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Partnership provides free estate planning tools for patients

​The Giving Docs platform provides safe and secure access.

Traditionally, creating a will can be both time consuming and costly. To solve this, ACS is teaming up with Giving Docs to provide free access to a suite of estate planning essentials. The suite is now available for cancer patients and survivors and includes a guide on creating a free will and a durable power of attorney.

The tools can be accessed safely and securely on cancer.org or GivingDocs.com/cancer. In addition to a will, patients and survivors can access resources for beneficiary designation – as well as advance healthcare directive. There is no obligation for users to make a charitable contribution when accessing the tools.



  • Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Classic receives national attention

    ​More than 100 golfers raise awareness for ACS mission during two-day event. 

    Recently, Coaches vs. Cancer (CVC) held its annual National Golf Classic at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY. Described by attendees as one of their favorite ACS events, the two-day classic brought in $793,000 in donations surpassing its initial goal of $700,000, with more donations still coming in.

    The event received national attention on ESPN and welcomed several notable attendees. Sean Farnham, an ACS Board member and ESPN analyst, was in attendance, along with Carlos Boozer, a retired men’s basketball player and ACC Network commentator, who also showed his support by documenting and participating in the annual classic. Alex Myers, Golf Digest senior writer, secured a hole-in-one bringing major attention to the event with a video of this moment shared on SportsCenter.

    The excitement of this weekend was recapped by Golf Digest’s podcast ‘The Loop’ with Sean Farnham and Carlos Boozer inviting more exposure to the event. Locally, Channel 8 News attended and interviewed our very own CEO Dr. Karen Knudsen, as well as Brad Underwood, Illinois head coach and CVC Council chair. A media campaign with Golf Digest for our CVC Experience Auction in November 2023 continues to work toward part of a larger media partnership to help surface conversations about the cancer continuum. 

    In addition to national exposure and an unprecedented amount in donations, the American Cancer Society B. Thomas Golisano Hope Lodge, in Rochester, NY, and the impact of Hope Lodge communities across the US were recognized through a video shown at the event reception, commemorating a cancer survivor’s time at the Rochester lodge and raising another $173,000 in donations. 



  • First of its kind Relay For Life at Sea sets sail

    The American Cancer Society (ACS) is excited to embark on a first of its kind partnership with Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings (NCLH) through Relay For Life at Sea, which launched aboard the Oceania Insignia on June 19.
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    ​NCLH President and Chief Executive Officer Harry Sommers and ACS Chief Business Transformation Officer Rob Muller announced the partnership at the NCLH headquarters earlier in the month. To participate in Relay For Life at Sea, cruise guests will have the opportunity to donate a minimum of $25 and also receive a commemorative pin. Guests will be encouraged to track their laps during the designated Relay For Life at Sea event and funds raised will help improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support. Congratulations to Carmen Piles, director, ACS Corporate Relations, and the entire ACS Southeast Region team on this unique partnership.

    Pictured from left to right: Rob Muller, Jack Chadam ( ACS Area Board Member), Carmen Piles, Nikki Upshaw, vice president of Sales, Oceania, Wendy Johnson, ACS vice president, Florida, Joan Gonzalez, ACS senior executive director, Miami, Mike Rodriguez, ACS director, Development and Christina Lopez, ACS ​senior Corporate Relations manager.​

  • Replay: ACS leaders provide an inside look into the launch of new and innovative programs

    ​Learn more about EverYou, PAWS program and the ACS CARES app.

    On May 29, the American Cancer Society Leadership Annual Giving team hosted an insightful webinar now available to all ACS and ACS CAN donors, supporters and volunteers featuring three subject matter experts who shared new and innovative programs in our life-saving work. Brooke Street, director of Online Support Programs, joined the call to discuss more about the launch of the ACS' EverYou program, formerly known as TLC. She shared a sneak peek into the look of EverYou and the services it will provide, including the donation of wigs for cancer patients.

    Maggie Rogers, director of Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Support discussed the PAWS program (Pups Assisting with Support) - a dog assisted therapy provided for youth facing cancer. And, Nicole Robertson, director, Community Navigation, unveiled the ACS CARES app, a new patient navigation support program that connects people with quality curated information and one-on-one support.

    The call concluded with ACS employee, and six-time cancer thriver, Lainie Jones, sharing her inspiring story and the ways the American Cancer Society has supported her in her cancer journey.

