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​Relay For Life fall fundraising challenge is on!

​Raise $200 by Nov. 15 and be rewarded with a long-sleeve T-shirt

Here's how the challenge works: 

  • Participants are eligible to receive the super soft long-sleeve T-shirt if they raise $200 from the time their 2020 website launches until Friday, November 15.
  • This is open to offline and online donations made via your RelayForLife.org event website, your Relay For Life Facebook Fundraiser (through Relay Dashboard), or the ACS FUNdraising App. To be counted, all offline donations need to be credited by Friday, November 15, 2019, at 11:50 p.m. CST. 
  • Once a participant meets the challenge by raising $200 by 11/15, it could take up to 5 days to receive their redemption email.

Here's how you can help: 

  • If you have not joined a Relay For Life team, join today!
  • Since word-of-mouth is our most powerful tool, discuss the challenge with fellow volunteers, friends, and family,  encouraging them to register and begin fundraising. 
  • Kick into high gear by using Facebook Fundraiser – through your Relay dashboard – and our FUNdraising App so you can more easily get and track donations.

Special thanks to our challenge sponsor - Mercury Insurance.

  • Schnucks supermarket chain ending tobacco sales on Jan. 1, 2020

    ​I​t will not sell e-cigarettes or vaping products, either

    Schnuck Markets, Inc., a supermarket chain in the Midwest, announced today that beginning Jan. 1, 2020, the company will end the sale of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, chewing tobacco and snuff. 

    Schnucks is one of the largest privately owned supermarket chains, with 115 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Over the past year, one of Schnucks' senior executives co-vice chaired the American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer Chapter in St. Louis. The company is an active partner with ACS in additional ways, and are dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyle choices. 

    “Tobacco is poised to take 1 billion lives worldwide this century, so Schnucks’ decision to no longer sell tobacco is a victory for public health, corporate responsibility, and customers,” said Gary Reedy, our CEO. “Schnucks has historically been a great partner to the American Cancer Society and this action shows that they, like us, are truly committed to fighting cancer from every angle. There remains an urgent need for all of us to do more.”

    In addition, Schnucks will offer double rewards points on all over-the-counter smoking cessation products. The company will also continue its practice of not selling e-cigarettes or vaping products.  

    “Tobacco products are certainly a profitable part of our business, but our company’s mission is to nourish people’s lives,” said Schnucks Chairman & CEO Todd Schnuck (pictured here). “Tobacco products directly contradict our core mission, and that means that they simply don’t belong in our stores. We respect people’s right to make decisions that are best for them, and while we know this may not sit well with everyone, we believe it’s the right thing to do for the health of our communities, and our customers and that makes it the right decision for our company.”

    ACS staff are encouraged to thank Schnucks for helping to reduce tobacco use and encouraging smokers to quit by liking this news on social media. Schnucks can be found on Twitter (http://twitter.com/SchnuckMarkets), Facebook (@Schnucks) and Instagram (@schnucksmarkets).


  • We need your help tweeting and retweeting #IDriveFor posts!

    Chevrolet’s #IDriveFor social media campaign is back, and each of us has an opportunity to “drive” fundraising for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer with a simple Twitter or Instagram post using the hashtag #IDriveFor. 

    Retweets count, too, so visit the American Cancer Society's Twitter account and start sharing #IDriveFor posts today!

    Here are some easy ways you can help:

    • Engage other volunteers by promoting the #IDriveFor campaign on Regional and event social media channels and through volunteer networks. 
    • Watch the ACS social channels in October and retweet and re-gram posts that include the hashtag #IDriveFor.

    The Society’s partnership with Chevrolet has helped raise more than $12 million dollars over the last several years, specifically for breast cancer research, prevention, and care. 

    If you are not on Twitter or Instagram, create an account now! Raising money for ACS has never been so easy!

  • How ACS is marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month

    ​Here's what you need to know if someone asks: "What's ACS doing about breast cancer?"

    October is one of the busiest months at the American Cancer Society. Below is a run down of what we have going on and how we are making an impact in the fight against breast cancer. 

