2022 Advocacy Accomplishments

Dear Friends,

This year in the US, more than 1.9 million new cancers will be diagnosed, and more than 600,000 individuals will lose the fight against cancer. While we’ve made measurable progress against some of the 200 diseases we call “cancer,” early detection strategies and cures for most cancer types remain elusive. We still have work to do toward our vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

The burden of cancer on patients and families is profound; as such, ACS is deploying a unique tripartite strategy to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families. First, we pioneer breakthroughs in prevention, detection, and cure through supporting cutting-edge cancer research. We are the largest funder of cancer research outside the US government, currently funding more than $400 million in research grants. Our second pillar, Advocacy, is essential to increase access to these cancer breakthroughs through pushing for policies and legislation that help cancer patients and families. By activating grassroots volunteers nationwide, ACS CAN fights cancer in city halls, statehouses, and Congress by elevating the patient voice to advance policy change. Finally, our critical third pillar is Patient Support, wherein we use innovation to close the gaps in the cancer care continuum by providing education, lodging, transportation, and more. Across our three pillars, we touch over 55 million lives per year in 5,000 communities across the country.

Through our commitment to these three areas of focus, we are working to ensure that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. The impact of these programs has been extraordinary, leading to a 32% decline in cancer mortality since 1991. For 2023, we aim to accelerate our efforts with your partnership. On behalf of all of us, and the patients and families we represent, thank you for your continued support of our work cancer as we know it, for everyone.

Karen E. Knudsen, MBA PhD
Chief Executive Officer
American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Professor – Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University

Greetings ACS CAN Volunteers, Team Members & Supporters,

In 2022, ACS CAN’s volunteer advocates delivered incredible progress in our fight to reduce the cancer burden for everyone.  As in-person events and lobbying activities swung back into full gear, we stretched our capacity to make it all happen. Time and time again, volunteers championed efforts to bring an all-important message to every level of government: cancer prevention, including strong tobacco control, equitable access to quality affordable health care, and accelerating cures through bolstered cancer research and increasing enrollment in clinical trials – each pursued through a strong health equity lens– should be at the forefront of policymaking decisions.  

Our robust volunteer network across all 50 states, together with our growing team of dedicated colleagues, were pivotal in affecting change that impacts millions of people nationwide. Be it expanding access to care through Medicaid in South Dakota, protecting youth in California from flavored tobacco products, ensuring the Inflation Reduction Act included substantial provisions to increase health care affordability, or increasing federally funded cancer research and prevention, ACS CAN secured numerous victories across our broad range of policy priorities and laid the groundwork for future successful campaigns all around the country. Access to care for all communities remained at the forefront of our advocacy.  

We are proud that our relentless efforts helped secure year-end wins in the FY 2023 funding deal with a major increase of $2.5 billion for biomedical research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes $408 million more for cancer research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). We also successfully advocated for a cap on Medicare Part D out-of-pocket prescription drug spending.

Yet, there’s still work to be done. We urged Congress to pass the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Act to create a pathway for Medicare enrollees to access innovative technology like multi-cancer early detection screening tests once FDA-approved and clinical benefit is shown. We also advocated for the enactment of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, which would ensure that all patients with a serious diagnosis such as cancer have access to palliative care services, which provides an extra layer of support to patients with complex needs. We look forward to moving full force ahead, working with the 118th Congress to pass these important legislative efforts and continuing to ensure cancer is a national priority.   

The backbone of our advocacy remains the relentless expertise – and stamina! – of our staff and volunteers. Cancer advocates spoke out when it mattered most, as many times as needed, demonstrating the power of the patient voice to level the playing field against cancer, for everyone.  

Health equity, diversity and inclusion continue as core beacons of our advocacy in 2022 as we work to make sure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer. The ACS CAN Black Volunteer Caucus, formed to strengthen and diversify communications, partnerships, and engagement within the Black community, celebrated its first year in action, and our LGBTQ+ and Allies Engagement group provided strategic guidance on our advocacy to end barriers to care for LGBTQ+ cancer patients. Both affinity volunteer groups played a critical role in our advocacy work to restrict the sale of all flavored tobacco products in key states and localities across the country and to advocate for the Food and Drug Administration to prohibit menthol in cigarettes and all flavors in cigars nationwide. In the fall of 2022, we established the ACSí Se Puede Hispanic/Latino Advocacy Alliance and the Asian & Pacific Islander Volunteer Advisory affinity groups. Lastly, we also marked a year of transcreation on our Spanish language website, fightcancer.org/es, to more robustly connect with Hispanic communities.   

I am exceedingly proud of all we accomplished in the fight against cancer in 2022, bolstered by the generosity of our supporters.  Our work was made possible by donors and many individuals and organizations that partnered with us along the way – strategic engagement that I look forward to deepening in 2023.  

I am grateful to mark another year at the helm of the nation’s leading cancer advocacy organization and I am humbled to be part of a remarkable group of patient advocates advancing ACS CAN’s critical mission of ending cancer as we know it, for everyone, through public policy advocacy.  

Lisa A. Lacasse, MBA
President, ACS CAN

Lisa A. Lacasse, MBA

2022 ACS CAN Impact at a Glance

For 21 years, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) has empowered volunteers to make their voices heard and influence public policy change that saves lives from cancer. In 2022, we achieved meaningful impact in our mission to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families nationwide by advocating at every level of government to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. 

Download infographic: English | Español

Who We Are

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) makes cancer a top priority for policymakers at every level of government. ACS CAN engages volunteers across the country to make their voices heard to ensure that our cities, our states and our nation adopt evidence-based public policies that improve the lives of people with cancer and their families, and those at risk for cancer. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to change public policy to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

Volunteers: The Voice of ACS CAN

We engage hundreds of thousands of remarkable individuals in every congressional district across the country to share their time, skills – and, importantly, their stories – to advance our mission to eliminate cancer. ACS CAN volunteers engage their elected officials through phone calls, emails, social media, letters and face-to-face meetings, and speak out in their communities, halls of government and the media in support of public policies that help save lives from cancer.

Bringing Leaders Together in the Fight to End Cancer

We convene researchers, medical providers, patient advocates, business leaders and public officials to foster discussion and examine public policies that are critical in the fight against cancer.

Judicial Advocacy Initiative

We work with attorneys who donate time and incredible health care expertise to help advance our mission by representing ACS CAN in influential court cases, regulatory proceedings, and legislative drafting to further mission goals. Learn more about our Judicial Advocacy Initiative.

Governance Excellence

We leverage the expertise and insight of our Board of Directors, which is comprised of physicians, researchers, public health professionals, civic leaders and volunteers.

