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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We leverage the expertise and insight of our Board of Directors, which is comprised of physicians, researchers, public health professionals, civic leaders and volunteers.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
ACS CAN also partnered with lawmakers, civic leaders, and community organizations to advance efforts aimed at eliminating disparities in cancer care and health outcomes.
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:
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
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
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:
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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© 2022 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network works daily to make cancer a national priority.