    • Engaging Partners: We have engaged more than 30 corporate partners in our shared fight. In the coming weeks you will see many marketing campaigns that are expected to raise more than $5 million dollars. Key activations include Chevrolet’s #IDriveFor campaign, Denim Days Sponsored by Buckle, and Shoe Carnival.
    • Making Strides Against Breast Cancer: Since 1993, more than 15 million walkers in the U.S. have helped raise more than $935 million to help save lives from breast cancer. This year we have more than 200 events across the nation. Find one near you!
    • Real Men Wear Pink: Last year, more than 3,500 candidates raised more than $9.5 million. As a RMWP candidate, these men commit  to wearing pink throughout October, raising awareness for the cause through their social media networks, and raising a minimum of $2,500. Check out the leaderboard for early standings. We are celebrating Real Men Wear Pink Day on Thursday, October 10. That's when candidates will make a collective splash by “turning their cities and social media pages pink” on the same day. 
    • A boost from celebrities: ACS welcomes World Boxing Champion Oscar De La Hoya as its new Real Men Wear Pink celebrity ambassador. Oscar lost his mom to breast cancer. We also have a new celebrity influencer campaign this month involving such notable figures as actress Kristin Chenoweth; musical entertainer DJ Khaled; musician French Montana; breast cancer “Thriver” Nalie Agustin; and fashion icons Jhené Aiko and Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss. They will be designing and promoting their own exclusive breast cancer T-shirts, with all proceeds benefitting ACS. 
    • Words With Friends: Zynga, the San Francisco-based creator of social games is supporting BCAM with a social media campaign called #WordsWithHope. Each day they will feature new words and quotes from people who been affected by breast cancer. They include: Talia Balsam, Pat Benatar, our own Sharon Byers (see photo at the top), Katie Couric, Regina Dugan, EMM, Roxane Gay, Melissa Gilbert, Neil Giraldo, Judy Greer, Sally Hawkins, Alice Hoffman, Olivia Newton-John, Betsey Johnson, Billie Jean King, Purnima Kochikar, Sharon Lawrence, Julianna Margulies, Deepthi Menon, Carol Mills, Alanis Morissette, Phuong Phillips, Amy Poehler, Melissa Rivers, Janice Roberts, Kendra Scott, Ellen Siminoff, Jaclyn Smith, Taryn Southern, Mindy Sterling, Alison Sweeney, Chandra Wilson, Rita Wilson, and Trisha Yearwood. Learn more in this press release, in which Rich Wender, MD, our chief cancer control officer, is quoted.
    • Advocacy: ACS CAN is helping make breast cancer a national priority by continuing to work with Congress and every state legislature to increase funding for breast cancer research and prioritize funding for lifesaving breast cancer screenings.
    • Health Equity: Through our Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment & Equity (CHANGE) program, we fund community health centers across the country to increase breast cancer screenings and follow-up care. To date, CHANGE grants have supported the implementation of 3.2 million evidence-based interventions in more than 270 health systems, and have contributed to 915,000 cancer screenings across the nation. Stay tuned for announcements in the coming weeks around additional partnerships with corporations to empower communities with the resources to identify and address the factors impacting breast cancer disparities. 
    • Research: We support breast cancer research breakthroughs by investing millions of dollars each year in innovative research that focuses on prevention, screening, and treatment advances. Currently, we have 162 multi-year breast cancer grants in effect at research institutions across the U.S. totaling more than $67 million. On Oct. 2, we will be releasing Breast Cancer Statistics, 2019-2020. Its accompanying consumer-friendly publication Breast Cancer Facts & Figures will be available that same day on cancer.org. 
    • Cancer.org: Our national website is a wonderful source for people wanting to know more about breast cancer, from how to prevent and treat it, to joining our fight by becoming a volunteer. Learn more about how the American Cancer Society is leading the fight against breast cancer by visiting cancer.org/fightbreastcancer.


  • #GetBenOnBoard returns to boost Making Strides fundraising

    ​For every $500 a participant raises online from Oct. 1-4, $100 will be credited to their fundraising total

    For the first four days of October, we are encouraging our Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraisers to rack up "Bens." It's a nod to founding father Benjamin Franklin, the face on our $100 bill, who said, "Energy and persistence conquer all things." 

    For every $500 a participant raises online from Oct. 1 through Oct. 4, a $100 bonus will be credited to their fundraising accounts, thanks, in part, to our sponsor, Chiquita.  

    Strides' inventive "#GetBenOnBoard" promotion returns for the fourth year to help kick-start October fundraising efforts. 

