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Fetching smiles, one wag at a time

In conjunction with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Dog Therapy Awareness Month, ACS is excited to award 15 grantees $10,000 each as part of the ACS Pups Assisting with Support (PAWS) facility dog program. The program aims to expand access to specially trained facility dogs in pediatric oncology settings to improve the lives of children and teens with cancer, along with their families and care teams. Grant recipients must use the funds to launch a facility dog program or sustain and enhance an existing one. Funds may be used for expenses such as veterinary care, grooming, acquisition of a new facility dog, tools to enhance animal-assisted therapy visits, training for facility dog handlers, improving or maintaining dog facilities like respite areas, and more.

The third cohort of ACS PAWS includes four previous grantees (indicated with an asterisk). The 2025 – 2026 ACS PAWS grantees are:

Beacon Health System, South Bend, IN
Children’s Hospital of Orange County*, Orange, CA
Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY
Children’s National Medical Center*, Washington, D.C.
Huntsville Hospital Health System, Huntsville, AL
James & Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center, Greenville, NC
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital*, St. Petersburg, FL
M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, Minneapolis, MN
MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Long Beach, CA
Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando, FL
Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA
Shawn Jenkin’s Children’s Hospital, Charleston, SC
UNC Health, NC Basnight Cancer Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC
University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, IA
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics*, Madison, WI

The third cohort will begin on Monday, Sept.1, 2025, and will end on Aug. 31, 2026. Applications for the fourth cohort of ACS PAWS grants will open in Feb. 2026.

Animal-assisted therapy for hospitalized children has been shown to decrease symptoms like anxiety, stress, depression, and pain, and increase quality of life indicators like feelings of joy and calmness, positive memories from hospitalization, and improved sense of well-being. Animal-assisted therapy has also been shown to decrease parenting stress and is considered a safe and desirable intervention for children with cancer.

Since 2023, ACS PAWS has supported hospitals in providing more than 16,400 facility dog visits to children and teens with cancer, equating to over 6,600 hours of joy for patients and families.

Learn more about supporting children through cancer treatment at cancer.org.

(Pictured above, a PAWS facility dog working with the program earlier this year.)

September campaign asks men to Know Your Score
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men after skin cancer, with more men being diagnosed at later stages ─ making early detection more critical than ever. During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month this September, ACS is raising awareness about the importance of timely prostate cancer screening. Leading with a sports-focused message to “Know Your Score,” the integrated campaign seeks to motivate men to ask a doctor about prostate cancer screening. The core message for this year’s campaign is Know Your Score. Get Screened. Save Lives.
Our MVP Survivor, Thanks to Screening
Former National Basketball Association (NBA) player and Basketball Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning will be featured in this year’s campaign. Alonzo was diagnosed with stage III prostate cancer early in 2024. He had surgery in March 2024 and is now cancer free. He is determined to advocate for men to ask their provider about prostate cancer screening. Now, he’s advocating for men to learn their risk and get screened.
Prostate Cancer Facts
Cancer screening is for people without symptoms. Prostate cancer screening can help find cancer early, when it may be easier to treat.
The number of advanced stage prostate cancer diagnoses is increasing, after decades of decline.
At age 50, men at average risk should talk to a health care provider about prostate cancer screening. Men at increased risk of developing cancer should have that conversation earlier than age 50. Read the full prostate cancer screening guidelines.
In 2025, an estimated 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the US and 35,770 men will die from the disease.
Prostate cancer has the greatest mortality disparities of any cancer.
Black men have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. They are also more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage and have a higher mortality rate compared to other racial and ethnic groups. There are also disparities among Native American men compared to White men. They have higher mortality despite lower incidence.
Take Action
Visit http://cancer.org/getscreened to learn more about prostate cancer screening and find a screening location near you.
Knowing your cancer risk can help you prevent it. Take the ACS CancerRisk360 assessment today at cancer.org/cancerrisk.
Aug 25, 2025
- Mission Delivery
ACS and Pfizer fund grants at seven institutions
The American Cancer Society and Pfizer External Research & Grants are collaborating to distribute grants to address barriers to cancer care for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) individuals in cancer treatment. Seven institutions were notified last week that their proposals were accepted after a competitive review process. Each project will receive up to $250,000 for the grant period from Aug. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2027. The institutions receiving grants are:
Billings Clinic (Montana)
CHRISTUS St. Vincent Hospital (New Mexico)
Mobridge Regional Hospital (South Dakota)
Northern Arizona Healthcare (Arizona)
Oregon Health and Science University (Oregon)
University of Southern California (California)
University of California, Irvine (California)
The grants program supports quality improvement projects aimed at reducing cancer treatment disparities and strengthening collaborations to improve cancer care for AIAN and NHPI individuals facing cancer, with an emphasis on addressing cultural and geographic barriers. Each project includes a planning phase that will engage community organizations in identifying barriers and needs unique to the AIAN and/or NHPI population served by the awarded organization. Awarded projects include activities such as the development of culturally informed patient navigation programs, implementation of a care coordination model for integrating Community Health Workers (CHW) into cancer care, and facilitation of a hub-and-spoke approach to care between navigators, community primary care and specialty care providers, and comprehensive cancer centers.
The Patient Support Implementation Science team will administer the grant program in collaboration with Pfizer.
"Our previous partnership grant programs with Pfizer have successfully removed barriers to screening and care for populations disproportionately affected by breast and prostate cancer disparities," said Dr. Laura Makaroff, senior vice president, Cancer Prevention. "We are looking forward to building on that success with the selected grantees and breaking down more barriers to essential cancer care for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) individuals."
Jul 28, 2025
- Mission Delivery

