all workplaces, including bars, music venues, casinos, and hotels. For more information, please visit https://nonsmokersrights.org and https://smokefreecasinos.org.

ABOUT Clearing the Air® Institute ANR Foundation’s Clearing the Air® Institute is the only tobacco control conference focused on smokefree air and gaps in protections, and features specific information on smokefree workplaces, secondhand smoke and e-cigarette aerosol, multi-unit housing, marijuana, casinos, menthol and flavors, colleges, and more. See: https://clearingtheairinstitute.com/