    An email was sent on Sept. 30 to this year's participants, as well as past participants from 2017-2018. 

    Important notes: This promotion begins at 12:01 a.m. CST on Monday, October 1, and ends at 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, October 4. Only credit card, PayPal, and mobile app donations qualify – cash or check donations will not count. ACS staff are not eligible for this fundraising reward.

    About Chiquita 
    In addition to sponsoring this #GetBenOnBoard, Chiquita Brands worked with ACS to develop five special Chiquita banana recipes with the message of helping to fight cancer through a healthy lifestyle and diet. And, for the third year in a row, Chiquita is supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month by turning the brand’s iconic blue sticker pink. In October, 200 million pink stickers will be distributed worldwide.


  • Two free trainings will help you with relationship building

    ​Sign up now for Working Partnership Agreement and Communication Not Confrontation

    Registration is open for two training sessions that are designed to improve your relationships while working on volunteer projects. The training sessions are free and open to volunteers through the Volunteer Learning Center (VLC) in October and November. 

    Register for one or both training opportunities by logging into the VLC and searching for the course and time you desire.

    Working Partnership Agreement

    This 90-minute virtual session will give staff and volunteers a chance to be a "fly on the wall" for a partnership agreement discussion. A Partnership Agreement is the basis of a great relationship between volunteers and staff and, if done well, is a living, working document that changes and develops throughout your time in a role and your overall career.

    Communication Not Confrontation

    Dive deeper into overcoming conflict.  Most of the time conflict is the direct result of a conversation you are not having or if you are having it, are not having well. Join this 90-minute virtual session as we lay out a process to help you plan for that conversation as well as steps to take to start a conversation in the right way to put the relationship at the center.

    The dates are:

    Working Partnership Agreement

    October 15:  7 - 8:30 p.m. Central

    October 17:  9 - 10:30 p.m. Central

    October 26:  10 - 11:30 a.m. Central

    November 26:  8 - 9:30 p.m. Central 

    Communication Not Confrontation

    October 21:  6 - 7:30 p.m. Central

    October 30:  8 - 9:30 p.m. Central

    November 1:  7 -  8:30 p.m. Central

    November 16:  10 - 11:30 a.m. Central

    November 18:  9 - 10:30 p.m. Central

     


  • Help Raise the Bar by completing the 2019 Volunteer Engagement Study

    ​Beginning September 16, approximately 20,000 randomly selected volunteers will have the opportunity to weigh in on their engagement with ACS and ACS CAN through the 2019 Volunteer Engagement Study. 

    Volunteers will be asked approximately 20 questions for which they will provide a 1-5 ranking, as well as the chance to offer feedback via open-ended questions about what ACS is doing well, why it's a good place to volunteer, as well as what opportunities exist for improvement.

    While we were unable to study all volunteers, we selected a random sampling of close to 20,000 volunteers from various roles and programs across the country that will be given the opportunity to weigh in on their engagement with the organization. The randomly selected volunteers will receive the survey via email from our vendor, Willis Towers Watson. The Engagement Study will ask about the ACS community, including components of their volunteer life, working relationships, our leadership, and more.

    The Engagement Study for volunteers will run from Monday, September 16 to Friday, October 11, 2019. Results of the study will be published in early 2020.

  • Winners of our 2019 Margot S. Freudenberg award announced

    ​The award goes to individual and group Hope Lodge volunteers

    The 2019 Margot S. Freudenberg National Volunteer Award goes to Joe Henry, Huntingdon Valley, PA, and the University Church of Christ, Greenville, NC. 

    The award is named after the founder of the first Hope Lodge facility in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1970. It is presented annually to an individual and group in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Hope Lodge program. 

    Let’s learn more about their impact at their local Hope Lodge! 

    Individual Award Winner

    Joe Henry (pictured in the smaller image, standing) has been an incredible volunteer at the American Cancer Society AstraZeneca Hope Lodge in Philadelphia for nearly 10 years. He has dedicated his time, energy, and passion to the successful operation of this facility by engaging with fellow volunteers almost daily. He helps to ease the financial and physical burden on guests by recruiting and organizing fellow volunteers who serve free meals to guests more than 200 nights a year.