ACS EMPOWER launches nationwide
The ACS EMPOWER program launches nationwide to all 31 Hope Lodge locations on July 23. The pilot program began in December 2024 at four Hope Lodge sites. An additional five sites were launched in April.
ACS EMPOWER is a complimentary educational initiative designed for individuals affected by cancer and their caregivers. It features in-person sessions that promote overall well-being, facilitate community connections, offer resources for navigating cancer, and deliver emotional support. It is available to Hope Lodge guests, caregivers, and people with cancer in the surrounding community.
“We recognized a need to further support people on their cancer journey, integrating a focus on whole-person health into the Hope Lodge experience. ACS EMPOWER is designed to help people elevate their quality of life by fostering resilience, connection, and well-being,” said Tamara Fernandez, vice president, Hope Lodge.
The seven elements of ACS EMPOWER are designed to create a comprehensive support system for people with cancer and their caregivers. Activities aimed at physical resilience, fun, and self-expression are integral to promoting emotional and physical health. This multifaceted approach ensures that participants can achieve and maintain wellness throughout their treatment journey.
Engage: Connect to knowledge and support communities, strengthen social networks, and combat exclusion, and isolation
Move: Strengthen, energize, and destress with physical resilience activities
Play: Harness the power and positive impact of fun at any age; evoke joy and laughter, reduce anxiety, and embrace teamwork
Optimize: Position to achieve and maintain comprehensive physical and physiologic wellness during active treatment and beyond
Waken: Elevate consciousness, unleash creativity, and embrace self-expression to support healing
Enrich: Explore the benefits of complementary, functional, and integrative medicine principles, techniques, and programs
Resource: Understand the array and availability of non-clinical support resources and health-related social needs programs
The ACS EMPOWER curriculum allows each Hope Lodge team to tailor the program to fit the needs of guests and create meaningful connections within the local community.
"This program is going to revolutionize the Hope Lodge experience and create a brighter, stronger future for the patients and caregivers we serve,” added Tamara.
ACS EMPOWER activities include:
Cooking demonstrations featuring nutritious, cancer-friendly meals
Arts and crafts for creative expression and relaxation
Live music and entertainment to uplift and inspire
Massage therapy to support stress relief and healing
Yoga and stretch exercises to enhance physical well-being
Educational lectures on health, nutrition, and survivorship
Looking Ahead
With this nationwide expansion, ACS EMPOWER represents a new era of integrative oncology support, ensuring every Hope Lodge guest, as well as people impacted by cancer who live in the nearby community, has access to comprehensive, whole-person care throughout their cancer journey.
Jul 23, 2025
- Mission Delivery
ACS partners with Sinclair Cares
Launching July 14, Sinclair Broadcast Group has joined forces with the American Cancer Society to "Drive Out Cancer" through its award-winning Sinclair Cares public service campaign. The campaign's primary mission is twofold: to recruit volunteer drivers for the Road To Recovery program and to raise critical funds supporting free transportation for cancer patients in need.
Running through July 27, the Drive Out Cancer campaign will be activated across all 186 Sinclair television stations nationwide, including 68 stations with dedicated news departments that will air earned media stories, interviews, and community reports.
Reaching millions through a unified national effort
This partnership will feature a broad array of multimedia and community engagement initiatives, including:
- Customized public service announcements (PSAs): Produced by each Sinclair station using local news talent and b-roll provided by ACS, these :10, :15, :20, and :30 second PSAs will run across all 186 stations.
- A three-pronged viewer call-to-action: encouraging audiences to volunteer to drive, donate, or get help, with each message linking to relevant ACS resources.
- A co-branded Sinclair landing page, directing viewers to Road To Recovery services and ACS support.
- A 30-minute public affairs special recorded at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., to be aired on all Sinclair stations, featuring ACS experts, Road To Recovery drivers, and personal stories from patients.
Stations that do not currently have a local Road To Recovery program will instead highlight other vital ACS services, including Hope Lodge, the National Cancer Information Center, and ACS Cares.
Jul 16, 2025
- Mission Delivery

