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TOMORROW, 8 - 9:15 p.m. ET: Volunteer Day of Understanding

Please register by Monday, June 14.

We hope you can join us for the final session of the Volunteer Impact Series. This series highlights how volunteers can make an impact on the American Cancer Society's mission to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.

The Volunteer Day of Understanding on Tuesday, June 15, will be a moderated panel discussion with volunteer leaders to examine the organization's role in addressing systemic racism and creating and sustaining an organizational culture that centers on diversity, equity, and inclusion. This will be the first-time volunteers will be able to participate in a Day of Understanding.

This session will run from 8-9:15 p.m. ET. We've also dedicated time during the virtual event for our panelists to answer your questions. Here is the agenda:

  • Opening Remarks
  • Video Presentation
  • Panel Discussion
    • Dr. Rick Ngo, surgeon, ACS CAN Board member, Houston, TX
    • Kira Sano, RFL event lead, student at University of Southern California, San Francisco, CA
    • Kier Matthews, development & account management leader, ACS Area Board member, Seattle, WA
    • Dr. Omar Rashid, oncologist, ACS Area Board member, Orlando, FL
    • Carlos Velasco, Latino community facilitator and consultant, Phoenix, AZ
  • Call to Action

Volunteers must register to participate by Monday, June 14. If you registered prior to the first session on April 20 or the second session on May 11, you do not need to register again. A link to join the session will be emailed to you at the email address provided prior to the session.

You are encouraged to invite other dedicated volunteers to join this important discussion.

Replays of session 1 and session 2 are available.  

If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Oaks, senior volunteer engagement manager.


  • Rita Wilson will be joining National Relay Weekend

    ​Her performance starts at 6 p.m. ET this Saturday.

    We are excited to announce Rita Wilson as the celebrity performer at this year’s National Relay Weekend. Rita is a talented actress, singer, songwriter, and producer. Tune in at 6 p.m. ET this Saturday, May 15, for her performance on the Relay For Life Facebook page. 

    National Relay Weekend, just a few short days away, provides Relayers across the country the opportunity to honor loved ones and celebrate our impact in the fight against cancer. There will be 24-hours of activities for the entire family. 

    Don’t forget to be participate in Spirit Week through Friday, May 14! Dress up, post pictures, and share stories on social media to get hyped for National Relay Weekend. Make sure to use hashtags #RelayForLife and #WhyIRelay. 

    Find the latest information on the National Relay Weekend on this relayforlife.org/RelayWeekend. To register with a local community, visit RelayForLife.org. 


  • Resources now available to promote the Reach To Recovery website and app

    To better support the needs of those facing breast cancer, the Reach To Recovery® program fully transitioned to a digital first approach earlier this year. 

    Since the program launched, more than 300 volunteers have been trained, and more than 1,700 patients have created a Reach To Recovery profile. Based on program surveys, patients report a 96% satisfaction rating.

    Now, we are excited to share that the Reach To Recovery website and mobile app are available to patients in Spanish.

    The Reach To Recovery website and app allow those facing breast cancer to create an online profile and see possible volunteer matches immediately. Patients who want to connect with a Spanish-speaking volunteer can indicate that preference when creating their profile.

    Patients and volunteers can connect through online chat, phone, or exchanging messages. Video chat will also be available through the Reach To Recovery website and app later this year.

    Patients can access Reach To Recovery by visiting reach.cancer.org. To view the site in Spanish, patients should select “Spanish” from the language drop down at the top of the page. They can also search for ‘ACS Reach To Recovery’ on Google Play or the App Store to download the app. 

    Volunteers should visit the Volunteer Community to complete Reach To Recovery volunteer training prior to registering online. Then, they will receive a unique invitation to create their online volunteer account.

    Here’s what patients are saying about the program:

    • “It was super helpful to have tips for managing all the overwhelming to do list after my diagnosis. It was also helpful to talk to someone with a husband and how they managed the diagnosis as a couple.”
    • “It was wonderful to connect with someone under 40 and able to discuss the unique challenges of the diagnosis.”
    • “[The volunteer] provided the emotional support I needed and discussed a little more information about her own journey with cancer, so I felt much less alone after the call.”

    Resources now available

    Creative assets now available on Brand Toolkit! Staff can use these materials to promote the Reach To Recovery website and app in their markets. Here’s what’s included in the new Reach To Recovery Field Toolkit: 

    We’re also launching an in-market paid media campaign to drive broader awareness of and engagement with the program.

    Staff are encouraged to engage with and share our Masterbrand social media content, and use the new digital assets to share on local and/or regional social media channels. 


  • Thank you, volunteers! Thanks to your support, we can do great things

    Volunteers always have been and always will be the heart of the American Cancer Society.

    Because of dedication and time commitment of our passionate army of volunteers, we are able to help patients get the treatment they need and be there for families when they need us most.

    The pandemic posed serious impediments to our fundraising this past year, but our amazing volunteers went virtual with creative online fundraisers. You awed us! And, we can't wait to resume our in-person events once it's safe to do so.

    So this week, National Volunteer Week and really, every single day, we take stock of how lucky we are to have volunteers as passionate about our mission to save lives from cancer as you are.

