Relay For Life of Second Life

Second Life is a free 3D virtual world where users can create, connect, chat, and Relay! Relay For Life of Second Life is Saturday, June 6th. Learn more and join in the online fun.

DetermiNation Runs the Country

Participants from all over the country are gathering (virtually) together to celebrate Global Running Day on June 3rd. The American Cancer Society wanted to make it bigger than just one day. Gather your friends and help us run across the county (2,900+ miles) over the course of one week. Learn more.

World No Tobacco Day

Get information on cigarette, cigar, and smokeless tobacco use, and learn how it affects different groups of people at cancer.org.

Relay Spirit Week

SPIRIT WEEK!
I got spirit yes I do I got spirit how bout YOU!

Mark your calendars- June 1st marks the first day of our West Region Spirit Week! I can’t wait for you to share the true spirit of #WestTeamBestTeam! Volunteers and staff coming together to show off just how much passion they have!

PLEASE copy and paste to your pages/groups/teams.... let’s flood Facebook with our compassion and spirit!

 

 

Your friend in the fight,

Shelly Miller, West Regions Recognition Strategy Lead Volunteer

Share the Light

An exciting digital campaign and dynamic virtual experience is coming to ACS July 16th through October!

Share the Light is designed to engage survivors, caregivers, health conscious individuals, as well as existing donors and volunteers in a fundraising season of light. Together we must illuminate the critical need to increase our funding to fight cancer through new and existing revenue channels.

​Save July 16 at 7 p.m. ET for an hour-long kickoff of entertainment and inspiration! The July 16 kickoff will feature a diverse array of celebrities, special guests, moving stories and an illumination moment you won’t want to miss. You’ll also hear ideas on how to carry your own light forward to advance and accelerate the fight through existing ACS events, via virtual fitness challenges, or in ways unique to you.

What you can do RIGHT NOW: Help create that July 16 illumination moment! We need our volunteers, community partners, and staff to to create videos/images: 

1.      Simply create a video or snap a photo sharing a light in any way you’d like.

o    Examples: lighting a candle, turning on your mobile phone light

2.      Post the video/image to your social media channels using #sharethelight and tag family members, friends, or co-workers, and encourage them to do the same

o    Sample Post: I am helping illuminate the critical need to increase funding for the cancer fight. I challenge (tag your friends/family) to do the same. #sharethelight

3.      Check out examples of the types of videos/images we’re looking for here:

o    https://www.facebook.com/meghan.jalowiec/videos/vb.752956357/10158155463421358/?type=2&video_source=user_video_tab  

o    https://www.facebook.com/ACSOklahoma/videos/2898600716863872/ 

4.      Be on the lookout for more details. Thank you for joining this effort and shining a light on this urgent, life-saving need.

Learn more about the campaign and the upcoming virtual experience here, on Society Source and be on the lookout for the full suite of materials on the Brand Toolkit.

Shavuot

Memorial Day

National Brother Day

Eid-al-Fitr

Donate to and Shop at the Discovery Shop eBay Jewelry Sale

Jewelry donations from staff and volunteers will help launch the first-of-its-kind Discovery Shop Jewelry Event on eBay, Friday, May 22, including a live YouTube preview at 10AM hosted by eBay Hub Manager, Chris Avalos. Click here to subscribe to his channel. You can find campaign details here.

Don’t Fry Day

The Friday before Memorial Day is designated Don’t Fry Day – a day to raise awareness of sun safety and encourage everyone to take steps to protect their skin, including: seek shade; wear sunglasses; protect your skin with clothing; use sunscreen; avoid tanning devices. Ultraviolet (UV) rays -- from the sun and other sources like tanning beds -- are the primary cause of skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States. Keep your skin healthy with these resources from cancer.org.

Workout and Support the American Cancer Society

Take part in this virtual Empowered Fitness Workout on Zoom benefiting the American Cancer Society. Join Diana & Mike, Saturday, May 23rd at 9 AM for this 40 min at-home live stream class! Click here to get more information and/or to donate & register!  

Join us on Memorial Day, May 25th at 11 AM, and let's find a little peace in our day, to quiet our minds and free our bodies, and send love/$$$ to community organizations that need our support. Leading the Memorial Day Yoga Class is Ashley Post; Certified Yoga Instructor and Positivity Activist. Click here to get more information and/or to donate & register!

YogaSix Zoom Fundraising Class - May 30th at 9AM PT Benefiting The American Cancer Society. Click here to get more information and/or to donate & register!

SVCC ACS Fundraising Rally

Dear Relayer!

Our mission to Save Lives, Celebrate Lives, and Lead the Fight for a World Without Cancer, is at risk – and we need your help.

We HOPE you will join us for our fundraising rally on May 28 at 7:00pm on a Zoom call to learn tips and tools to take your fundraising to the next level.

During the rally you will learn about how we are continuing to make an impact in the fight against cancer. We will provide guidance and ideas on how to maximize your fundraising during this challenging time.  We will also discuss the importance of celebrating our success in Relay and our communities safely.