Coalitions and Partnerships

We lead and partner with diverse and impactful organizations to advance our mission priorities to improve our reach among diverse communities. ACS CAN founded and continues to lead the One Voice Against Cancer Coalition (OVAC), a collaboration of over 50 national non-profit organizations advocating for sustained cancer research funding. We also founded and serve as chair of the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) and as a lead partner with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) for the newly created Alliance for Cancer Care Equity. ACS CAN is also an active member of the Partnership to Protect Coverage (PPC), a national coalition of 42 patient advocacy organizations. PPC works at both the state and federal level to protect and enhance access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage. The ACS CAN Corporate Membership Program also engages partners on a substantive basis to advance the evidence-based policy and legislative work of the organization at the local, state, and federal levels.

Cancer Moonshot: 
How We Deliver Progress

It was exciting to participate in the reignition of the Cancer Moonshot on February 2, 2022. American Cancer Society and ACS CAN CEO Dr. Karen E. Knudsen and ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse were both invited to the White House for the announcement by President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. The American Cancer Society and ACS CAN have joined efforts with President Biden’s administration to end cancer as we know it, to play our part in achieving the President’s goal of reducing the cancer death rate by 50% over the next 25 years. Through our advocacy work, ACS CAN has taken numerous actions this year in support of the Cancer Moonshot’s goals, by offering our organizational commitment to the endeavor by participating in the following:

  • We worked with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network to lead nearly 100 organizations to send a letter to administration and congressional leadership to detail public policy changes that would reduce the cancer burden. ACS CAN also sent a letter ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union address to Congress.
  • American Cancer Society and ACS CAN CEO Dr. Karen E. Knudsen participated in the White House Cancer Moonshot Goals Forum on May 11, which provided an opportunity for the private sector, foundations, academic institutions, healthcare providers, and Americans to discuss efforts to reduce the impact of cancer and improve patient experiences.
  • In July, ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse was proud to join other patient advocates and business leaders at the White House to meet with the Office of Science and Technology Policy and representatives from the National Cancer Institute and Department of Health and Human Services to discuss policy interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening rates, a key component of achieving Cancer Moonshot goals.
  • We launched a significant campaign, including advertising in Washington, D.C. to urge Congress to commit to robust and sustained investment in cancer research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), coinciding with ACS CAN’s September Leadership Summit & Lobby Day and the 60th anniversary of President Kennedy’s famous Moonshot remarks.
  • Along with Dr. Biden, ACS CAN supported in the launch of the American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Roundtable and the American Cancer Society National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer to prioritize equitable access to the prevention, screening, early detection, and diagnosis of cancer featuring special guest R&B singer and cancer advocate Mary Blige.

Our Grassroots Power:
How We Deliver Impact

ACS CAN prides itself on bringing together advocates, policymakers, regulators, researchers and health care professionals with a shared goal of improving public health and reducing the burden of cancer. Our ability to influence meaningful change at every level and every branch of government is derived from the power of our nationwide grassroots volunteer network. ACS CAN advocates share their stories with elected officials to help them understand their role in our mission to eliminate cancer.

ACS CAN honored loved ones and all those touched by cancer during our 12th annual Lights of Hope event. Over 65,000 Lights of Hope were displayed in communities across the country, including in Washington, D.C. Volunteer fundraising was up 18% year over year, with nearly $877,000 raised in 2022. In state-based sponsorships alone we raised over $128,000 an 11% increase from 2021.

For the first time in three years, ACS CAN’s 16th annual Leadership Summit & Lobby Day (LS&LD) brought together more than 415 ACS CAN volunteers in-person from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

Volunteers, American Cancer Society and ACS CAN CEO Dr. Karen E. Knudsen and ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse participated in multiple broadcast interviews about our efforts coinciding with a major address President Biden gave on the Cancer Moonshot in Boston the same week through our radio and TV media tour. In the days and weeks following the event, we secured media coverage related to Leadership Summit & Lobby Day in more than 50 media markets

Constitution Gardens in Washington DC
ACS CAN Volunteers outside of Capitol Hill

Advocates participated in meetings with every Senate office and 330 House offices, including 64 member-level meetings and 129 senior staff-level meetings to ask lawmakers to support:

ACS CAN amplified a number of policy and legislative priorities throughout the year with advertising campaigns that ran in Washington, D.C. and in media markets across the country.

Mission Impact

Access to Care

Equitable access to quality, affordable health care is an essential piece of ACS CAN’s mission to reduce death and suffering from cancer. Insurance status directly impacts health outcomes, and existing disparities in cancer care are largely attributed to barriers in accessing health care services, including lack of adequate coverage. ACS CAN fights across the nation to break down these barriers and help ensure everyone can access the health care they deserve. By elevating the voices of those impacted by a cancer diagnosis, ACS CAN helps to shine a light on the need for action by policymakers at all levels of government. 

We released our latest Costs of Cancer report, focused on survivorship, to examine the long-term expenses cancer survivors face in the years after they complete their initial treatment, including costs for ongoing treatment, monitoring for disease progression, recurrence or secondary cancers, ongoing side effects from their initial cancer treatment, late and long-term side effects, and mental health care needs. 

Throughout 2022, our volunteers spoke out on behalf of all those impacted by serious diseases, such as cancer and shared their stories to emphasize how crucial access to care is for everyone.   

  • Cathy, Jacki and Ken were all featured in The Washington Post to highlight their individual experiences balancing the influx of COVID surges and chronic disease care. Learn More. 
  • Beatrice’s commitment to fighting for her community was captured on Telemundo 48 as a message to prompt progress on access to care legislation at the national and local level. Learn More. 
  • Patti shared with The New York Times the financial burdens and monthly out-of-pocket medical and prescription expenses she faced while battling metastatic breast cancer. Learn More
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ACS CAN celebrated major mission impact when President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law on August 12, 2022, representing a significant extension of affordable health coverage to millions of Americans. Two key health care affordability provisions were included in this reconciliation bill, a three-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which will benefit an estimated 13 million subsidized enrollees, and a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap for individuals with Medicare Part D, with an option to spread expenses over the plan year, which will benefit more than an estimated 1 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries.

Through the power of our nationwide grassroots network, we served as an influential campaign leader, keeping up the drum beat and momentum around this critical legislation, including effectively leveraging campaign tactics such as:

  • 50,000+ emails, tweets, and phone calls to members of Congress
  • Multiple grassroots events in critical congressional districts
  • 500+ tweets generating 454,000+ impressions during a Twitter Day of Action
  • A television, print and digital advertising campaign
  • Commissioned a national poll finding overwhelming, bipartisan voter support for action on affordable health care
Affordable Healthcare Ad

Expanding access to care through state Medicaid programs is a top priority for ACS CAN, as 2.3 million Americans with a history of cancer rely on Medicaid coverage for their care. Progress in 2022 included: 

  • Our North Carolina team spent much of 2022 intensely focused on our campaign to pass Medicaid expansion, a national priority for ACS CAN and a policy that would increase access to affordable health care to more than 600,000 people in the state. We launched a series of ad campaigns and secured numerous media placements. While the legislature was unable to come to a compromise and secure final passage, the strides we accomplished have progressed further than ever before with garnering bipartisan support. ACS CAN will continue to work with the governor and both legislative chambers to ensure this critical policy is passed.  
  • Our Missouri team helped secure several wins for Medicaid expansion, including continued funding for the broader state Medicaid program and sustaining Medicaid expansion, which was supported by the voters via a successful ballot initiative in 2020. Over 250,000 people have enrolled in expanded Medicaid coverage.
  • On September 23, ACS CAN along with 11 other organizations filed an amicus curiae - (or friend of the court) - brief to urge the U.S. Supreme Court to protect access to quality health care for individuals with Medicaid health coverage. 
ACS CAN North Carolina Volunteers Smiling
Vote Yes on Amendment D Ad
  • ACS CAN launched a digital and social media advertising buy targeting Senate and House leadership and key non-expansion state policymakers with our animated video, Access Denied: The Injustice of the Medicaid Coverage Gap,” underscoring the unfairness of being denied access to health care because of where you live by also emphasizing the disproportionate impact of the Medicaid gap on communities of color.