    Catch the replay ​on YouTube.



  • ACS and Sleep Number bring home a Gold Halo Award

    ​On May 15, the American Cancer Society and Sleep Number Corporation were awarded the 2024 Gold Halo Award for Best Intersectional Initiative. The Engage for Good Halo Awards are one of the highest honors in corporate social responsibility and social impact initiatives. This year, more than 120 submissions across 15 categories from some of the biggest nationally recognized brands and nonprofit partners were up for consideration.  

    The Halo Award celebrates an incredible partnership with Sleep Number and our joint efforts to advance sleep-focused cancer research, cancer prevention, and patient support. What makes this honor even more special is being one of the very first winners in the category of Best Intersectional Initiative. As a brand-new category for 2024, ACS and Sleep Number are proud to set the standard for innovative partnerships that make a real impact.

    Since 2020, ACS and Sleep Number have worked tirelessly to push boundaries, innovate, and grow -- from revolutionizing cancer care through sleep-focused research to supporting our Hope Lodge communities with sleep solutions. This win also marks a special moment for both Sleep Number and ACS. It's Sleep Number's first Halo award, highlighting their commitment to social impact, while ACS enjoys its first win in over a decade. 

    Representatives from ACS and Sleep Number were honored to attend the Engage for Good Conference and the first-ever 'The Halos' Gala in Minneapolis. Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sleep Number, Shelley Ibach, and ACS EVP, ​North Region, Dave Benson, were on hand to accept the award, pictured above and at right.

    For more information on the partnership and its impact, visit cancer.org.

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  • Fit2BeCancerFree Employee Challenge surpasses 1.2M miles logged

    ​Step challenge winners are announced for 2024 campaign.​

    The ACS Fit2BeCancerFree Employee Challenge concluded May 9 with more than 2.7 billion steps tracked and more than $898,000 in donations. More than 21,000 participants joined the virtual step tracking challenge this year, which was open to all companies and CEOs and encouraged employers to rally colleagues, friends, and communities to get active in support of our work to end cancer.

    Through the MoveSpring app, the employee challenge participants experienced a virtual journey that encouraged steps each day, engaged employees with ACS through motivational milestones, and helped to raise funds for our mission. Congratulations and many thanks to the 2024 challenge winners in the following categories: 

    • National Employee Challenge Winner (most distance accrued): McKesson with a total of 237,718 miles.
    • Mission Impact Winner (most dollars raised): State Compensation Insurance Fund with $100,100 raised.
    • Highest Average Participation (highest average distance per participant): Acquis Consulting, pictured at right, with an average of 6.16 miles per participant per day.

    Fit2BeCancerFree kicked off on April 18 with the 24-hour CEO challenge, followed by the three-week Employee Challenge that concluded on May 9. The final leaderboard for all participating CEOs and organizations, including Team ACS, can be found at cancer.org/fit2be.

    Like and share the news on X.

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  • ACS and NFL Crucial Catch partnership amplified at NFL Draft in Detroit

    ​A week of exciting events demonstrated shared commitment to health equity.

    Since 2009, the National Football League (NFL) and the American Cancer Society have teamed up to fight cancer and save lives through the Crucial Catch initiative, which helps more people catch cancer early, and addresses the unequal burden of cancer in under-resourced communities. 

    During the 2024 NFL Draft week in Detroit, the league and ACS collaborated on a series of events to amplify the partnership and the shared commitment to health equity.

    NFL Draft Week Pre-events

    On April 22, the NFL, Detroit Lions, American Cancer Society, Henry Ford Health, and local community health center The Wellness Plan, hosted a healing arts activity for cancer patients and mammogram recipients. Research suggests art therapy helps relieve the emotional concerns of a cancer diagnosis. The visit was meant to demonstrate the partnership commitment to health equity during Minority Health Month and highlight the importance of early detection and effective follow-up care for improving breast cancer outcomes.  Henry Ford Health and The Wellness Plan are recent recipients of an American Cancer Society Links to Care grant funded and made possible by the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative.

    On April 23, ACS team members in Southeast Michigan hosted the Game Changer panel event at the Detroit Pistons practice facility to bring together 75 influential members of the community for a closed “friend-making” event. The panel featured NFL retired players and future draftees who provided insights from their NFL Draft experiences and shared their personal connections to cancer. 

