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2022 St. George National Award winners announced

Twelve volunteer leaders honored across the country.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 St. George National Award, which recognizes outstanding volunteers who have demonstrated ongoing leadership in community and mission delivery and have significantly contributed to furthering the American Cancer Society’s strategic goals and mission-driven programs. 

Conceived in 1949 by Charles S. Cameron, MD, former ACS medical and scientific director, the St. George National Award has been presented annually to exceptional ACS volunteers across the country who were nominated for their dedication, passion, innovation, and so much more.  Award winners will be recognized locally for their contributions to our mission.  

Congratulations to our 2022 award winners, listed in alphabetical order, and pictured above left to right and top to bottom:

Alden S. Bradstock (Bethesda, MD): Known best as Smitty, Alden Bradstock has been a volunteer and co-chair of the ACS Maryland Golf Classic in Baltimore County for the past 15 years, raising more than $1.2 million through the event. Two years ago, Smitty joined the Hope Lodge Baltimore Capital Campaign committee to help spearhead the construction of a new and improved Hope Lodge facility. Not only did he and his wife make a personal donation of $105,000 for a garden walkway at the future Hope Lodge, but he also secured another $10,000 in contributions for the project, is helping with design and construction plans, and is actively promoting the $10 million capital campaign. 

Dave Dexter (Phoenix, AZ): As a volunteer of more than 20 years, Dave Dexter has been a member of CEOs Against Cancer in Arizona since its inception in 2010, and he is now leading efforts to reinvigorate the chapter as its chair - recruiting new, diverse volunteer leaders. In addition, Dave is also part of Dr. Knudsen's Executive Circle, a select group of CEOs Against Cancer chapter chairs driving the national strategy for the program. Throughout the past two decades, Dave has led Sonora Quest Laboratories (SQL) in supporting ACS mission work in multiple ways, including: driving employee engagement and sponsoring events; sharing ACS PSAs throughout Sonora Quest labs in the US, chairing the Picnic Under the Stars Gala and being a longtime gala sponsor; and, finally, sponsoring Latinos Contra El Cancer in Arizona. This year, Dave and SQL (the nation’s largest integrated laboratory system) have taken their partnership with ACS a step further to increase colorectal cancer screening as a partner in ACS’ Get Screened initiative. 

Adam Gewanter (Chicago, IL): Adam Gewanter began volunteering with ACS by engaging his Chicago-based company TAO in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in both New York City and Chicago, helping to raise nearly $100,000 in the first year. Most recently, TAO was the presenting sponsor of the NYC Making Strides event, raising nearly $200,000. Adam was also instrumental in securing live auction experiences for the Chicago Discovery Ball and Taste of Hope events that have generated over $200,000 in life saving dollars. In 2019, Adam joined the Illinois Area Board and immediately took on the role of Chair for the Chicagoland Men Wear Pink campaign. Since that time, he has led fundraising efforts that have eclipsed $2 million and, most notable, Chicagoland was the #1 campaign in the entire nation in 2021 raising nearly $670,000 (a national record for the program). 

Dan Johnson (Tampa, FL): Dan Johnson has been instrumental in carrying forth enterprise-wide strategies and focus to Southwest Florida, serving as a distinguished leader of change, results, and progress in his role as the Southwest Florida board chair. Dan role models partnering with department leaders to move forward all pillars of work, and among the most impactful was furthering the local approach and corporate investment opportunities towards health equity – which led to the 2022 Breast Health Equity Initiative. This first-time approach resulted in 40 entities represented at our first stakeholder meeting, raising over $70,000 to support this work and progress forward by convening thought leaders and decision makers locally. Dan also helped to infuse energy, growth and a return to a path to $1 million in revenue for the Tampa Cattle Baron’s Ball by securing presenting sponsors, individual donors and this year personally hosting a sponsor VIP party to kick off the event. 

Jeff Mader (Prior Lake, MN): Jeff Mader’s volunteer leadership within the Twin Cities market has resulted in the recruitment of volunteers, partners and donors across numerous ACS platforms including Hope Lodge, research, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, CEOs Against Cancer, ResearcHERS, and gala events. He engages companies in new ways and helps create impactful experiences to raise vitally important funds for the mission and is an unstoppable force for the organization. Through listening, opening doors, thinking innovatively, and finding a path to “yes,” Jeff has brought dozens of new volunteers, donors, and sponsors to ACS. He has inspired major philanthropic donors to contribute significantly and created opportunities to connect individuals, friends, and companies in a meaningful and exciting way to the ACS. 

Randall Melton (White Lake, MI): Randall Melton has been an inspiring volunteer leader for several years, including his service on the Tennessee Area Board before relocating to Michigan, where he will serve as the Michigan Area Board vice chair in 2023. Over the years, Randall has rallied thousands of other volunteers to join him on his journey and has raised more than $250,000 through Men Wear Pink – exceeding a personal best of more than $61,000 in 2022 alone. "I lost my mom to breast cancer in 1990. She missed seeing adult Randall grow up, have a career, get married and she never had a chance to meet her only grandchild. Every day I think about her and all the moments that I never got to share with her and I know it doesn't have to be this way. I can make a difference working with the American Cancer Society. They are saving lives," said Randall. 