Advances in biomarker testing and cancer treatments now allow for targeted cancer therapies that can improve patient survival and quality of life. Legislation to expand coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing was introduced in eight states and passed in three.  In 2023, ACS CAN and partners will continue to work together to help ensure every patient who needs it can benefit from this important testing.

  • Arizona became the second state in the country to pass ACS CAN model language for biomarker insurance coverage. ACS CAN built and led a coalition and elevated multiple patient stories that proved effective in the passage of the legislation. Governor Doug Ducey held a signing ceremony with ACS CAN volunteers and team members. The law took effect January 1, 2023.
  • Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed into law ACS CAN’s model legislation that will ensure biomarker testing is covered by more insurance plans, including Medicaid, when supported by medical and scientific evidence.
  • Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed into law legislation clarifying the sources of evidence for when insurance plans must cover biomarker testing.
  • More than 5.8 million people could benefit from the passage of biomarker testing legislation in Arizona, Rhode Island and Louisiana. 
Arizona biomarker passage
Rhode Island Governor signing biomarker bill
  • ACS CAN successfully advocated for legislation to improve affordability of prescription drugs by ensuring third party copay assistance is counted toward a patient’s out-of-pocket cost obligation in Delaware, Maine, New York and Washington.
  • After a years-long strategic effort, legislation was signed into law in Pennsylvania that reforms prior authorization and step therapy practices to establish a clear and standardized process and better serve patients.  Similar legislation to create a step therapy exception process was enacted in Massachusetts.
ACS CAN Pennsylvania Volunteers

Supporting patient access to the nation’s top medical experts in coordination with their local doctors through telehealth services, enables patients faster access to information and advice they need during their cancer journey. ACS CAN successfully advocated for legislation in Alaska to help improve access to these critical services. 

2022 AK Telehealth ACS Staff with Rep. Spohnholz

On October 11, the Biden administration released a final rule fixing the "family glitch" in the Affordable Care Act, which previously prevented individuals who were offered unaffordable dependent coverage the ability to qualify for subsidies for marketplace plans. Under the new rule, the total premium cost of all family members covered under an employer-sponsored insurance plan can be considered when determining if coverage is affordable. Through ACS CAN’s advocacy efforts and support of this rule, coverage on the marketplace will become more affordable for more than 1 million people.

Accelerating Cures

Advancements in cancer research are essential to driving discovery, saving lives and advancing our fight against this disease. The ability to ensure innovation breakthroughs reach those who need them most depends on sustained, year-over-year increases in funding for cancer research, as well as addressing barriers to clinical trial participation.

ACS CAN advocated throughout 2022 for sustained investment in cancer priorities across key federal agencies and state governments to emphasize flat funding would risk the tremendous progress we’ve made in the fight against cancer. 

  • Through our multi-pronged advocacy campaign efforts, on December 20th Congress proposed an FY2023 funding deal (or omnibus bill) to include an increase of $2.5 billion for biomedical research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) including $408 million more for cancer research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The spending bill also included a provision around user fees and requires the FDA to create permanent guidance on the use of decentralized clinical trials.
  • We launched national advertisements in print and digital publications in targeted regional outlets to highlight increased cancer research funding and partnered with other cancer groups on new advertising.  
  • ACS CAN colleagues Devon Adams, RN, MPH, senior analyst, Policy & Legislative Support – Emerging Science; Sarah Long, project manager, Survey Administration and Analysis; and Mark Fleury, PhD, principal, Policy Development – Emerging Science wrote an article released in JAMA Network Open about the benefits of using technology to increase patient participation in cancer clinical trials. The paper featured data from our Survivor Views program.
  • In Washington state, ACS CAN worked with coalition partners to secure $30 million in appropriations for the Andy Hill CARE Fund, which represents a 300% increase in funding for cancer research from 2021, and a 600% increase since 2019. 
Funding for cancer research ad

Prevention and Early Detection

In 2022, ACS CAN marked significant wins in our fight toward tobacco control and we celebrated the many successes of smoke-free regulations both at the local and state levels.  Because of our steadfast advocacy work over the past decade, almost 62.3% of the U.S. population is covered by a comprehensive smoke-free law in non-hospitality workplaces, restaurants and bars. 

ACS CAN continued to advocate for policy solutions that eliminate barriers to cancer screening. As a result of the work of ACS CAN and its partners, the Biden Administration announced in January 2022 that commercial health plans must cover follow-up colonoscopies at no additional cost. Thanks in part to ACS CAN’s efforts, in November 2022 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its rule for Medicare to cover colonoscopies after non-invasive screening tests and lower the minimum age of screening to 45.

ACS CAN advocated for the implementation of these policies at the state level. Indiana successfully passed priority follow-up colorectal cancer screening legislation by nearly a unanimous vote by both chambers and signed by Governor Eric Holcomb. Additionally, ACS CAN was able to secure increased funding for screening programs that provide cancer prevention and early services to uninsured and underinsured individuals. 

As required by the Tobacco Control Act, the FDA has been reviewing applications submitted by e-cigarette companies seeking to keep their products on the market.  The agency has issued a number of marketing denial orders (MDOs) for flavored products, and many of these MDOs have been challenged in courts across the nation.  In major victories for the public health, the FDA prevailed in five different U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal, with only one loss during the year. ACS CAN participated in these cases by filing amicus curiae (or “friend of the court”) briefs supporting the FDA and providing judges with scientific data on the role of flavors in youth initiation of tobacco products.

Fifth Circuit upholds marketing denial orders for e-cigarettes

In the longstanding racketeering case by the Department of Justice against major US tobacco companies in which ACS is an intervenor, we worked for months negotiating a settlement that was approved by a federal judge in December.  The  court order requires Big Tobacco to post signs telling the public the truth about the deadly consequences of cigarette smoking at over 200,000 retail outlets across the nation that sell cigarettes. The order will fully implement the corrective statements remedy the tobacco companies were first ordered to make in 2006. The corrective statement signs are to be displayed in retail stores for 21 months, and different messages will rotate throughout that time. 