    ACS Senior Executive Director of Michigan Jenni Beamer provided insight on cancer progress and needs in the market, encouraging attendees to keep conversations going to find solutions together. As an extension of the NFL’s partnership, the panel was moderated by our NFL partner, Communications Coordinator A’maiya Allen. 

    NFL Draft Days, April 26 -27 

    The NFL leveraged its draft stage platform, in front of a record-breaking number of attendees in Detroit, to highlight the causes it supports. The league invited a mother daughter duo, both breast cancer survivors, to join the event for a truly memorable experience that included backstage access to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and one of their sports heroes, Detroit Lions running back legend Barry Sanders, both pictured at right. The survivors also had the opportunity to share their story and highlight the importance of early detection, a key component of the NFL Crucial Catch.

    On the final day of the draft festivities, ACS was proudly represented on the stage by a pediatric cancer survivor who lost his leg and went on to play college football. He had the opportunity to announce the Denver Broncos pick during round 5.

    Crucial Catch

    Since 2009, Crucial Catch has raised more than $30 million and impacted more than 1 million people in communities that need it most. Money raised through Crucial Catch supports the ACS Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) program. The program promotes health equity and addresses cancer early detection disparities through community-based cancer prevention programs that increase access to necessary cancer screenings.   

     


  • Delta Jet Drag and Corporate Relay For Life raises $1.3 million

    ​Teams of 25 competed to pull a 255,000-pound Boeing 757 in the fastest time.

    On Friday, April 26, thousands of Delta Air Lines employees descended on Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to participate in the organization’s highly anticipated fundraising event of the year – the Delta Air Lines Jet Drag and Corporate Relay For Life.

    Now celebrating its 13th year, the Jet Drag consisted of more than 180 teams competing to see who can move a 255,000-pound Boeing 757 a total of 25 feet in the shortest amount of time. This year, more than 180 teams participated and even retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady got in on the action.

    ACS Chief Patient Officer Dr. Arif Kamal spoke at the opening ceremonies and team members from across the country, representing a broad cross-section of departments, were nominated to join the pull team this year on behalf of ACS. #TeamACSPull ranked eighth in fundraising, bringing in more than $19,000 for the mission. Congratulations to Linda Phillips, ACS accountant with the Finance & Strategic Operations team, for being the top ACS fundraiser this year!

    The day also included Delta’s corporate Relay For Life event, held at the same location, which is one of the largest corporate Relay For Life events in the U.S. This year, the Delta Jet Drag and corporate Relay For Life event raised more than $1.3 million for the American Cancer Society. Congratulations and many thanks to our friends at Delta, and all the ACS team members, who supported the event this year.

    A sample of the event media coverage includes:


  • Fit2Be Cancer Free CEO challenge winners named

    The 2024 ACS Fit2Be Cancer Free Challenge is gaining momentum! CEOs and their employees are using the MoveSpring app to compete in a virtual race through May 9. More than 18,700 are registered for the three-week employee challenge.​​​ ​To kick off the three-week virtual step competition, the Fit2Be CEOs Challenge took place on April 18 and 74 registered CEOs hit the pavement to log as many steps as possible during the challenge. Collectively, the CEOs totaled an amazing 3,131,916 steps during the 24-hour window.

    Congratulations to the top three finishers, and to the CEO most active on social media, during the 24-hour CEO Challenge:

    • 1st place: Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat, pictured above, at left - 189,914 steps, which is a new record!
    • 2nd place: Juan Diddi, Bristol Myers Squibb, pictured above, top right - 161,205 steps 
    • 3rd place: Craig Robinson (COO), FlowPlay, pictured above, middle right - 115,884 steps
    • Most Socially Active: Steve O’Loughlin, LHM, pictured above, bottom right - for the fourth consecutive year!

    “I am honored to be a champion for the battle to end cancer, a cause I care deeply about,” said CEO Challenge winner Ethan Brown. “As a member of CEOs Against Cancer, it is critical to use our influence for good. Through raising funds or supporting research and awareness on diet and cancer, the entire team at Beyond Meat hopes to make a contribution to the global effort to make cancer history!”

    The employee challenge began on April 19 and will run through May 9 for anyone who is still interested in joining. To date, more than 19,000 participants have already taken more than 450 million steps and raised nearly $500,000. Visit www.cancer.org/fit2be to track the Challenge leaderboard or to donate.
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