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On Tuesday, The Breathing Association hosted a ribbon cutting celebration at our new building located at 741 East Broad Street. The momentous occasion marked not only our relocation, but our nearly 120 years of service to the community. The event was made possible by generous sponsorships from Behal Law Group and AndHealth.

The celebration began with opening remarks from President & CEO, Lori Sontag as well as Chairman of the Board, Edward Frantz. Ohio State Representative Dontavius Jarrells joined them to share his sentiments on the profound services that The Breathing Association provides to the community.  Ohio State Senator Hearcal Craig was unable to attend but sent kind remarks to be shared on his behalf, “…Today, as we cut this ribbon, we are not just opening a new building; we are opening the doors to new opportunities, new hope, and a brighter, healthier future for Columbus…”. A blessing of the occasion was given by Pastor Amy Miracle, of the Broad Street Presbyterian Church, and a reflective moment on the rich history was shared by long time former Board Member, Robert Behal. The celebration continued with a presentation of the Carrie Nelson Black Stewardship Award to Jim Havens of Havens Limited, for his outstanding support making ou relocation to the new facility possible.

The ribbon was cut, and guests were given a full tour of the new facility, seeing our full vision of the next 120 years of service to Central Ohioans. The event was attended by partners, sponsors, board members, community neighbors, a Columbus City Council Member, and friends of The Breathing Association. The celebration was also the official kickoff of the 2024 Breathe Strong, Live Long Capital Campaign that will raise $1.5 Million for the renovations and repairs to the building.

Strategically located on East Broad Street, the new facility provides ample space to accommodate our rapid growth and better serve the community’s needs. With an emphasis on accessibility, the relocation ensures that patients can easily access the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center for essential post-hospitalization care. By expanding medical facilities, including exam rooms and mobile diagnostic capabilities, The Breathing Association aims to enhance patient care and reduce hospital readmissions, ultimately lowering healthcare costs. To showcase our legacy in the community, we now have The Carrie Nelson Black Library, with historical books, keepsakes and photographs to share with guests.

Additionally, the new location will enable the organization to expand its outreach efforts, particularly in tobacco cessation and education through the Tobacco Treatment Center of Ohio. Moreover, increased capacity for the Ohio Department of Development Household Energy Assistance Program will facilitate smoother operations and better support for families facing utility burdens.

Volunteers are the heart of every nonprofit organization, and the relocation and renovations would not have gone as smoothly as they have without a dedicated team of volunteers lending time and talents. Leadership, staff and family have given countless hours of their time to make the new location a new home for The Breathing Association.

Since its founding in 1906 by Carrie Nelson Black during the Tuberculosis epidemic, The Breathing Association has been a cornerstone of charitable healthcare in Central Ohio. With a legacy of providing free healthcare services and extensive programs in lung health, nicotine cessation, and community assistance, the organization remains committed to improving lives for the next 120 years and beyond.

“We are delighted to celebrate this milestone in our organization’s history and look forward to continuing our mission of promoting lung health and wellness in Central Ohio,” said Lori Sontag, President & CEO of The Breathing Association.

June 25^th, 2024 at 2pm-4pm

Columbus, OH – The Breathing Association will celebrate the grand opening of our new facility at 741 East Broad Street with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 25th at 2pm. This momentous occasion marks not only the our relocation but also nearly 120 years of service to the community.

The event is made possible through generous sponsorships from Encova Insurance and AndHealth.

Our celebration will be attended by over 300 esteemed guests including partners, sponsors, friends, and government officials from the city, county, and state levels. Confirmed speakers include CEO Lori Sontag, and Board Chair Ed Frantz, who will share opening remarks, as well as other special guests. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the new facility guided by our leadership team.

Strategically located on East Broad Street, our new facility provides ample space to accommodate our rapid growth and to better serve the community’s needs. With an emphasis on accessibility, the relocation ensures that patients can easily access the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center for essential post-hospitalization care. By expanding medical facilities, including exam rooms and mobile diagnostic capabilities, The Breathing Association aims to enhance patient care and reduce hospital readmissions, ultimately lowering healthcare costs.

Additionally, our new location will enable the organization to expand  outreach efforts, particularly in tobacco cessation and education through the Tobacco Treatment Center of Ohio. Moreover, increased capacity for the Ohio Department of Development Household Energy Assistance Program will facilitate smoother operations and better support for families facing utility burdens.

Since its founding in 1906 by Carrie Nelson Black during the Tuberculosis epidemic, The Breathing Association has been a cornerstone of charitable healthcare in Central Ohio. With a legacy of providing free healthcare services and extensive programs in lung health, nicotine cessation, and community assistance, the organization remains committed to improving lives for the next 120 years and beyond.

“We are delighted to celebrate this milestone in our organization’s history and look forward to continuing our mission of promoting lung health and wellness in Central Ohio,” said Lori Sontag, President & CEO of The Breathing Association.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Jennifer Burroway
Director of Development & Marketing
The Breathing Association
Email: [email protected]

A historic Near East Side building has a new owner.

The Breathing Association plans to move to the building at 741 E. Broad St. in July. Jim Havens, principal at Havens Limited, bought the building for the nonprofit, and the organization is leasing it from him with the option to eventually buy it, CEO Lori Sontag said.

The building was put on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1980s.

The 117-year-old Breathing Association was founded during the tuberculosis outbreak in the 19th century. The nonprofit is the oldest free clinic in Ohio, and serves anyone with any lung health condition, including cessation from smoking or vaping, Sontag told me.

The Breathing Association also helps Central Ohioans with utility bills. In 2023, the organization helped more than 40,000 with their utilities.

The organization is funded mostly by donations and grants, said Jennifer Burroway, director of development for the Breathing Association.

Havens bought the Broad Street building for about $1 million. The Breathing Association is making some improvements to the inside of the building, built in 1942, which will cost another $5oo,ooo, Sontag said. Wellogy, a Dublin-based architect that specializes in healthcare design, is designing the modifications.

Moving the nonprofit to Broad Street will allow the Breathing Association to grow. It’s currently located on the first floor of the Columbus Urban League building on the Near East Side.

“Over the last two years, our growth caused us to need more space,” Sontag said. “We’ve seen that the demand is there; we think we’ll see more growth, especially in our clinic.”

The new building will allow the nonprofit to expand the clinic to treat broader health and wellness issues, Burroway said. The new location also has room for the Breathing Association to start a pulmonary rehabilitation center.

“We’re needed in the community,” Sontag said. “Without us, there would be a heavier burden on our area medical systems or people would have high medical bills that they never pay off.”

Netcare Access, a mental health clinic, previously owned the building.

Mike Simpson and Andrew Green of NAI Ohio Equities represented the seller in this deal.