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NFL Crucial Catch kicks off October

​ACS and NFL are tackling cancer together!

Football season is well underway, but the NFL Crucial Catch campaign is helping to kick off October with a slew of activities to amplify the ACS mission and increase cancer screening. Now in its 16th season, Crucial Catch is a year-round initiative in partnership with ACS to educate fans on the importance of taking their health into their own hands. 

Every October the campaign features players (ambassadors), coaches, fans, and referees in apparel supporting multiple types of cancer, as well as additional on-field and in-stadium branding to help raise awareness for the campaign. This initiative is a touchdown for early detection and risk reduction, using our nation's love of football to raise awareness and save lives. 

nfographic with text 

Here's what makes Crucial Catch a game-changer:  

  • Raising awareness: Since 2009, the campaign has raised more than $30 million to fund our mission. 
  • Early detection saves lives: Crucial Catch highlights the importance of early detection for multiple types of cancer, including breast cancer. 
  • Empowering communities: Funds raised support the ACS Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) program, providing vital resources to under resourced communities. A map of all NFL funded CHANGE Grants, Links to Care Grants, and IMPACT ECHO initiative sites can be found here. 
  • Driving action: The Defender, presented by Sleep Number in partnership with the NFL, is an interactive tool that now offers a refreshed look, a brand-new quiz, and upgraded resources to help assess cancer risk and find local screening options. You can amplify this unique resource by sharing The Defender quiz on social media. Please use #CrucialCatch #NFL #ACS #poweredbypartnership when sharing. 
  • Support the cause with Crucial Catch gear: Did you know that when you support your favorite team, you support the cause at the same time? The NFL donates 100% of its proceeds from Crucial Catch merchandise to the American Cancer Society to provide cancer screenings and resources to under resourced communities. Get your gear and shop now! 

Football games schedule 


  • Corporate partner activations heat up

    ​Chevy and Xponential Fitness promotions drive revenue in October.​​​

    In addition to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Men Wear Pink campaigns, corporate partnerships are also helping to drive revenue in support of the breast cancer fight this October. For more than 13 years, Chevrolet has been a driving force in the fight against breast cancer, raising over $20 million. The #WeDriveFor campaign serves as an extension of that work and a rally cry, highlighting the collective action of Chevrolet, the American Cancer Society and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in driving awareness and support in the movement to end breast cancer as we know it, for everyone.

    From Oct. 1 – 31, Chevrolet will be contributing $5 to ACS for each hashtag #WeDriveFor used across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X. Sharing posts with #WeDriveFor also raises funds – this includes sharing posts in-feed, on stories on Facebook and Instagram and retweets on X.

    You can help! Join us this October by sharing or resharing a post with #WeDriveFor. Every share helps! ACS team members and supporters can access the activation toolkit by logging on to Brand Central to download . Check out this #WeDriveFor Partner Post.

    ACS is also excited to partner with Xponential Fitness this month to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer.

    Xponential Fitness is the largest global franchise group of health and wellness brands with nine brands and nearly 3,000 studios located in 48 states and 16 countries. These brands include Club Pilates, Pure Barre, CycleBar, StretchLab, Rumble Boxing, YogaSix, Lindora, BFT, and AKT. 

    Through this new partnership, Xponential’s family of brands will activate in support of the ACS during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, including donation-based classes and offering a percentage of breast cancer related merchandise sales to raise funds for American Cancer Society.

    ACS team members can reference the field activation guide for additional information and guidance.


  • Power of Pink Day is Oct. 2

    ​Help ACS amplify our community presence this October.​​

    October is right around the corner and there are so many ways to support ACS in our movement to end breast cancer. On Wednesday, Oct. 2, all supporters are invited to take part in the annual Power of Pink Day! In addition, all registered participants for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Men Wear Pink are encouraged to help amplify our community presence and support the fight to end breast cancer as we know it, for everyone. From wearing pink and posting on social media, to sharing your personal fundraising page or celebrating a survivor or thriver with a donation, this day encourages anyone and everyone to turn your passion into power and join forces with ACS.

