Message from the President Foundation Applauds Retiring Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona Dear Colleagues, As Dr. Richard Carmona concludes his tenure as United States Surgeon General, the American Legacy Foundation® applauds his commitment in educating Americans about the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. In his recent report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, Dr. Carmona unequivocally stated that no level of exposure to secondhand smoke is safe. More than 126 million Americans, many of them children, are exposed to secondhand smoke and are at increased risk of death from lung cancer, heart disease and other tobacco-related illnesses. By elevating secondhand smoke exposure as a serious public health issue, Dr. Carmona reinforced the foundation's mission to build a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit. We hail his efforts to increase public awareness of the fact that tobacco-related disease is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, and we wish Dr. Carmona well in his future endeavors. Sincerely, Cheryl G. Healton, Dr. P.H. President & CEO American Legacy Foundation