Danyelle Musselman (Fayetteville, AR): Danyelle Musselman has made significant contributions to the American Cancer Society’s strategic goals, mission, awareness, and fundraising in both the South Region and nationally. She serves ACS as a leader at the local, state, region and national levels for distinguished events, ACS CAN, Coaches vs. Cancer, and more. Danyelle has been involved with ACS for many years and represents ACS in a manner that advances the organization's cause and expands its community presence through her regular appearances in local media and news outlets. She’s also represented ACS on a national level as an advocate for our mission in Washington, D.C. She continues to demonstrate her commitment to ACS through a sincere willingness to serve in many ways, including Suits And Sneakers Gala Co-Chair (Nevada and Arkansas for three years), Coaches vs. Cancer Wives and Friends Committee Co-Chair (six years) and ACS CAN volunteer. 

Kathy Ottele (Salem, OR): Kathy Ottele is an Oregon and SW Washington Area Board Member and ACS CAN State Lead Ambassador for Oregon who has helped move the mission forward for more than 24 years. Her connections to community members, and willingness to make new connections daily, has helped increase revenue and engagement opportunities in the area including ACS/ACS CAN events, as well as the relaunch of Road To Recovery. Kathy has been instrumental in the local ACS CAN successes over her time as a volunteer, working closely with lawmakers to pass legislation in Oregon, including most recently protecting our children from access to tobacco products. Kathy has also rallied numerous volunteers to speak in the halls of government for patients and families, while being courageous in sharing her own personal stories. Understanding the inequities and needs that exist in Oregon especially across rural areas, Kathy sat on the Rural Health Council for several years, often sharing ACS and ACS CAN information at quarterly meetings. In addition, she has been a top nationwide fundraiser for ACS CAN’s Lights of Hope for many years. 

Yamile Rivera (Kissimmee, FL): Yamile Rivera has been involved with the American Cancer Society for 26 years as a leader, fundraiser, advocate, and champion of the mission. She started participating in Relay For Life 26 years ago and has chaired both the Relay For Life of Lake Buena Vista ($100,000) and the Great Big Relay ($260,000) -- always exceeding goal and raising upwards of $20,000 with her personal team alone. Yamile currently chairs the Orlando Volunteer Leadership Council and the Southeast Region Community Fundraising Team supporting Relay For Life, Making Strides, Endurance series, and other event strategies across the region. Her impact and support is felt far and wide by ACS team members, in addition to fellow Relayers, volunteers, survivors and sponsors. In 2023, Yamile was selected to be the Nationwide Volunteer Lead for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. 

Ujwala Deshmane Rajgopal, MD, FACS, FICS, MBA (San Diego, CA): Dr. Rajgopal formerly served as the Board Chair of the California Division of the American Cancer Society and currently serves on the Southern California Area Board as well as on the California ACS CAN Leadership Council. Dr. Rajgopal serves as a champion for ACS and ACS CAN by utilizing her experiences and relationships to influence policymakers and engage her connections in attending and sponsoring events to fund our lifesaving work. She is an ACS CAN Presidents Circle member, an inaugural founder of the ACS CAN California Leadership Council, and for many years has served on the annual ACS CAN policy event committee in San Diego. In addition, she has actively lobbied local elected officials in the San Diego area in support of ACS CAN priority local tobacco control measures. Dr Rajgopal was previously the American College of Surgeons San Diego chapter chair and facilitated ACS and ACS CAN engagement with San Diego’s ACOS certified cancer centers. 

Gary S Shedlin (Short Hills, NJ): Gary Shedlin is a former ACS National Board member and has chaired the Allan Shedlin Memorial Golf Classic, which is the most financially supported single-day golf outing in the United States. The golf classic is named after Gary's grandfather, who was an ACS leadership volunteer for 32 years and was also awarded the St. George Award in 1992. Gary hosted the inaugural outing in his grandfather’s memory and has continued that legacy for the past 20 years, raising critical funds to support the American Cancer Society. As an influential leader in the financial services industry, Gary continues to secure financial support from his peers and their respected corporations. As a result, he has raised over $10 million through this event alone. This past year, the Allan Shedlin Memorial Golf Classic had a record-breaking year and raised over $1 million. 

Mike Shult (Oregon, WI): Mike Shult began his service with the American Cancer Society in Madison, Wisconsin as a Road to Recovery volunteer driver more than 15 years ago. Since then, he has served on the Board of Ambassadors for Coaches vs. Cancer Wisconsin, board member for the National Coaches vs. Cancer Council, prior ACS Midwest Division board member, current ACS CAN member and was a founding member of the Laureate Society Chapter in Wisconsin. He and his wife are annual giving members with a lifetime commitment to ACS of approximately $700,000. He strategizes with ACS and ACS CAN team members for annual plans and activities, and recruits others in the community to support ACS. Mike has also committed his time and talents, giving thousands of hours to support the work of ACS.  Like basketball, he believes that it takes a team effort to win and has joined ACS and our team of researchers, volunteers, and advocates to ensure there is a stronger chance to have more wins against cancer. 


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