2026 Call for Nominations:
C. Everett Koop Unsung Heroes Award
In our work to create a tobacco-free future, many people work nonstop to prevent kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit. The C. Everett Koop award honors the individuals who work to change policy to prevent kids from starting and help tobacco users quit. These unsung heroes are the ones who make a tobacco-free future possible by working to end the tobacco epidemic. Please recognize your colleagues, friends and heroes who work in tobacco policy by nominating them for the Unsung Heroes’ Award. To nominate a candidate, please submit the following no later than Wednesday, March 11, 2026:
- A letter from the nominator outlining the reasons for the nomination, not to exceed two pages. This letter should highlight the nominee’s policy work and how that work has created change.
- A seconding letter, not to exceed one page.
Nomination materials must be grouped together and emailed to Matthew Nigro (Matthew.Nigro@Lung.org). If you have any questions, please contact Matthew at Matthew.Nigro@Lung.org or 202-719-2819.
2025 C. Everett Koop Unsung Heroes Award Recipient: Matt Pierce
Matt Pierce is a Senior Program Officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, where he leads the Foundation’s commercial tobacco control portfolio. Under his leadership, the Foundation has been advancing inclusion in the commercial tobacco control movement and working to advance policy change to reduce tobacco-related health disparities nationwide.
Matt has been instrumental in shaping and funding high-impact strategies to strengthen commercial tobacco control policies at the local, state, and national levels and in Indian Country. He played a key role in the creation of Building Capacity to Reduce Tobacco Inequities in the South and Midwest, a groundbreaking initiative now led by the Center for Black Health and Equity supporting community-driven policy change. His strategic approach has prioritized increasing funding for local organizations, ensuring they have the resources and autonomy to create solutions that work for their communities. Matt is also working with a number of organizations to support efforts to reclaim sacred tobacco among American Indian communities.
From supporting advocacy on smokefree housing and tribal health to backing research on disparities tied to menthol and flavored tobacco products, Matt has guided investments that reflect a deep commitment to equity-centered strategies. Through his strategic vision, Matt has significantly advanced policymaking in commercial tobacco control. His work has helped drive meaningful regulatory progress while ensuring that public health laws and policies reflect the needs of historically underserved populations.
The American Lung Association is proud to recognize Matt Pierce as the 2025 C. Everett Koop Unsung Hero award recipient.
Page last updated: January 13, 2026