You may Join our Virtual Zoom Relay Rally by clicking this link:

https://zoom.us/j/96143060547?pwd=V2JEWjk5VnRlaVNiWWE1Q0MzcEk3Zz09

OR Join by Phone: 1-669-900-9128

Meeting ID: 961 4306 0547

Password: 212184

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“Success is what works in your community, what makes your people happy and what showcases your event. And they are all different, even though the concept is all the same. But they’re all successful because they push awareness. They raise money to fund the mission and they bring people together to deal with, again, whatever aspect of their cancer journey is.”
- Joe Gillette, American Cancer Society Volunteer

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Looking forward to seeing you on Zoom—come in your best Relay spirit,

Suzy Andrade and Erin Coley

Your Silicon Valley Central Coast Area Lead Volunteers

National Rescue Dog Day

Facebook Fundraising

Ready to break the fundraising ice? Facebook Fundraiser is an easy way to let the world know you’ve joined the fight against cancer. 

Connect to Facebook Fundraiser through your Relay event dashboard or our mobile FUNdraising app to get started today!

Fact: People raising funds through social media raise 7x more than ones who don’t. Get your fundraising going with a Facebook Fundraiser! 

Connect to Facebook Fundraiser through your Relay event dashboard or our mobile FUNdraising app to get started today! 

Our mission matters more than ever and the resources the American Cancer Society provides are essential, which means our fundraising is, too. Bring hope to those who need it most and keep fundraising virtually by connecting your fundraising to Facebook in a few easy steps. 

1. Sign in to your fundraising dashboard or our mobile FUNdraising app, then select CONTINUE WITH FACEBOOK.

2. Log In to Facebook and grant permission to link to your dashboard. 

3. Click GO TO FACEBOOK FUNDRAISER.

4. Invite friends to donate and track your progress.  

Supercharge your efforts in the fight against cancer with a Facebook Fundraiser. To get started, connect to Facebook Fundraiser through your Relay event dashboard or our mobile FUNdraising app. Then, invite friends and track every dollar that automatically goes toward your Relay For Life goal.

*Get the Facebook Fundraising Social Media Toolkit.

Laylatul Qadr

16 of 19 new AACR fellows have ties to ACS

We have a great track record of funding the best cancer research - here's more proof

On May 12, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) announced its newly elected class of Fellows of the AACR Academy, whose mission is to recognize and honor distinguished scientists whose scientific contributions have propelled significant innovation and progress against cancer. 

Fellows of the AACR Academy serve as a global brain trust in the cancer field, helping to advance the mission of the AACR to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, communication, collaboration, science policy and advocacy, and funding for cancer research.

We are pleased to report that of the 19 elected, 16 were either ACS grantees or mentors to ACS grantees. 

All Fellows are nominated and elected through an annual peer review process conducted by existing Fellows of the AACR Academy and ratified by the AACR Academy Steering Committee and AACR Executive Committee. This process involves a rigorous assessment of each candidate’s scientific accomplishments in cancer research and cancer-related sciences. Only individuals whose work has had a significant and enduring impact on cancer research are considered for election and induction into the AACR Academy.

*Shared from MySocietySource.

American Cancer Society's 107th Birthday!

The American Cancer Society is on a mission to free the world from cancer. Until they do, they'll be funding and conducting research, sharing expert information, supporting patients, and spreading the word about prevention. All so you can live longer — and better.

This weekend marks the 107th birthday of the American Cancer Society. To celebrate, they are launching a Facebook Fundraiser in honor of their past, those they support in the present, and the opportunities of the future.

To our 1.1 million fans on Facebook, we thank you for your support today and always!

*Shared from American Cancer Society Facebook.

#Quarantunes raises more than $79,000 to benefit our Hope Lodge COVID-19 Response Fund

CEO Gary Reedy was invited by Emmy Award winner Richard Weitz and his daughter, Demi, to a unique virtual concert and chat series called #Quarantunes. 

Richard, a Hollywood agent, began with an idea to make his daughter’s 17th birthday special amid the pandemic by getting some celebrity friends to sing to her. The idea quickly grew and morphed into a fundraiser for those in need during COVID-19. In the six weeks since its start, these Friday evening, invitation-only events have raised more than $2 million for charities.

Last Friday’s Quarantunes performance (May 8) raised $375,000 for the American Cancer Society, CDC Foundation, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with about $79,000 coming to the ACS for our Hope Lodge COVID-19 Response Fund.

Part of the intrigue is the small guest list and the surprise nature of the artists. Last Friday’s performers included Luke Bryant, Shawn Colvin, Jeffrey Osborne, One Republic, Rita Wilson, and Darius Rucker, among others. Commentary about the songs from artists, songwriters, and legends like Clive Davis added to the appeal. 

It was newly appointed Tennessee Area Board member, Dan Weisman, a former executive artist manager and friend of Richard Weitz, who brought the Tennessee Hope Lodge to Richard’s attention and suggested he include ACS in the event. 