  • The University of Nevada Las Vegas became a smoke-free campus during the fall semester, after a successful campaign by the School of Public Health, ACS CAN and other public health partners.
  • Advocates in Dayton, Kentucky, celebrated significant mission impact as the city officially went smoke-free on November 6, taking an important step to protect citizens from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
  • History was made on November 9 as California voters passed Proposition 31 to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products. ACS CAN joined public health partners to strongly advocate for Prop 31, securing media coverage in English, Spanish- and Chinese-language media and executing a six-city media bus tour.
ACS CAN Smiling at Prop 31 campaign event
ACS CAN Volunteers group shot during Prop 31 campagin
  • Our Maine team helped secure multiple tobacco control-related legislative wins, beginning with advocating to increase funding for statewide tobacco prevention and treatment efforts by $7.5 million per year starting in FY2023. Our Maine advocates also successfully supported proposals to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products in three of the state’s most populated municipalities: Bangor, Portland and Brunswick.
  • Our Missouri team successfully advocated for a $2.5 million increase in tobacco control funding, the largest such increase the state has ever had. Missouri is one of the 13 states with the highest tobacco burden.
  • The Washington, D.C. Council passed its FY23 budget on May 24 with funding for an ordinance passed in 2021 that ended the sale of flavored tobacco products. ACS CAN worked with our Flavors Hook Kids DC coalition partners – more than 70 public health and community organizations – to advocate for this important public health win.
  • The Los Angeles City Council passed an ordinance on June 1 to end the sale of most flavored tobacco and became the largest city in the nation to end the sale of menthol cigarettes. ACS CAN generated 270 letters to council members, spoke at the press conference prior to the vote, testified at the hearing and was quoted in media articles in Spanish, Chinese and English about the council action.
Los Angeles City Council members and ACS CAN volunteers at press conference to end the sale of menthol cigarettes
  • In San Diego, as of July 14, 2022 tobacco retailers started paying a licensing fee that will fund and ensure the strong enforcement of the tobacco retail license ordinance that took effect in July 2021. Our advocates continue to hold those accountable for illegally selling tobacco to youth, protecting them from a potential lifetime of addiction.
Cancer screening saves lives by detecting disease early when it may be easier to treat. ACS CAN championed laws at every level of government to give everyone the opportunity to have access to cancer screenings and a fair opportunity to prevent and detect cancer with the following advocacy efforts:
cancer screening ad
  • Kansas advocates secured a $1 million funding increase for the state’s Early Detection Works program serving uninsured, underinsured and lower-income women. The team also successfully advocated for Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill that would have expanded access to inadequate  junk health plans that often do not include evidence-based cancer screenings.
  • Our Illinois team secured a $2 million increase in funding over the next 2 years for a pilot project focused on increasing lung and colorectal cancer screenings.

Health Equity

Cancer impacts everyone, but it doesn’t impact everyone equally. Many barriers can impact a person's ability to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer, including limited access to affordable, high-quality health care.  ACS CAN is strongly committed to helping to remove these barriers to care. In 2022, working with our volunteers, we prioritized public policy change, and partnered with communities and organizations leading this work across the country.

Black History Month White Houseforum

Evidence consistently shows that certain factors – such as race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, health insurance status, income and where a person lives can impact a person’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, survival, and the financial hardship they and their families experience.  

  • Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, PhD, vice-chair of the ACS CAN Board of Directors, participated in a Black History Month Forum hosted by the White House on February 23. The event, Cancer in Color: Equitable Care for Our Communities, amplified the importance of racial equity at the center of health policy initiatives and focused on cancer treatment, prevention, and Medicaid research.
  • The new Health Equity and the Costs of Cancer fact sheets examined the costs of cancer and identified policy solutions that address disparities for several communities and populations, including Black people, Hispanic/Latino people, people with limited incomes, people who are uninsured and people who reside in rural communities. 
  • In Illinois, ACS CAN supported the passage of the Equity in Health Act legislation, which will offer the creation of scholarships and loan repayment incentive programs to attract healthcare professionals in nursing and other health-related fields to work in communities that represent diverse communities across the state.
  • In Oregon, we supported the Data Justice Act, which would require health care providers and health insurers in the state to collect appropriate data on race, ethnicity, preferred spoken and written languages, disability status, sexual orientation and gender identity from patients. ACS CAN worked alongside partners and advocated to ensure passage of the legislation. 
  • ACS CAN released a Survivor Views survey, which showed that women, African Americans and patients in non-Medicaid expansion states are most likely to experience cancer-related medical debt. 
  • ACS CAN applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for releasing a proposed rule expanding nondiscrimination protections for patients using federally funded health programs and requiring anti-discrimination training and reinstated translational services for people with limited English proficiency. 
  • We supported the passage and enactment of the Respect for Marriage Act, which will help ensure marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples, as well as protect their ability to access employment benefits, such as health insurance.
  • Over 300 attendees participated in our hybrid 11th Annual National Forum on the Future of Health Care held in Washington, D.C. with national health equity experts panelists and special honored guests Shirley and Jeri Lacks, daughter-in-law and granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks.

 

11th Annual National Forum on the Future of Health Care
The family of Henrietta Lacks at ACS CAN National Forum on the Future of Health Care

Research is critical to understanding and reducing cancer disparities. Clinical trials represent an opportunity for patients to access the most cutting-edge cancer treatments. Yet, communities of color, older adults, people with limited incomes and people who live in rural communities are underrepresented in them.

  • ACS CAN’s Black Volunteer Caucus (BVC) hosted a fireside chat on the challenges Black people face in accessing cancer care that can be addressed through culturally competent care and removing barriers to clinical trial enrollment. U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) delivered recorded remarks.
  • BVC member Stephen Jackson interviewed Sara Horton, MD, executive director for Access and Diversity for the Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative, about clinical trials and how increasing Black patient enrollment in trials improves the standard of care for everyone.

 

U.S Senator Cory Booker
Black Volunteer Caucus logo
DFA Proposed cigarette flavoring rule

To help combat the health disparities driven by Big Tobacco's premeditated predatory practices to addict Black, LGBTQ+ and low-income communities for decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its proposed rules on April 28 to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and eliminate all flavors in all cigars. ACS CAN advocated for the proposed rule and continues to urge the agency to finalize the rule as quickly as possible.

Our volunteer leadership advisory groups help ensure that we are centering the voices of diverse volunteers and the communities they represent in our health equity advocacy work.  

In 2022, ACS CAN established the LGBTQ+ & Allies Engagement Group, the ACSí Se Puede Hispanic/Latino Advocacy Alliance and the Asian & Pacific Islander Volunteer Advisory Group. Together with the Black Volunteer Caucus, these groups play a critical role in advancing public policy and advising ACS CAN on areas including volunteer recruitment, outreach, training and communications.