    Mark your calendar and determine how you can support Power of Pink Day on Oct. 2:

    • Proudly wear pink and share on with followers on social media. A Power of Pink Day social toolkit makes it fun and easy. Invite your family and friends to join the movement and help end breast cancer as we know it, for everyone! Don’t forget to use #ACSPowerofPink or #MakingStrides[your local event]
    • It’s not too late to sign up for your Making Strides local event or Making Strides On The Go! Visit MakingStridesWalk.org to get started.
    • If you’re already signed up, take a moment to share the link to your personal fundraising page or make a small donation to a friend or colleague who is fundraising for ACS.

    The Power of Pink Day is just the beginning! Stay tuned to ACS news channels for more information on the latest breast cancer activations, partnerships, and promotions in the month of October.



  • Janus Henderson offers money market fund to support ACS advocacy, research and patient support

    ​Innovative partnership yields at least $1M per year through 2027 for ACS mission.

    On Sept. 16, the American Cancer Society and Janus Henderson, a global active asset manager, announced an innovative partnership to support cancer research, advocacy, and patient support.

    Through this pioneering initiative, Janus Henderson will donate an amount equal to half of its management fees for all assets under management from Janus Henderson’s Government Money Market Fund to ACS. Janus Henderson has committed to donating a minimum of $1 million per year to ACS for the next three years through this innovative partnership to support the fight against cancer.

    "Together with Janus Henderson, we are supporting cancer patients and families across the cancer continuum by partnering in this innovative fundraising method,” said CEO Dr. Karen Knudsen. “Their generous support will increase our ability to fund groundbreaking research, advocate for better access to care at the federal and local levels and provide direct patient support to help us end cancer as we know it, for everyone.”

    Janus Henderson’s partnership with ACS is part of Janus Henderson’s Brighter Future Project. To learn more about this initiative, please visit Janus Henderson | American Cancer Society.

    The American Cancer Society does not endorse any service or product. Shares of Janus Henderson Government Money Market Fund are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by the ACS, and the ACS is not an investment adviser or service provider to the Fund, Janus Investment Fund, or Janus Henderson.

    Pictured above are, left to right, Janus Henderson Investors Head of Innovation Nick Cherney, ACS CEO Dr. Knudsen, and Janus Henderson Investors CEO Ali Dibadj.


  • BrightEdge Entrepreneurs Program applications are open

    ​Help us spread the word to early-career cancer-focused scientists and innovators.

    The BrightEdge Entrepreneurs (BEE) Program is open! This selective 10-month program for mentorship, funding, and resources from the American Cancer Society helps young entrepreneurs develop their cancer-focused innovations and make a real impact. BrightEdge Entrepreneurs is a new program built to train and equip scientific entrepreneurs to effectively launch companies that will advance research discoveries for the benefit of patients.

    Designed for early-career researchers, the BEE program empowers participants to simultaneously advance their technical expertise and propel their budding commercial ventures. Entrepreneurs are selected based on their alignment with the mission priorities of the ACS and BrightEdge's investment focus areas.

    How you can support us in reaching new entrepreneurs

    • Help us get the word out. Share this LinkedIn post with your networks and colleagues.
    • The application deadline is Nov. 9 for the for our February 2025 program. Applications and more background can be found at acsbrightedge.org.
    • For questions about this program or other innovation programming, please contact the BrightEdge Innovation team.
    ​

  • Whirlpool reaches partnership milestone with Hope Lodge

    ​Communities celebrate $2M in-kind appliances donations.

    Whirlpool Corporation has reached a significant milestone in its partnership with the American Cancer Society, celebrating more than $2 million in in-kind appliance donations to the Hope Lodge communities. This achievement is a testament to Whirlpool's longstanding commitment to supporting ACS in extending the comforts of home to Hope Lodge guests across the country.

    Since 2007, Whirlpool has provided essential appliances to each of the 31 Hope Lodge locations across the country. In 2023 alone, Whirlpool donated 192 appliances, and on average, the company donates over $100,000 in appliances annually.

    Whirlpool plays a crucial role in maintaining and upgrading appliances at existing Hope Lodges, fully furnishing new locations, such as those in Houston and Jacksonville in 2019, and ensuring that the facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art appliances. The demand on these appliances is significant, given that Hope Lodge guests stay on average 16 days, using appliances daily, helping to maintain the feel of a home away from home.

    Whirlpool's partnership with ACS reflects a shared commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those affected by cancer. “We are honored to contribute to improving life for cancer patients through their challenging journey by providing appliances to make Hope Lodges truly feel like a home away from home,” said Rosa Skinner, senior manager of Global Social Responsibility at Whirlpool Corporation.