ACS supporters get an inside look at advancing screening and early detection
On Wednesday, April 30, the American Cancer Society hosted an exclusive Inside Look webinar to share the latest advancements in cancer prevention and early detection. The presentation is now available to all supporters to view on their own time and learn more about this important mission work.
During the one-hour program, attendees heard from ACS leaders and subject matter experts, including:
- Center for Early Cancer Detection Science: Dr. Robert Smith, PhD, senior vice president for Cancer Screening, shared insights on the development of new cancer screening guidelines.
- CancerRisk360: Dr. Laura Makaroff, senior vice president for Cancer Prevention, introduced the new, online free assessment tool CancerRisk360, which helps people understand and reduce their individual cancer risk.
- Access to Screening: Pam Traxel, senior vice president of ACS Cancer Action Network (CAN), discussed how we're working to make cancer screenings more accessible for everyone.
The webinar is available for viewing at any time on YouTube. For more information, please connect with your ACS staff partner.
May 02, 2025
- Mission Delivery
Making cancer care less ruff with ECHO
What has four paws, a wagging tail, and the power to ease pain, lower stress, and bring smiles to kids with cancer? You guessed it — therapy dogs!
ACS recently wrapped up its six-month Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) in Cancer ECHO program, and it’s safe to say—it was a howling success! With 138 participants from across the country, the program aimed to expand access to the healing magic of hospital facility dogs for children, teens, and their caregivers navigating cancer treatment.
And these pups aren’t just cute; they’re doing serious work. AAT has been shown to help kids feel less pain during needle sticks, reduce stress and irritability, and even boost energy levels. Best of all, they make hospitals feel more like home.
The ECHO program welcomed child life specialists and hospital administrators eager to start or grow AAT programs in pediatric oncology. The ECHO program offered professional development units (PDUs) for child life professionals. Participants received expert guidance from subject matter experts on hospital facility dog program design, best practices, and hospital implementation. Topics covered everything from clinical interventions to funding and infection control—because keeping things clean and safe is part of the job, even for the fluffiest team members.

“This was a wonderful way to learn about each topic from real-life experiences, connect with other professionals, and earn PDUs.” - ECHO participant
And the results speak for themselves:
- 78% of attendees reported feeling “very” or “extremely” knowledgeable about AAT after the program—a more than twofold jump from where they started
- 87% said they’re likely to use what they learned in their work
Knowledge gained from the ECHO program will be incorporated into a hospital implementation guide for AAT in cancer care, available in the fall through the Cancer Prevention & Survivorship team.
Apr 30, 2025
- Mission Delivery