Black Volunteer Caucus Members
LGBTQ+ & Allies Engagement Group

ACS CAN also partnered with lawmakers, civic leaders, and community organizations to advance efforts aimed at eliminating disparities in cancer care and health outcomes. 

  • In honor of Black History Month, American Cancer Society Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Tawana Thomas Johnson participated in a dialogue on cancer disparities in the Black community with Cedric Richmond, then-director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
  • ACS CAN sponsored the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference (CBC ALC), where we highlighted the importance of closing the Medicaid coverage gap. Also, Tammy Boyd, ACS CAN vice president, Federal Advocacy and Strategic Alliances, and ACS Board Member Wayne A.I. Frederick, MD, MBA, participated in a CBC ALC panel hosted by Guardant Health on reducing health equity gaps in our healthcare system, including the importance of promoting access to disease screening in underserved communities and increasing diversity in clinical trials.
  • We also sponsored the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Annual Legislative Conference and a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Health Summit panel that examined the need for diverse clinical trials and some of the root causes that prevent trial participation.
  • ACS Board Member Edison T. Liu, MD, participated in an ACS CAN-sponsored panel discussion on the latest in cancer research during the Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies Health Summit.
  • ACS CAN was proud to sponsor the Urban One Engaging Black America special supplement, an annual publication shared with members of Congress. ACS CAN CEO Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD, co-authored an editorial piece with U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, on the importance of removing financial and logistical barriers to clinical trials in the Black community and the need for Congress to support the DIVERSE Trials Act.
Urban One Engaging America Ad

Cancer Votes: How We Make Cancer an Election Issue Through Engagement

Incredible work was achieved throughout the year with ACS CAN’s voter education program, Cancer Votes. In 2022, we launched our nationwide volunteer opportunity, allowing all volunteers, regardless of where they lived, to participate in Cancer Votes. We ran nine targeted Cancer Votes campaigns in seven states, with a strong focus on two Senate races in Colorado and North Carolina, four House races (CO-08, NC-13, OR-05, TX-15), and gubernatorial races in Georgia, Kansas and Wisconsin. Our significant accomplishments included: 

  • More than 180 volunteers in 38 states were engaged in posing questions to candidates via social media and birddogging to ensure candidates’ views on cancer issues are on the record.
  • The Georgia, Kansas and Wisconsin gubernatorial races were highly competitive and all states that have refused to expand access to care through Medicaid. ACS CAN released polling in each state (Georgia, Kansas and Wisconsin) showing strong bipartisan voter support for Medicaid expansion.
  • In Georgia, we partnered with Georgia News Network to air ads on their 167 affiliate stations broadcasting to all 159 counties across the state of Georgia, featuring an interview with ACS CAN CEO Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD about Cancer Votes and voter support for Medicaid expansion. 
  • In Wisconsin, ACS CAN Board Member Phil O’Brien, had an op-ed published in the Wausau Pilot & Review calling on the Wisconsin gubernatorial candidates to expand Medicaid.
  • In Colorado, we developed a new partnership with Mi Familia Vota to host a candidate roundtable discussion with U.S. House of Representatives candidate Yadira Caraveo (CO-08).
  • In Oregon, we hosted coffee chats with both U.S. House of Representatives candidates for OR-05, Jamie McLeod Skinner and Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and distributed voter guides at a debate sponsored by The League of Women Voters. 

Special Thanks and Recognition

Donors

Anderson & Kreiger

Baker Donelson

Democracy Forward

Dentons

Eversheds Sutherland

Hogan Lovells

K&L Gates

Kilpatrick Townsend

Morrison & Foerster

Zuckerman Spaeder

Amgen

Bristol Myers Squibb

EMD Serono

Exact Sciences

Exelixis

Genentech

GRAIL

Janssen Oncology

Merck & Co.

Organon

Pfizer

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

Sanofi

Seagen

AbbVie

AstraZeneca

BeiGene

Blueprint Medicines

Loxo@Lilly

Fight Colorectal Cancer Inc.

Gilead Sciences

GSK

McKesson Corporation

Myriad Genetics

Natera

Novartis 

AdvaMed

Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Cepheid

Charles S. & Millicent P. Brown Family Foundation

CRISPR Therapeutics

Eisai

ImmunoGen

Ipsen

Lyft

Parexel

Pharmacyclics

Providence Health & Services

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance

Viatris

American Clinical Laboratory Association

AmerisourceBergen

Astellas

Avera

Banner University of Arizona Cancer Center

Boston Children's Hospital

Cedars-Sinai Cancer

Chesapeake General Hospital

Daiichi Sankyo Inc.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

 EQRx

Foundation Medicine

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Guardant Health

Health Care Service Corporation

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Allegheny Health Network

Hologic 

Incyte

Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University

Massachusetts Biotechnology Council

Penn State Cancer Institute

Roche Diagnostics

Sandoz

Sanford Health

Servier

Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center - Jefferson Health

Texas Society of Clinical Oncology

Third Rock Ventures

UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center

UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

UE LifeSciences Inc.

United States Pharmacopeia

University of Virginia Cancer Center

2seventy bio

AdventHealth

Alkermes

Amica Mutual Insurance Company

Atrium Health

Baptist Health South Florida Miami Cancer Institute

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota

Blue Note Therapeutics

Boston University

California Life Sciences Association

CARTI Little Rock

CBRE

City of Hope

Feibelman Family

Flatiron Health

GCI Communication

Geisinger  

Harvard Medical School

Illinois Medical Oncology Society

Inova Schar Cancer Institute

Intermountain Healthcare Corporation

Intuitive

Labcorp

Landmark Medical Center

Lifespan

Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center

Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

miR Scientific

Moffitt Cancer Center Malignant Hematology & Cellular Therapy at Memorial Healthcare System

Monument Health

Neighborhood Health Plan

New England Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund

Northwell Health System

Oregon Nurses Association

OSF HealthCare

OU Health

PacificSource Health Plans

Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC

PeaceHealth

Penn Medicine Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Rhode Island Medical Imaging

Sleep Number Corporation

Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center – Westerly

SmithGroup

St. Luke's Health System

Stanford Health Care Comprehensive Cancer Center

Subject Matter

Takeda

Tarplin Downs & Young

TECO Peoples Gas

UC Health

United Natural Foods Inc.

Utah Cancer Specialists

VCU Massey Cancer Center at VCU Medical Center

Washington State Medical Association

We Work For Health

Winning Connections Inc.

Women & Infants Hospital

Yale University

Mike & Cheryl Shult and Family

Dr. Richard Deming

Dr. Douglas Kelsey

Maureen Mann

John J. Manna Jr.

