Breathe California -- Golden Gate Public Health Partnership

For the past 100 years, our local nonprofit has provided grassroots education, advocacy and patient services to fight lung disease, promote clean air and advance public health.

How do you help people in my community?

Since 1908, Breathe California’s focus has always been on promoting better breathing and better living here in our local communities.  As a result, we offer a number of vital education, prevention and patient support services for people residing in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.  This includes: asthma management classes for kids, parents and caregivers; tobacco education workshops in schools; lung disease support groups; clinics to help smokers kick the habit and pulmonary rehabilitation courses for lung disease patients.

In addition, our advocacy efforts are directed towards issues important to our local communities.  We promote policies to fight our region’s unique air quality issues, reduce tobacco use among our diverse populations, provide Bay Area residents with greater protection from secondhand smoke, and combat the local resurgence in tuberculosis.

Why do you need my support?

It is truly the support of individual donors that allows Breathe California to accomplish so much.  Every donation received can help us reach one more child suffering from asthma, one more teen who is considering smoking or one more emphysema patient in need of assistance.

Your donation will also go a long way to help our friends, neighbors, and co-workers breathe easier.  Every dollar makes a difference. More than half of our income comes from individual donors like you.  In addition to foundation/government grants and corporate gifts, we must raise $215 per hour, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year from individuals.  If we do not, we will not be able to provide all of the services needed in our community for years to come.  It is the help of many individuals who give whatever they can that enables us to provide local services for better breathing and healthier living.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

Breathe California places a high priority on ensuring that our donations are put to good use. Through a dedicated core of volunteers and stringent expense-control measures, our administrative costs remain very low.  As a result, 75˘ out of every dollar that you give directly benefits vital programs and services in our community. And because we focus all of our energy on local issues facing our community, you can be sure that your hard-earned money is making a difference for you and those around you.  We also run our office using Generally Accepted Accounting Principals guidelines and conduct an annual audit to verify our expenditures.

Can I Volunteer? How?

Breathe California works hand-in-hand with local volunteers to further our mission to fight lung disease, promote clean air and advance public health.  In addition to being governed by a local volunteer board of directors, we are proud to utilize volunteers to help coordinate our fundraising events, attend community health fairs, deliver health programs, or just help out around the office.  With a dedicated volunteer force, we can do even more with the money we raise.  We can always use help year-round and encourage anyone who would like to donate their time and talents to Breathe California to call us at (650) 994-5868 or to check out volunteer opportunities on our website: www.ggbreathe.org.