Replay available for Patient Support Virtual Volunteer Summit
Volunteers who made a significant impact in 2024 were recognized and appreciated during the second annual Patient Support Virtual Volunteer Summit on Wednesday, April 23. If you were unable to join live, you can watch a recording on YouTube.
The summit honored the 2024 Patient Support Volunteer Award winners, celebrating their exceptional commitment to ensuring no one faces cancer alone. Their stories served as powerful reminders of the difference volunteers make every day across our communities.
More than 700 people attended the summit, and the feedback keeps coming! Guests are calling the celebration inspiring and empowering – two sentiments that were evident in the live event chat where messages of encouragement, gratitude, and love flowed in from all corners of the country, along with a flurry of 😍, 🎉, and 👏 emojis.
See what attendees are saying about the summit and why they love to volunteer:
One of my riders sent me a video of himself ringing the bell, and he told me I helped save his life. That's what it's all about.
I really liked how the speakers took the time to briefly describe the awardees' contributions and backstories. It was engaging to have a different leadership member introduce each category of awardee volunteers, too. It helped me better understand the depth and breadth of ACS.
I truly believe in the Pay it Forward philosophy. I know what we do has that effect!
Today, more than ever, it is inspiring and heartwarming to see all of these wonderful, unselfish, giving people!
Award winners honored during the event included:
National Volunteer Award Winners
- Volunteer Leadership Award: Ella A. Kazerooni, MD, MS 
- Volunteer Leadership Award: Suzy Lawrence 
- Patient Support Volunteer Award for Excellence: Jeff Molby 
- Lane Adams Quality of Life Award: Dr. Danielle Noreika 
- Health System Partner of the Year Award (Large): Cedars Sinai Health System 
- Health System Partner of the Year Award (Mid/Small): Highland Medical Center 
Program Award Winners
- ACS CARES
- Hope Lodge
- Road To Recovery
Visit the special site created to share more about our inspiring award winners and patient support volunteer opportunities.
The event also featured a heartfelt introduction from Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer, who emphasized the life-changing impact volunteers have on Patient Support programs, as well as remarks from Natasha Coleman, Community Impact vice president, Gary Leipheimer, vice president of Access to Care Solutions, Hillary Grice, quality of life and survivor support manager, Nicole Robertson, director of community navigation, and Tamara Fernandez, vice president of Hope Lodge and ACS EMPOWER.
Share Your Feedback
Your insights are invaluable to us. To help us enhance future events, we kindly ask that you complete the post-event survey. Your feedback will help shape future volunteer experiences and celebrations. 
Thank you to the event organizers, speakers, and volunteers who made the summit a success! We are deeply grateful for every person whose unwavering dedication brings hope and support to those impacted by cancer.
Apr 28, 2025
- Mission Delivery
Hope Lodge expansion to break down barriers to cancer care
In a move to break down even more barriers to world-class cancer care, the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Baltimore, MD, community broke ground April 8 on a new center across the street from its existing facility. The future 34-guestroom Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge Baltimore will feature eight more guest rooms and modern new amenities, increasing guest capacity by 30% over the present 26-guestroom Hope Lodge Baltimore built in 1987.
Harkins Builders is constructing within a vacant building on the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, and it is anticipated to be completed within 12 months. The $10 million Hope Lodge Baltimore Capital Campaign is less than $400,000 from completion.
Pictured above, Dr. Kevin Cullen, former director, University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, and former ACS National Board Chair, swings a sledgehammer at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Pictured at right are, left to right, Dr. Bert O’Malley, CEO, University of Maryland Medical Center; Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, chair, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Board of Directors; Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer, American Cancer Society; Dr. Bill Regine, chair, Baltimore Hope Lodge Capital Campaign, chair, Radiation Oncology at University of Maryland Medical Center, executive director of the Maryland Proton Treatment Center; Retired Lt. Col. Julie Walker, co-chair, Baltimore Hope Lodge Capital Campaign, cancer survivor, and former Baltimore Hope Lodge guest; Dr. Lisa Ishii, senior vice president, Operations, Johns Hopkins Health System; and Lisa Lacasse, president, ACS CAN.
Speakers at the groundbreaking event included:
- Dr. Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer, American Cancer Society 
- Tswana Sewell, Vice President, American Cancer Society, Greater DC/Baltimore 
- Jamie McCann, Principal of Philanthropy, American Cancer Society Hope Lodge
- Therese Gustitis, General Manager, Hope Lodge Baltimore
- Dr. William Regine, Director, Maryland Proton Treatment Center, and Chair of Radiation Oncology at University of Maryland Greenbaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Co-Chair of Hope Lodge Baltimore Capital Campaign
- Lt. Col. (ret.) Julie Walker, cancer survivor and former Hope Lodge guest, and Co-Chair of Hope Lodge Baltimore Capital Campaign
- Dr. Bruce Jarrell, President, University of Maryland Baltimore  
- Dr. Kevin Cullen, Professor of Medicine at University of MD School of Medicine; Immediate Past Director, University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, and American Cancer Society 2018 National Board Chair
- Dr. Lisa Ishii, Senior Vice President, Operations, Johns Hopkins Health System
- Alden “Smitty” Bradstock, President, Veteran Design & Construction Inc.; Baltimore Hope Lodge Captial Campaign Committee Member
- Scott Fader, Chief Operating Officer, MileOne AutoGroup
- Pete and Gail Mariner, Hope Lodge Baltimore Guests
Background on Baltimore
Hope Lodge Baltimore is consistently occupied and often has a waiting list. In 2024, Hope Lodge Baltimore provided more than 13,000 free night stays to more than 500 guests saving them approximately $1.6 million in hotel costs. With hotel rooms approximately $220 a night, the average Hope Lodge guest, who may stay four to eight weeks, saves approximately $10,000, helping alleviate financial challenges such as lost income and medical bills. Guests can prepare their own meals, saving on dining costs. Hope Lodge’s free transportation van gave guests 3,500 rides to treatment last year. Many volunteer groups host meals, donate supplies, and provide entertainment and activities for Hope Lodge.
Apr 11, 2025
- Mission Delivery

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