Scarlott Mueller

Omar Rashid, MD, JD

Dr. Robert Tepper

William Underriner

John & Bridgette Alfonso

Dr. Daniel Anderson

James & Kathleen Bond

Terry Brady

Marissa Brown

Jim Bryant

Cataldo Ambulance Service

P. Kay Coleman

Columbia Construction

Consigli Construction

Dr. William Dahut

e4h Environments for Health

Dr. Lewis Foxhall

GE Healthcare

Dr. Mark Goldberg & Dr. Ursula Kaiser

Graybar

Christopher Hansen

William Helman

J. Calnan & Associates

Dr. Arif Kamal

Jeffrey Kean

John Killpack

Jim Knox

Dr. Karen E. Knudsen & Brian Costello

Grace Kurak

Michael Kurak

Lisa Lacasse & Bruce Lesley

Dr. Scott & Mary Lippman

Susan Lyon

Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists

Charles Matthau

Medical Oncology Association of Southern California

Montana State Oncology Society

James Murphy

Philip O’Brien

Tim Phillips

Erin Polak

Providence Health & Services Alaska

Dr. Ujwala Rajgopal

Gary & Cindy Reedy

Carolyn Rhee

Emanuel & Marilyn Rouvelas

Dr. Christy Russell

Dan Smith

Carter Steger

Gary & Susan Streit

Sumitomo Pharma Oncology

Dr. & Mrs. Alan Thorson

Pam Traxel

Dr. Shalini Vallabhan

Dr. Bruce Waldholtz

Carolyn Williams-Goldman

4J Family Foundation

AARP South Dakota

Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association

Alderman & Alderman LLC

James Anderson

Mark Anderson

Bank of America Charitable Foundation

Bank on Buffalo

Joseph Barbetta

Barbara Behal

Benefis Health System

David Benson

Michael Berman

Norman Bernson

Bernstein Shur

Beth Ann Beson

Betty & Smith

Billings Clinic

Bio Nebraska

BJC Healthcare

Bloss Memorial Healthcare District

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island

Blue Cross of Idaho

Boca Raton Regional Hospital Lynn Cancer Institute

Boehringer Ingelheim

David Bonfilio

Kathy Bonnette

Bozeman Health

Broward Regional Health Planning Council Inc.

Dr. Laura Brown

Bryant University

Buckingham and Company

Jacki Burleson

California Colorectal Cancer Coalition

The Campaign Workshop

CareOregon

Carson Higgins Memorial Foundation

CARTI Inc.

Sandra Cassese

CentraCare (Coborn Cancer Center)

Charlotte Radiology

CharterCARE Health Partners

Clinical Trials Education Network of Wisconsin

Lois Conn

Karen Connor

Cornerstone Government Affairs

Alissa Crispino

Dr. Kevin Cullen

Edward Curtis III

Linda Daschle

Norman Davis

Bart De Gregorio

Kyle DeLeon

Diana Diaz

David Drabkin

Dregalla Development

Denis Ducey

EDP Biotech Corp

Steven Elkes

Elkes Foundation

Brandon Elliott

Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Inc.

Espousal Strategies

F.L. Putnam Investment Management Co.

Family & Friends of Julia Huntington

Charlene Farmer

Mary Farrell

FAS & Associates

Jeff Fehlis

David Fenolio

Dr. Mark Fleury

Lori Garcia

Kate Gebo

Graham Companies

Grateful Palliative Care & Hospice

Kimberly Green

James Hancock

Leslie Hand

Health Forward Foundation

Tad Heitmann

Dr. Enrique Hernandez

Michael Holtz

Reid Huber

Paul Hull

Dr. Barry Hummel Jr.

Brian Hummell

Illinois CancerCare PC

Iowa Biotechnology Association

Stephen Jackson

Bernard Jackvony

Jonathan Hoff Memorial Shoot-Shootin For A Cure

Michael Kasper

Keesler Federal Credit Union

Cynthia Kellogg

Kentucky Society of Clinical Oncology

Keudell - Morrison Wealth Management LLC

Marianne Kipper

KPMG LLP

Lakeview Assisted Living Community LLC

Dr. Cynthia LeBlanc

Robin Lockard

Loftus Family Foundation

Dr. Donna Lundy

Management Compensation Resources LLC

Sara Mannetter

Joe Marchetta

Vince Marchetta

Jeannine Marks

Michael Marquardt

Jeff Martin

Massachusetts Association of Health Boards

Margaret McCaffery

Karen McKay

Melissa McLain

Memorial Medical Center

Minnesota Clinical Research Alliance

Mississippi Association of Health Plans

Mississippi Hospital Association

Montana’s Association of Health Care Purchasers

Montana's Credit Unions

Janice Montle

Mountain Health CO-OP

Jim Murray

Dr. Laura Nathan

Navigant Credit Union

NCR Corporation

Michael Neal

Nevada Oncology Society

Natalija Nikolovski

Oak Ridge Associated Universities

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Olson Remcho

Bill Orcutt

Oregon Oncology Specialists

Alexis Patel

Perry Undem LLC

Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital

Dr. Marcus Plescia

Polsinelli

Prisma Health

Providence St. John's Health Clinic

Public Opinion Strategies LLC

Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation

Diane Raheb

Jose Ramos Jr.

Keith Redden

Reid McNally & Savage LLC

Katie Riley

Richard Riley

William Ris

Riverside Healthcare Association Inc.

Rockland Trust Company

Lindy Roth

Donald Rothman

Rubius Therapeutics

Salon Karen Inc.

Dr. Eric Sandler

Corey Schneider

Jeffrey Schultz

Tara Scott

Evan Segal

Dr. Laura Shawver

Kirsten Sloan

Soapbox Consulting

South Dakota Farmers Union

South Hampton Resources Inc.

St Lukes Hospital

Paul Stadfeld

Paige Stauss

Stephen A. Comunale, Jr. Family Cancer Foundation

Stowe & Degon LLC

Thompson Cancer Survival Center

Tufts Health Plan, a Point32Health Company

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center NC Cancer Hospital

Vassar Brothers Medical Center Nuvance Health

Bhavna Vasudeva

Karl Voss

Donald Webster

Wildewood Club

Brant Woodward

Matthew Wracher

Louise Wright

WVP Health Authority

George Young III

Paul Adam

Dave Alber

Sean Alexander

Alfred Street Baptist Church

Britta Babel

Anita Bales

Jackie Bandish

Lynda Barbour

Mark Bednarski

Estela Beltran

Timothy Bergreen

Bioscience Association of Maine (BioME)

Gary Blum

Boeing Company

Andre Bokhoor

Tamara Boyazis

Carol Van Hal Browne

Jose Buenaga

Bonnie Bunting

Cathy Callaway

Kathy Cambo

Ray Carson

Pearl Carter

Elizabeth Chater

Ben Choice

Christianson Family

CHS Softball Boosters

Michael Cimini

Katie Clark

State Rep. Brian Clem (ORE)

Brian Cohen

Emily Cole

The Communication Center

Stephen Comunale

Copilevitz, Lam & Raney PC

Benjamin Covington III

Cox Communications

Lindsay Crouse-Daggy

Christine Cunningham

Rodger Currie

Melodee Davis

Sam Dealmeida

Jenna Denlinger

Ralph Devitto Jr.