    This collaboration is a powerful example of how partners can enhance the services provided at Hope Lodge, offering comfort, care, and a sense of home to those who need it most. Visit cancer.org for more information on our Hope Lodge communities.

    Pictured at right is Leamon "Grant" West, a former guest at Hope Lodge in Lubbock, TX.



  • Donate your sci-fi themed merch for online auction

    ​Support Discovery Shop in its first ever sci-fi-themed eBay event this October.​

    The American Cancer Society Discovery Shop program has a special request of all team members and supporters! The program is looking for items to feature in a first ever sci-fi-themed eBay charity auction event, happening Oct. 7 - 4. The goal is to offer 500 high-value items for customers to bid on, such as Star Wars memorabilia, video games, trading cards, mid-century modern jewelry, home décor, and unique clothing pieces. Your help is needed to collect donations and make this event a huge success.

    Anyone can support the auction from anywhere in the United States with these three easy steps:

    1. Send a brief description of the item(s) you are donating to Chris Avalos, eCommerce manager for the Discovery Shops. The deadline to donate is Oct. 1. 
    2. Once the item is reviewed, the donor will receive a printable FedEx shipping label to send in the donated item.
    3. The donor can print the label, box up the item, and drop off the package at a local FedEx or Mail Boxes Etc. location.

     *Bonus: a tax-deductible slip will be issued for all donations!

    You can also support us by bidding on listed items! 

    Save the dates of Oct. 7 - 14 and browse the ACS eBay site -- you might just find a treasure you can't resist! 



  • Summit sets the stage for 2025 Relay For Life season

    ​Campus Leadership preps for 40th anniversary year.

    “Ending Cancer Starts On Campus,” the new slogan of the Campus Relay For Life Program, was a central focus as volunteers and ACS team members representing the top-performing and rising star campus Relay For Life events gathered in St. Charles, IL, on July 26 - 28. The Campus Relay For Life Leadership Summit, led by the volunteer National Campus & Youth Engagement Team (NCYET) and their ACS partners, rallied around a “Be Bold” call to action as we prepare for the exciting 40th anniversary of Relay For Life in 2025. Throughout the weekend, the summit created a best-in-class experience for top and rising star events, recognized event results, and provided the opportunity to share new and exciting updates ahead of the 2024 - 2025 season. Attendees are pictured below. 

    “This year we wanted to be different from our meetings in the past to align with current trends. We selected a different type of venue, a different schedule, new ideas, and new focus to ensure our volunteers and ACS event partners felt supported as they plan for the next school year,” said Dillon Spencer, director, College & Youth Engagement. 

    Two representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) who specialize in the Youth Relay For Life program joined the summit to demonstrate the partnership between our organizations, and Helen Kiroplis from the CCS served as the master of ceremonies for the event to help bring a new fun energy that kept everyone going the entire weekend.

    During the weekend, volunteers and their ACS partners received specialized training on leadership development, tackling accountability conversations, and planning experiences that everyone wants to participate in. Saturday night also featured an awards ceremony where the top five events were recognized, and events were also recognized for year-over-year growth in revenue, teams, participants and survivors. The ceremony also featured volunteers from Relay For Life of Union County Vocational Tech School and Relay For Life of Northeastern University to share more about how they were successful with yearly growth.

    Yash Gursahani, NCYET Top Performers chair, stated, “The Campus Leadership Summit went better than I could have imagined. The big goal for me was getting students to connect beyond their obvious love for Relay For Life. I think we really succeeded, and I cannot wait to see them collaborate through the next year.”

    To see which events were invited and all materials presented at the summit, visit https://www.acsresources.org/campus/leadershipsummit/ 



  • P2P community fundraising events expand payment methods

    ​Venmo and Apple Pay now available via websites and FUNdraising app.

    Peer-to-peer (P2P) community fundraising donors can now complete their transaction in just a few clicks, using their desired payment method!  

    All ACS P2P community fundraising event websites on Blackbaud, as well as the ACS FUNdraising App, now accept donations with expanded digital wallets, including Venmo and Apple Pay. Venmo and Apple Pay join PayPal and credit card as available payment options on the community fundraising web experience. On the ACS FUNdraising app, Venmo joins existing options of Apple Pay, GPay, PayPal, credit card and check. 

    Additional resources and information about the new payments methods are available at acsresources.org.
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