ACS CAN New York Legislative Ambassador Homepage
New Ambassadors: Welcome to the ACS CAN Team!
Here you will find all the information you'll need to be successful in your volunteer role, whether you've been here for five days or five years!
To get you started here are some actions you can take:
- Watch our 13 minute webinar on the roles and responsibilities of ACS CAN ambassadors. You may have viewed this as part of your orientation, this is here as a refresher for those that would like it.
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Review our 2025 ACS CAN Legislative Priorities
New York State Priorities
New York City Priorities
Federal Priorities
Volunteer Roles at ACS CAN
Below are materials that explain the various volunteer roles at ACS CAN
Legislative Ambassador Guidebook
Below is the generic (non-congressional district focused) version of the Legislative Ambassador Guidebook. The Guidebook is intended to be a resource for Legislative Ambassadors as they learn and grow into their new volunteer role. New Legislative Ambassdors will review the Guidebook with their ACT! Lead as part of their ACS CAN training. Please feel free to review the Guidebook before your training. However, we caution you that without the context of the training, the Guidebook may be overwhelming.
Full Legislative Ambassador Guidebook (Currently being updated for 2025)
Guidebook by the Section:
- Welcome
- Legislative Agendas
- ACS CAN Information
- ACS Information
- Tools and Resources
- Fundraising & Membership
- Media
- Legislative Relationships
Important information for all current ambassadors
ACS CAN Volunteer Job Descriptions
ACS CAN Legislative Ambassador Interest Form
ACS CAN Informational Sheet
ACS CAN Membership form or become a member here
ACS CAN Volunteer Fundraising Page
Additional Ambassador Resources:
Relay For Life Resources
College and Youth Relay For Life Resources
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Resources
For more information if you are in New York City, contact [email protected] or Upstate [email protected].
Record your actions!
When you take an action i.e. send an email to a lawmaker, make a phone call, do a drop by, meet with a lawmaker, etc., please log all of these ACS CAN activities in this report back form! This is our way of measuring the impact our volunteers can make.
Story Collection
In the New Year, we will begin a project to collect as many of our volunteers’ stories as we can, and we would LOVE for you to share your story with us. Using this worksheet, please fill it out to the best of your ability and email to [email protected] if you are located in CDs 1-16 (Long Island and NYC) and [email protected] if you are in CDs 17-26 (Westchester and Upstate). Thank you!
It's Celebration Time!
The end of the year marks a time where we reflect on all that was achieved in the opast year. Here is a presentation that was shared during the National December 3, 2024, SLA call highlighting all of the incredible achievements of YOU, our amazing volunteers. THANK YOU!
Campaign work is a large part of what we do at
ACS CAN!
2025 New York State Campaigns
- Cancer Services Program
- Tobacco Control Program
- Family Paid Leave
- Lung Cancer Screening
- Patient Navigation
2025 New York City Menthol Campaign
We are working to end the sale of menthol cigarettes in NYC. Check here for updates on the campaign and how you can make a difference.
Federal Volunteer Activities
PROTECT CANCER CURES CAMPAIGN
Throughout the Summer, we will be helping to protect cancer cures. If you would like to know what you can do to help, please check out this Summer guide for talking points, a script, template email and social media posts, graphics and more! Look out for your members of congress to host townhalls throughout the Summer as well. If you are able to attend, please try and ask these questions.
We are now asking for August recess activities beginning on July 25 for the House and August 2 for the Senate. Please review this recess toolkit to find out how you can help!
MCED
Continue to build co-sponsorship for the Medicare Multi Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (MCED). We are aiming to get all previous co-sponsors from last year onto the newly introduced bill. Here is the letter and script.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is committed to ensuring everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent find, treat, and survive cancer. We know that cancer impacts everyone, but it doesn’t impact everyone equally, and that is why diversity, equity, and inclusion are vital to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone. ACS CAN is centering the lived experiences and voices of our diverse volunteer leaders through our affinity groups that enhance, strengthen, and diversify communications, messaging, partnerships, policy initiatives, and volunteer outreach, training, and engagement within their communities.
Interested in learning more? Please visit the ACS CAN Affinity Web Site and learn more about who they are, who they represent, and how you can get involved!
ATTENTION: This event has now past. Please mark your calendars and save the date for our 2026 Cancer Action Day which will be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026! The information provided is to be used for follow-up to our 2025 Cancer Action Day which was held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Thank you.
Thank you to those who participated in our 2025 Cancer Action Day, you made it an amazing event. Can't wait to see you all again in Albany on Tuesday, April 21, 2026! Registration will be available in January.
Fundraising with ACS CAN NY!
Lights of Hope is ACS CAN's premier fundraising event! Every year, Lights of Hope sends an important message to lawmakers that we need their support in the fight against cancer. Lights of Hope is a great way to raise money for ACS CAN and to honor and remember those touched by cancer through a tribute with thousands of lit bags featuring the names of loved ones and their cancer story. Each bag is $10 and raises much needed funds to continue our important work in research and making real policy change for cancer patients and their families. We will begin our Lights of Hope fundraising campaign in mid-February. Stay tuned for updates!
Check out our 2024 Volunteer Impact Report to see all of the amazing accomplishments.
All of the information you need about Lights of Hope and how to get started is located on our Lights of Hope Resource Page.
The Silent Auction at LS&LD is coming back! We are looking for items to be included in the online auction.
Item details MUST be submitted to Molly Waite by Wednesday, August 20th. Please fill out this form and submit to [email protected] no later than Wednesday, August 20th. Here is the auction guide that covers all the information needed to know including example items.
Participation in the silent auction is completely optional, but whatever money is raised at the auction from our state will be credited to New York. We will send out a list after the auction with the amounts each state raised to be counted toward their volunteer fundraising goal.
The auction will be held online from Wednesday, September 10th – Monday, September 15th.
Fundraising with ACS CAN doesn't have to only be limited to Lights of Hope. You can host ANY fundraiser and Create your own event. Last year one of our youth advocates hosted an ACS CAN Steps Against Cancer 5K race in her hometown. Other fundraisers have included paint and sips, bake sales, silent auctions and so much more.