Barb Diver

DPR Construction

Drabkin Family

Ernest-Spencer Companies

Jamie Escoto

Stephen Estler

Evans Motorworks

Andrea Farahmand

Andrew Feibelman

Amy Fitzgerald

Nathan Fletcher

Sandra Francis

Gallipolis Chiropractic and Wellness Center

Neal Gartrell

Gastrointestinal Associates PC

Cynthia Ginestra

Bernadette Glenn

Neal Gortnell

Gregory Graven

James Gray

Green Acres Landscape

Janet Grove

Meloni Hallock

Jeff Hazlewood

Health Services Inc.

Dr. Alan Henderson

Hennepin Healthcare

Mary Hess

Dr. Lars Heumann

Lynda Higgs

Debra Hillman

Karen Hirschmann

Diana Hoover-Sulewski

Michael Hosford

Jackie Hoskins

Huggins Insurance Services Inc.

Holly Hull

John Hussar

Nancy Isaac

Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard

Betty Johnson

Steve Kafka

Jay Kalisky

Kay Kamm

Karl Keich

Kristopher Kipp

Knights of Columbus Carmel Council

Robert Lacasse

Sarah Larson

Liz Legg

Liberty Paper

Richard Lieberman

Ann Long

Krista Lutz

M+R Strategic Services Inc.

Magnolia Management LLC

Kathy Ann Martin

Amy Martinez

Massachusetts Municipal Association

George W. May Jr.

McDevitt Construction

Kendra McLaughlin

Miami Lakes Auto Mall

Ron Miao

Moda Health

Montana Bioscience Alliance

Ann Morey

Arden Morris

F. Morris Jr.

Stephen Morrissey

Stacey Moskowitz

Mountain-Pacific Quality Health

Joseph Naylor

NewStart Housing Corporation

Pam Niese

Nu-Yale Cleaners

Jeffrey O’Donnell

Sofia Panjwani

Cara Pearlman

Ann Peters

Keith Phillips

Alice Pomponio

Gina Posada

PSA Airlines Inc.

Erin Purcell

R & R Tree Service

Radiation Therapy Consultants PC

Dr. Lois Ramer

Mithun Rathore

Mitchell Ratzlaff

Kael Reicin

Reser’s Cares

RI Bio

Carolann Risley

Rock Honda 

Allison Rossett

Mary Rouvelas

Rubio Family

Salve Regina University

Katy Sanders

Christine Schaub

Steve Shaner

Marlene Sincaglia

Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center

Betty Sparrow

Annette Spellen

Gwen Spencer

State Farm

Sue Stewart

Polly Sulcer

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Teri’s Package Store

TQL Foundation Inc.

Jennifer True

Julie Turner

Undergraduate Students Association

United Ag & Turf Northeast LLC

University of Chicago

Vive Rx

Amanda Walker

Brad Walker

Stephanie Walkup-Birkhead

Esther Walters

Lisa White

Nicholas Wilson

John Windham Sr.

Ray Young

Patty Zuzek

Annette Adams

Susan Adorante

Zeke Aguilera

Kimberly Alexander

Patricia Andrews

Fowobi Badejoh

Lance Barbour

Tammie Barmore

Shelly Barsanti

Steve Bayans

Barry Bendar

Jeffrey Bennett

Dr. Edward Benz Jr.

Denise Berard

Doug Biser

Patricia Bishop

Brittney Block

Beverly Bogacki

Donna Bohling

Tim Bolek

Carrie Boston

Richard Bounce

Sharlene Bozack

Andrea Britcher

Geraldine Brooks

Flecia Brown

Joy Burks

John Buscher

Eva Butler

Byers, Minton & Associates

Kym Byrd

Grant Cale

Dr. Judith Calhoun

Anna Marie Campanino

Elizabeth Carde

Joseph Carpenito

Abella Carroll

Cary Medical Center

Jolynne Cavener

Lucas Cavener

Amanda Cefalu

Alexander Chapleau

David Christensen

Hillary Clarke

William Clevenger

Denise Coleman

Community Bank of Mississippi

Gary Connelly

Linda Cookingham

James Cooper

Kathleen Copelen

Joanne Cousino

Gay Crawford

Shana Crews

Cindy Crisler

Maria Cristy

Hugh Cunningham

Phyllis Daigle

Linda DeGarmo

Marv DeGarmo

Michael Dowling

Carol Drake

Janet Duffey

Marcia Earle

Anita Eerdmans

Dr. Clifford Eke Jr.

Caroline Eliassen

Ann Emmerich

Dodi Emmons

Malinda Eskra

Robert Eyerly

Glenn Eyrich

Karen Fairbrother

Christopher Farrington

Carla Fink

First Baptist Church of Fannin

Dave Fisher

Kitty Flynn

David Ford

Lesa Foster

Liza Fues

Lora Funderburk

G & G Electric Service Co., Inc.

Khushroo Gandhi

Frances Garrett

Gastroenterology Specialties, P.C.

Maria-Luisa Gay

Carol Gerson

Maryann Giglio

Judy Glass

Cindy Glassmaker

David Glidden

Storm Goodlin

Jennifer Grand-Lejano

Kay Graven

Thurston Gray

Pamela Gray Payton

Daryll Griffin

Natatia Griffith

Karen Haley-Dungan

Loren Halifax

Heather Hall

Beth Hammond

Karin Hampton

Kathryn Hansen

Trista Hargrove

Michele Harris-Dixon

Ruth Heineman

Deanna Henkle

Lourdes Hilao

John Hoctor

Gloria Holtz

Rachel Horkan

Eunice Hostetter

Humana Inc.

Maya Isaac

Dr. Esther Jacobs

Patti Jewell

Bryte Johnson Jr.

Dick Johnson

Laurie Johnson

Mary Johnson

Reuel Johnson Jr.

Robert (Ed) Johnson Jr.

Jones Lang LaSalle

Donnett Jourdan

Nancy Juliano

Diane Junis

Dr. Timothy Kabot

Chandra Kaup

Patricia Kellerhouse

William Kelly

Donna Kemberling

Travis Ketterman

Kaitlyn Koch

Dr. Leslie Kohman

Priyanka Konanur

Kristina D. Roegner Trust

Grethel Kunkel

Marc Lacasse

Debbi LaClair

Dr. Christine Laronga

Laura Larose

Marilyn Larson

Dawn Law

Max Lawhon

Andy Layman

Germaine Leftridge

David Light

Clifford Liles

Kimberly Lindgren

Nancy Lugn

Christopher Lymberis

Spencer Lyons

Ryan MacDonald

Mary-Ellen Macksoud

Lauren MacLaren

Heather Magazine

Cathie Maine

Dr. Joshua Mammen

Christopher Mann

Joe Mann

Jan Manning

Nancy Marcoux

Carleen Marianek

Kim Marshall

Carla Martin

Elizabeth Martin

James Martin

Linda Martin

Sherry Marx

Jason Masony

Nancy Massa

Bonnie May

Alison Mayer-Sachs

Paige McClendon

Keith McCormick

Gary McCurdy

Debbie McDonald

Stephen McKinnon

Megan McNerney

Ted McQuade

Ammon McWashington

Theresa Mendez

Jim Midtlien

Liz Midtlien

Craig Milner

Dr. Mary Milroy

Mary Jane Sylvester Mooney

Maggie Moore

Rosemary Moore

Moose Ridge Associates

Cheri Morrison

Mary Ann Mullane

Brad Mumau

Cindy Mumau

Charisma Mustin

Emily Myatt

Michael Myers Jr.