    We simply could not do all we do without you. Our volunteers come  in all ages, from kids to retirees, and they do so much - from steering our mission as members of our Board of Directors to planning Relay For Life events in their communities and on their college campuses to driving patients to treatment and serving dinners in our Hope Lodge around the country. That doesn't begin to scratch the surface of all they do.

    Because of our volunteers, the American Cancer Society is a trusted source of information about cancer, and people turn to us 24/7, 365 days a year for information and guidance. Our live helpline is available to all at 1.800.ACS.2345.

    And becauses of our volunteers, the American Cancer Society is able to fund research that could lead to the next big cancer breakthrough. Simply said, our volunteers help save lives, every day. What could be more meaningful?

    So, today and every day, we say 'thank you' from all of us at the American Cancer Society and all the people we serve.  


  • Relay USA brings Relayers together virtually

    ​Join the fun on May 8 at 12 p.m. ET.

    Relay USA is an innovative way to be a part of a Relay For Life community, continue to celebrate people who have been touched by cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action for lifesaving change - all online.

    This virtual Relay event will be hosted on Saturday, May 8, from 12 noon – 9 p.m. ET on Facebook, and all are welcome.

    Relay USA presents an opportunity for teams, individuals, and companies to join a virtual Relay, and earlier in the season team captains' meetings were held online. On April 17, a Survivor and Caregiver Zoom Brunch is scheduled at 11 a.m. ET. Hear uplifting messages, share experiences, and much more. More information and a registration link will be posted on relayforlife.org/RelayUSA soon.. 

    Here’s what to expect at Relay USA on May 8: 

    • 12 noon: Opening Ceremony
    • 2 p.m.: Survivor and Caregiver Ceremony
    • 4 p.m.: Fight Back Ceremony
    • 7 p.m.: Remembrance Ceremony

    For updates related to Relay USA and opportunities to engage and donate leading up to virtual event, follow the Relay USA Facebook page. 

    Another virtual Relay event is coming up on May 14-15

    This year all Relayers are invited to participate in National Relay Weekend. On May 14-15, Relayers from around the country will be participating in a series of activities which will bond the Relay family in an all-new experience. You can find out more at relayforlife.org/relayweekend. Look for more information on our internal news channels soon!


  • ACS seeks young professionals who share our mission

    As the American Cancer Society continues to lead the fight for a world without cancer, we are exploring ways to enhance our engagement with young professionals (age 22-35).

    We are searching for young professionals who are interested in helping us attack cancer from every angle by leveraging their valuable knowledge and skill sets. We think they can help take the American Cancer Society to new heights.

    If you fit the demographic, please take this survey. 

    Your participation will help us understand how best to engage young professionals in the fight against cancer. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be available until April 30. Click here to complete the survey. 

    If you are not a young professional, but know one who would be interested, please share this opportunity with them. 

    Help us save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.


  • Congrats to our 2020 Volunteer Leadership Award recipient!

    ​Winner comes from our Southeast Region.

    The Volunteer Leadership Award selection workgroup has carefully chosen the winner of our 2020 Volunteer Leadership Award. This award recognizes an outstanding volunteer who has provided long and distinguished service to the Society at the enterprise-wide level. 

    Our 2020 Volunteer Leadership Award goes to Bruce Waldholtz, MD, an exceptional individual and community, regional, and national volunteer leader whose commitment to our mission continued even during the pandemic. He is pictured above, on the right, with Chris Green, VP, Marketing ＆ Communications, Southeast Region. 

    Dr. Waldholtz will be presented with this award locally and during the first session of this year’s virtual Volunteer Impact Series. (During this series of three sessions, on April 20, May 11, and June 15, ACS leadership volunteers will hear updates from ACS leaders, celebrate national award winners, participate in a "Day of Understanding;" and much more.)

    Dr. Waldholtz  currently serves on the ACS CAN Board of Directors and the Virginia State Area Board, and is involved as a community volunteer in the Hampton Roads market. 

    As a volunteer, Dr. Waldholtz has held several leadership positions at various levels of our organization throughout his 15-year involvement, including past chair of the former South Atlantic Division. He has greatly impacted both our mission and revenue development in all of his roles. 

    As a medical doctor of gastroenterology, Dr. Waldholtz has a passion for our work in colorectal cancer. He helped launch Colorectal Roundtable discussions at a national and statewide level. He also serves as a region-wide subject matter expert and spokesperson on all our screening guidelines. He also is well versed in access to care issues and continuously seeks ways to engage community discussions to break down barriers. 

    Dr. Waldholtz has spoken to dozens of African American churches and to national pastors’ conventions on ACS's behalf. He was a key leader in efforts to reach African American men to promote early detection, and helped organize an event attended by more than 600 African American men.

    Additionally, Dr. Waldholtz has been involved in CPS-III recruitment, addressing poor colorectal screening rates in Hampton Roads, VA, and facilitating the Virginia State Research Breakfast on behalf of ACS CAN. 

    Dr. Waldholtz is a passionate visionary, consistently seeking new ways to support the future of the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN. 
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