Going the extra mile to make breathing a little easier, Dr. William Burke, Founder and President of the Los Angeles Marathon, will be honored by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, (AAFA) California Chapter. AAFA will present Dr. Burke with its 2005 Humanitarian Award at the Breath of Life Ball™ at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Tuesday, November 29th. 

Dr. Burke has held several prominent positions as a businessman and as a political leader in Southern California. For more than 10 years he has committed his time and resources to the environment, by serving on the Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD). Currently, he serves as Governing Board Chairman for the AQMD. He has also served as a Board Member for the State of California Air Resources Board, the Fire Commission of the City of Los Angeles and the California Coastal Commission.

Dr. Burke will be honored at the annual event along with Andrew Saxon, MD, the founder of the Division of Clinical Immunology-Allergy at the UCLA School of Medicine, who will be presented with the Physician of the Year award. Currently, he serves as Co-Director of the Conjoint Adult/Pediatric training program in Allergy and Immunology overseeing a broad array of research scientists, faculty and technicians. And this year’s Corporate Orchid Award will be given to Toyota. Whether focusing on vehicle emissions, their new Hybrid Synergy Drive vehicles or cabin air filters, Toyota’s successes have helped millions of people breathe easier. Toyota’s advancements have a positive effect, especially for asthma and allergy sufferers. 

The Mistress of Ceremonies for the 2005 Breath of Life Ball™ is ABC 7 Eyewitness News Anchor Leslie Sykes. Tickets can still be purchased for the Ball by calling 818-994-4661. For more information about AAFA, please call (800) 624-0044 or visit us online at www.aafa-ca.org.

The Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is the premier organization for those who suffer. AAFA is a non-profit voluntary health agency dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with asthma and allergies through education, advocacy and community outreach. 

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