Diana Navarre

George Neel

Barbara Nickles

Bryan Noble

Nucor Steel

Sean O’Brien

Rebecca Oechsner

Old National Bancorp

Carrie Olson

Melissa Olson

Kathleen Ottele

Ronald Ours Jr.

Grace Pabalan

Christian Patterson

Dr. Jean Paul

Dr. Steven Perlman

Kassy Perry

Carrie Peters

George Pinel

Marguerite Powell

Robert Prieto

Professionals Plus Realty

Matt Prokop

Jason Ramos

Lynn Rearden

Red Threads LLC

Daniel Reitman

The Resurgam Group

Ruffin Rhodes

Rob Ridlon

Susan Rima

Dale Risden

Juanita Rodriguez

Donna Rogers

Dr. Robert Rohloff

Emily Rollins

Teresa Rutherford

Jean Ryan

Bernice Sanders

Dr. Carmen Sato-Bigbee

Robert Schechner

Kevin Schlicht

Jeffrey Schwartz

David Scism

Peter Sedlak

Deb Seng

Roger Sherman

Rose Shulgay

Nancy Silesky

Wendi Silverberg

Kim Smarsh

Jane Smart

Cindy Smith

Jina Smith

Patrick Smith

Jennifer Sobajian

Southern Home Consultants

Southworth Milton Inc.

Dr. Walter Stadler

Kelly Standish

Angela Stanley

Alan Steiner

Monica Stevens

Ann Strohl

Doug Struyk

Mark Stuart

Tracy Swanborough

Paul Sylling

Dr. Eric Taylor

Jay Tenenbaum

Tawana Thomas-Johnson

Carmen Thompson

Tina Thompson

Michael Thorsen

Margaret Timmel

Louisa Todisco

Lacy Townsend

Daniel Treacy

Beth Trierweiler

Brenda Turner

Judy Tutela

Himabindu Uddanti

Heidi Varner

Visiting Angels Home Care

Philip Vivirito

Annette Vrolyk

Molly Waite

Rebecca Ward

Paula Warlick

Mike Warnock

Felicia Washington

Watkins Construction Inc.

Paul Weigel

Kate Weissman

Lauren Weissman

WellTree Inc.

Karen Wendt

Margaret Wessel

Sandra Westover

Whino Inc.

Cory Whiting

Lisa Wilfong

Jackie Williams

James Williams Jr.

Beverly Winkelmann

Christina Wright

Linda Wright

Julie Wrigley

Corey Yarborough

Gary Yordon

Rafal Zalewski

Jerry Zhang

David Zielenziger

Zion Chapel FWB Church

Special Thanks and Recognition

Following are some of the individuals and organizations that helped make 2022 such a successful year for ACS CAN. We also extend a sincere thank-you to those not specifically mentioned here, as this list is by no means exhaustive, and to our colleagues to whom we had to bid farewell in 2022. Please know your contributions did not go unnoticed.

State Lead Ambassadors 

Ambassador Constituent Teams 

National Ambassador Team 

ACS CAN Team Members

American Cancer Society Team Members 

ACS CAN Board of Directors 

The House Cancer Caucus 

The Senate Cancer Coalition 

ACSí Se Puede Hispanic/Latino Advocacy Alliance

The Asian & Pacific Islander Volunteer Advisory Group

The Black Volunteer Caucus

The LGBTQ+ & Allies Engagement Group

ACS CAN’s efforts are supported by the work of attorneys who donate their time, services and specialized expertise as part of the Judicial Advocacy Initiative (JAI) to help advance our mission. Thank you to these individuals.

Samir Aguirre

Melissa Allison

Thomas Byrne

Allison Cohen

Adam Cooper

Thomas Curvin

Margaret "Peggy" Dotzel

Jeffrey Dubner

Ashley Edmonds

John Fleming

Bruce Fried

Andrew Goldfarb

John Hayes

Brian Hopkins

Thomas Hyatt

Christopher Janney

Lindsay Kaplan

Scott Lewis

Seth Lloyd

John Longstreth

Gretchen Mahoney

Christina Marshall

William O'Brien

Joseph Palmore

Beth Petronio

Andrew Pincus

Cybil Roehrenbeck

Emanuel Rouvelas

William Schultz

2022 Advocacy Award Recipients

ACS CAN recognizes exceptional volunteers, team members and elected officials throughout our annual Leadership Summit & Lobby Day.

The National Distinguished Advocacy Award (NDAA), which is ACS CAN’s most prestigious advocacy honor, is awarded to public officials for leadership in the mission to end cancer as a public health problem. The 2022 NDAA recipients were:

  • Senator Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA)
  • Congressman Dr. Larry Bucshon (R-IN)
  • State Representative Kristen Cloutier (D-ME)
  • State Representative Joyce "Jay" McCreight (D-ME)
  • State Representative Michele Meyer (D-ME)
  • State Representative Lucy Dathan (D-CT)
  • State Representative Ivy Spohnholz (D-AK)

Volunteer Award for Excellence in Advocacy*:
Barbara Effman, Florida 

State Lead Ambassador of the Year: 

Linda DeGarmo, Wisconsin 

Ambassador Constituent Team Leads of the Year: 

Barbie Todd, Missouri 

Beatrice Cardenas-Duncan, California

Dave "Coach" Koch, Connecticut 

DonnaMarie Woodson, North Carolina 

Emerging Leader: 

Michael Myers, Pennsylvania 

State Advocacy Team of the Year: 

Iowa 

*The Volunteer Award for Excellence in Advocacy, ACS CAN’s highest honor for volunteers, is presented annually to exemplary volunteers in recognition of outstanding leadership and continuous service in the area of advocacy and public policy. 

Field Government Relations Professional of the Year: 

Primo Castro, California Government Relations Director 

Field Grassroots Professional of the Year: 

Kendra Krueger, North Dakota and South Dakota Grassroots Manager 

Regional/National Professional of the Year: 

Molly Waite, Senior Development Manager 

Dave Woodmansee Award for Excellence* 

Paul Hull, Vice President of Regional Advocacy, Hope Region 

*In honor of longtime ACS CAN State and Local Campaigns Director David Woodmansee, who passed away in 2019, this award is presented to a team member who has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in the areas of advocacy and public policy.  

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