Katherine Kortum, Senior Manager, Mission Delivery, and Dianna Dalton, Senior Community Development Manager, Coaches vs. Cancer program discussed the mission and programming of The American Cancer Society.  We began with its mission, funding research, advocacy, providing information and support, and fundraising.  The ACS funds new ideas and new discoveries with seed money to allow them to test and prove their potential worth before seeking big grants.

For direct services, Katherine described how they work with patients to overcome barriers to treatment, transportation and lodging; Road To Recovery volunteers drivers provide transportation to and from appointments and treatments, Hope Lodge and participating hotel partners provide low/no cost rooms for patients traveling for treatment.  Both are looking for more volunteers and participants. 

Dianna discussed fundraising, vital to the ACS mission.  Philadelphia’s Coaches vs. Cancer Program is the country’s most successful, having raised millions of dollars with great support from the “Philly Six” college basketball coaches and she invited all to attend their two big fundraisers, the Tip-Off Breakfast and the BasketBall Gala.

They remind us that the ACS is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, online at cancer.org and by phone at 1-800-227-2345, that’s 1-800-ACS-2345.   The ACS has staff on duty to help with everything from referrals to volunteer opportunities.