Dan spent over a decade as an entrepreneur and trusted advisor in the music industry, moving to Nashville in 2016 to open a Roc Nation office in Music City.  In 2019, he was recruited as the first hire in AllianceBernstein’s newest private wealth office in their new global headquarters in Nashville. Since then he has hit his stride philanthropically. 

Dan said, “Time is our most valuable asset, and as I’ve grown and matured, I have tried to be more intentional as to what causes I dedicate my time. My grandmother, uncle, and wife have all been affected by cancer, and I’ve lost friends to cancer, so when asked if I wanted to get involved, it seemed like the right time. Bringing my relationships from the entertainment business to help ACS, specifically in Nashville, is the least I can do.”

Read more here.

*Shared from MySocietySource.

COVID-19 has halted work of half of ACS grantees

We will delay the start date of our next round of grants from July 1, 2020 to September 1, 2020

The American Cancer Society reached out to all of its funded researchers to assess the state of their projects and collect information to guide its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In early April 2020, we sent a survey to 744 current grantees via e-mail; 488 grantees responded, yielding a 66% response rate.

In response to the question Are you currently working primarily from home or teleworking due to the COVID-19 pandemic? the survey found a high proportion of grantees are working remotely all or most of the time:

• 54% were working entirely remotely
• 32% were working mostly remotely with occasional in-person visits to office/campus/lab
• 8% were working mostly or entirely in their normal work setting (6% in a clinical setting; 2% in a research setting)

In response to the question: How has your institution responded to the pandemic?

• 91% reported only essential personnel were allowed
• 59% reported their institution had closed laboratories
• 57% reported their institution had temporarily halted research
• 4% reported their institution remained entirely open

In response to the question What has been the impact on your research or training?

• 51% indicate a high impact; all research or training activities are paused until further notice
• 43% report a modest impact; some aspects are paused
• 7% report a low impact; research or training continues as planned

“It is abundantly clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on cancer research,” said William Phelps, PhD, senior vice president, Extramural Research. “In some labs queried for our survey, all non-essential research had been halted, with research on COVID-19 being the only type of research being encouraged. In addition to the deceleration in progress against cancer, these laboratories and institutions will face significant additional costs associated with restarting the cancer research enterprise in the coming months.”

Despite the significant impact of closed laboratories, many researchers have found it a unique opportunity. Susanne Warner, MD, is an ACS grantee investigating the use of viruses to infect and destroy colorectal cancer cells at City of Hope in Duarte, California. “Despite being at home a lot more than usual, we've been able to be really productive in the lab,” said Dr. Warner. “We’re taking this opportunity to review a lot of our old data to see if there were messages that the science was trying to send us that we didn't have time to stop and listen to before. We’re also using the time to plan new experiments so that when all this is over, we can hit the ground running.”

To accommodate the temporary closing of many research labs, the American Cancer Society will delay the start date of its next round of grants from July 1, 2020 to September 1, 2020.

Read about COVID-19's possible effect on 2020 ACS grants.

*Shared from MySocietySource.

International Families Day

Bike To Work Day

Watch: Relay Hall of Famer Jeff Ross shares an inspiring message

With more than 75% (more than 1,600) of our 2020 Relay events impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeff Ross, Relay Hall of Famer, now more than ever, wants to share his passion for the American Cancer Society’s mission.

In this video, Jeff offers a sincere thank you, encourages us to keep fighting for those impacted by cancer, and shares his reasons for continuing to raise funds for our mission.

“In the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, we have to move forward. It is okay for us to fundraise,” said Jeff. “Our response during this must be that we can’t stop!”

This is a challenging time for everyone, both professionally and personally. But cancer hasn’t stopped, so neither can we.

This video and other inspiring messages and fundraising ideas can be found in the new fundraising rally content now on Brand Toolkit. 

Jeff’s message is one of inspiration and permission to keep fighting for a world without cancer. Watch now!

*Shared from MySocietySource.

ACS CAN's Medicaid Covers Us film wins prestigious honor

A short film on the critical need for health insurance through the Medicaid program, produced in part by ACS CAN, won a Merit Award at the Los Angeles-based Global Shorts international film competition. The festival was held online this year due to COVID-19

"Left Behind: Health and Hope in North Carolina" is the third film in a documentary series about the importance of Medicaid. It premiered in January 2020 and features the stories of lower income North Carolinians who fall in the Medicaid “coverage gap” – earning too much to qualify for the traditional Medicaid program, but not enough to afford private/commercial health insurance. 

The series can be viewed at www.medicaidcoversus.org/films. ACS CAN partnered with filmmaker Ky Dickens to produce the series, part of the Medicaid Covers Us public education project. Funded in part by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Medicaid Covers Us aims to create an open dialogue about the critical role Medicaid plays in helping Americans stay healthy, go to work, and care for their families.  

Visit ACS CAN’s Increased Access to Medicaid campaign page and Medicaid Covers US page to learn more.

PHOTO: Richard, pictured above, was one of the North Carolinians featured in the film.

*Shared from MySocietySource.