    Joe began his volunteer career at Hope Lodge by transporting patients and caregivers to and from treatment for three years. Currently, he coordinates with various organizations such as companies, churches, and hospital partners to provide free meals. He has been so effective in his role that a volunteer group has provided a dinner at the Hope Lodge facility Monday through Thursday for the last five years. In honor of his mother, Joe also created the Eleanor Henry Award  to recognize the service of at least one Hope Lodge volunteer each year.

    Joe is also actively involved as a member of our Friends of Hope Lodge Council, a group of donors that raises funds to support our Hope Lodge program financially. He has also supported the Relay For Life and Coaches vs. Cancer programs, as well as volunteered at the Fox Chase Cancer Center.

    Watch this video to hear Joe discuss his personal experience as a volunteer. 

    Group Award Winner

    The University Church of Christ volunteer group led by Karen Stephenson has been actively volunteering at the American Cancer Society McConnell-Raab Hope Lodge in Greenville since 2006. (Some, but not all of the volunteers, are pictured above.)

    For the last 13 years, the University Church of Christ has been serving huge “church-homecoming-like” meals to Hope Lodge guests every third Thursday of the month. They also provide home-cooked feasts at the Hope Lodge Annual Reunions, and are very active in Relay For Life fundraising events and other Hope Lodge events and activities throughout the year. This group of about a dozen dedicated individuals collectively puts in more than 400 volunteer hours each year.

    One unique experience that members of the UCOC provide is gospel music during dinner. After everyone has been served and is seated, one of the UCOC members, Beverly Edwards, sings several gospel hymns.

    This group of volunteers also spend many hours:

    • Helping at the annual Pitt County survivors’ dinner. 
    • Fundraising for the Pitt County Relay For Life. 
    • Setting up and running booths at the Pitt County Relay For Life events. 
    • Making crocheted hats for women who have lost their hair. 
    • Making port pillows for patients.
    • Making pillowcases, fleece blankets, and lap blankets for hospital patients. 

    Kathy Belski teaches others to work with their hands to make blankets and pillow cases for those in need at Hope Lodge, the Children’s hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Wounded Warriors, the Carolina Hurricane Project, and other organizations.

    As a reminder,  Hope Lodge regional directors ensured up to four nominations (up to two individual volunteers and two volunteer groups) per Region were submitted. An appointed Task Force comprised of volunteers and staff from all Regions, winners from the previous year, as well as a member of the Freudenberg family, selected the award winners based on the award criteria.   

  • Still seeking volunteers for our Gen2End leadership team!

    Applications are due by Sept. 13

    The American Cancer Society seeks to be the premiere cancer nonprofit where young professionals want to volunteer and work. 

    To facilitate this need, we are seeking volunteers to serve on the Gen2End leadership team. The Gen2End leadership team will be responsible for driving young professional volunteer engagement with the ACS. They will work to implement a 5-year Gen2End strategic plan that will engage this group (ages 22-35) into every aspect of our fight to end cancer. 

    An ideal candidate for the leadership team will have at least one year of ACS experience, preferably in a leadership role. Team members will need to commit to an 18- to 24-month term. The team will primarily meet by virtual calls and the work requirement is expected to be 4-6 hours per week. 

    Each team member will have responsibility for unique aspects of the Gen2End Strategic Plan and will be expected to:

    • Understand with proficiency and speak to the overall Gen2End strategic plan with both external and internal audiences, including executive level staff and members of the Board of Directors
    • Create a positive and productive partnership with your identified ACS staff person
    • Collaborate across team roles and with additional Society stakeholders to achieve over-arching goals
    • Learn and apply volunteerism trends and engagement best practices for young professionals
    • Work with skills-based volunteers to deliver on our goals

    Interested applicants need to apply by Sept. 13. The Gen2End chairs and staff partners will be conducting interviews in September and will notify all applicants of their selection by the end of that month. 

    Selected applicants will be joining a team of:

    • Self-starters, balancing strategic thinking with an ability to define and deliver the tactical steps needed to operationalize our vision
    • Empowered leaders who seek to inspire more leaders rather than control the process
    • Collaborative partners who respectfully challenge ideas with thoughtful feedback meant to improve our results
    • Fast-paced action takers who honor our commitments to each other, to our staff partners, and to the mission of the American Cancer Society
    • Innovative risk takers who are comfortable driving forward while the road is still being paved 

    If you have questions, need further information, or would like the full position summary sent to you, please email ACSVolunteerCare@cancer.org.
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