Washington DC, Oct. 14, 2005 – On a recent trip to Washington, D.C. to promote and bring more awareness to Smoke Free Society and its cause, the founders, Rez and Linda Seyedin met with Florida state representatives on Capitol Hill. The meetings were held in the Senate Offices of Senator Bill Nelson, (D, Fla), Senator Mel Martinez (R, Fla) and the Congressional Office of Congressman Clay Shaw (R, Fla). The founders were well received and presented issues regarding smoking and the organization’s goals and mission to help smokers quit and educate children not to start smoking. Other topics such as funding and support for the organization as well as the challenges smokers face in smoke-free public areas and the workplace were also discussed.

“With over 440,000 Americans lost to smoking every year, over 43,000 children orphaned each year because of smoking-related deaths alone and 4,400 kids as young as 8 years old starting to smoke each and every day, we need to get everyone involved. And there’s no better place to start than Capitol Hill to get supports,” said founder, Rez Seyedin.

“Most alarmingly, more and more employers are forced to not hire smokers or terminate employees who smoke to cut costs – a smoker costs the employer an additional $9,300 a year. Smoke Free Society is geared to help with these issues to save smokers’ lives and their jobs. Furthermore, the current trend of smoking bans in public and the workplace has inadvertently created a hostile environment that can further divide smokers and nonsmokers. The organization’s goal as a nonprofit is to help create a loving and caring environment to provide the much-needed support the nearly 50 million American smokers (our loved ones) need to quit,” continued Seyedin.

The leadership and support from Capitol Hill will bring the much-needed attention and support to help further advance this most-needed and vital nonprofit. Because, with one out of four Americans smoking and the other three eager to help their loved ones quit smoking, Smoke Free Society Corporation is destined to become one of the most important national nonprofit organizations of the 21st century.

The Smoke Free Society website is a portal to an array of free information and facts to help educate everyone on the adverse effects of smoking. Its smoking cessation seminar, plans, programs and dedicated staff are ready to help you, your employees, friends, or loved ones quit smoking before it’s too late. Visit the website at www.SmokeFreeSociety.org today.

For related photos: http://www.smokefreesociety.org/Press/PRelease/Capitol-Photo.asp.