The American Cancer Society urges millions of smokers across the country to give up their cigarettes for the day, and perhaps a lifetime, for the 29th annual American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout, taking place Thursday, Nov. 17. Last year, nearly 2.3 million smokers gave up completely for the day.

One out of every three cancer deaths is due to tobacco. Besides lung cancer, tobacco use also causes increased risk for cancer of the mouth, nasal cavities, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and uterine cervix, as well as myeloid leukemia.

According to the American Cancer Society, within the first 20 minutes of quitting, blood pressure drops, increased circulation warms hands and feet, and heart rate goes down. In eight hours, carbon monoxide levels in blood drop to normal and oxygen levels in blood rise to normal. In 24 hours, the chance of having a heart attack begins to drop. In 48 hours, the sense of taste and smell improve.

Two weeks to three months after quitting, circulation continues to improve and lung function increases as much as 30 percent. One to nine months after quitting, coughing, fatigue, sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia regain normal function in the lungs reducing risk of infection.

One year after quitting, excess risk of heart attack and death from heart disease is cut in half. Five to 15 years after quitting, the risk of a stroke is reduced to that of a non-smoker.

After 15 years, the risk of lung cancer is only slightly higher than people who never smoked.

Call (800) NO-BUTTS to obtain help in quitting or more information.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) has launched a week-long salute to GLBT veterans. The week will include: an online forum of heterosexual veterans supporting their colleagues, profiles of GLBT veterans, a San Francisco event honoring the service of GLBT Americans and a Veterans Day rally in Oakland, Calif. According to the Urban Institute, more than 1 million lesbian and gay veterans currently live in the United States. Another 65,000 gays are on active duty and serving in the reserves and National Guard.

“America’s lesbian and gay veterans have been on the frontlines of every military mobilization and have played an integral role in our national defense since the American Revolution,” SLDN executive director C. Dixon Osburn said. “In 1993, during the debate on gays in the military, there was one area where agreement was universal: Gays have served honorably and with integrity. We are a strong nation and more free because of the service of gay and lesbian veterans. Their service must now be made visible and their sacrifice must be honored by allowing future generations to serve openly without the muzzle of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’”

Straight veterans will write about their experiences serving alongside lesbian and gay troops on the SLDN blog at www.sldn.org/blog.

On Veterans Day, SLDN will salute the service of GLBT veterans at an event in San Francisco. SLDN will also participate in a Veterans Day rally in Oakland, Calif. at 12:00 noon on Nov. 11.

The SBC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of SBC Communications Inc., awarded $125,000 in SBC Excelerator technology grants to 14 local nonprofit organizations in San Diego County.

SBC Excelerator is a philanthropic initiative that connects at-risk youth, underserved urban families and others in need to community resources. The program also assists nonprofits with technological upgrades to expand the reach of services and to heighten the impact those services have on people in the community.

Local grants recipients include: $24,970 to San Diego Futures Foundation to support the Seed the Need-Technology Services; $10,000 to The Center to support the Latino Services Project enhancing Web site and bilingual computer education training classes; $2,500 to Girl Scouts San Diego/Imperial Council to support the Girls Are Great Computer Upgrade project providing laptop computers for technology-based lessons in math and science; $6,250 to Senior Community Centers of San Diego to support the Technology Project, which will provide an improved technology system to increase administrative efficiency and improve the program’s outreach to senior; and $32,530 to the San Diego Regional Economic Development Foundation to support the San Diego County Homework Storage project providing for increased technology storage and training.

The SBC Foundation provided $6 million in 2005 SBC Excelerator competitive grants to 513 nonprofit organizations throughout the SBC 13-state region. The competitive grant program is part of an overall $7 million 2005 SBC Excelerator initiative.

Mama’s Kitchen has launched its first-ever Thanksgiving bake sale, Pie in the Sky. Volunteers are selling items through businesses, schools and organizations all over San Diego County until Nov. 16. The pies will also be available for pick-up at various sites on Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Through the sale of pumpkin, pecan and apple pies, which are donated by local pastry chefs, caterers and bakeries, Mama’s Kitchen hopes to raise enough money to fund 400,000 home-delivered, hot and nutritious meals to families in San Diego County affected by HIV/AIDS. The proceeds from the Pie in the Sky bake sale will enable the organization to continue its mission.

The new fund-raising event was initiated to recoup the recent losses in government funding, which totaled $115,000 in fiscal 2005. The event kicked off at Pie Central on Oct. 12, with a party featuring a celebrity pie-eating contest and an appearance by San Diego Charger Ben Leber.

“Each bite that you savor of these delicious pies will warm your heart when you consider that the proceeds are brightening the lives of thousands of San Diego’s most needy citizens,” said Alberto Cortès, executive director of Mama’s Kitchen.

For more information on how to participate, visit www.mamaskitchen.org. You can also purchase pies at Bourbon Street. Pie pickup is scheduled for Nov. 23, after 4:00 p.m. To order yours, call Michael Mack at (619) 602-9453.

Mama’s Kitchen was founded in 1990 when volunteers from the AIDS Assistance Fund, a food bank for people with AIDS, discovered that many of their clients were becoming too ill to take care of themselves. Today, Mama’s Kitchen prepares and delivers three meals a day for every day of the week to about 300 men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in San Diego County.

The Center announced local financial planner Jamie Fleming will join its board of directors. Fleming is president of Fleming & Associates, LLC, a full-service financial planning and investment advisory firm headquartered in San Diego.

Fleming is a certified financial planner and a certified retirement financial adviser. She is also a speaker and a published author who has written articles on a variety of financial planning topics including retirement, investing and estate planning. She serves as a speaker for The Society for Financial Education and Financial Solutions for Women.

“We are so fortunate to have Jamie Fleming join our board of directors,” board chair Richard Valdez said. “Jamie brings dedication, passion and commitment to the mission of The Center. Her professional experience will enhance our collective efforts to strengthen The Center.”

In addition to her professional work, Fleming has served as a volunteer with The Center and AIDS Walk, and was a rider in Pedal for a Cure, a 3,200-mile ride across America for breast cancer research. She also has been a member of the Greater San Diego Business Association for the last decade and is a past board member of the organization.

Fleming & Associates has consulted with prominent national nonprofit organizations such as the United Way of San Diego and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.