American Cancer Society

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The American Cancer Society (ACS) is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service."

The Society is organized into 14 geographical divisions of both medical and lay volunteers operating in more than 3,400 offices throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.[1] The National Home Office is located in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Society was originally founded in 1913 by 15 physicians and businessmen in New York City under the name American Society for the Control of Cancer (ASCC). The current name was adopted in 1945.[2]

The sword symbol, adopted by the American Cancer Society in 1928, was designed by George E. Durant of Brooklyn, New York. According to Durant, the two serpents forming the handle represent the scientific and medical focus of the Society’s mission and the blade expresses the “crusading spirit of the cancer control movement."[3]

Its activities include providing grants to researchers, running public health advertising campaigns, and organizing projects such as the Relay For Life, Great American Smokeout, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and Daffodil Days. It operates a series of thrift stores to raise money for its operations. Notable endorsements include the Hopkins 4K for Cancer, a 4000-mile bike ride from Baltimore to San Francisco to raise money for the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge.[4]

The Society’s allocation of funds for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2005 lists 70% of funds for Program Services (Research 14%, Prevention 20%, Patient Support 20%, Detection and Treatment 16%). The remaining 30% are allocated for supporting services (Fundraising 22%, and Management, General administration 8%) meeting the Better Business Bureau's Standards for Charity Accountability (At least 65% to program services and no more than 35% to overhead and fundraising expenses).[5]

The Society has funded 42 Nobel Prize winners including Paul Berg, E. Donnall Thomas, and Walter Gilbert.

In 1991 Society-funded research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showing that children ages 3 to 6 recognized the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company cartoon character Joe Camel as easily as Mickey Mouse. [6]

"Access to Care" is the theme of The American Cancer Society's new ad campaign. While not advocating a specific solution, the American Cancer Society is looking to start a dialogue and increase the "political will" needed to address the issue. Dr. Seffrin, CEO of the ACS states: "if a woman gets diagnosed with breast cancer, but doesn't have health insurance, she is 40% more likely to die." Your Cancer Today previews one of the commercials and interviews.[7]

ACS Hope Lodge in Manhattan

Charity Navigator rates the society two of four stars.[8] The society is directed to "eliminating cancer" but has never been "able to state the progress it has made (or is making) toward its goal", one of the Charity Navigator criteria for a good place to make charitable contributions.[9] However, the American Cancer Society's website contains a chronological listing of specific accomplishments in the fight against cancer that the ACS had a hand in, including the funding of various scientists who went on to discover live-saving cancer treatments, and advocating for increased use of preventative techniques. [10]

In the past, the ACS has been involved in a few economic scandals: In 2000, Dan Wiant, an administrative officer, was accused of embezzling $7 million.[11] In the 1980s, an employee discovered that a fund-raiser was leading a $4 million tax fraud scheme.[12]

An emeritus professor and founder of a non-profit the Cancer Prevention Coalition [1], Dr. Samuel S. Epstein, alleges their priorities are economically motivated, and reflect conflicts of interests with the pharmaceutical industry, the pesticide industry, and the mammography industry.[13]

  1. ^ "American Cancer Society". Charity Navigator. http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=6495. Retrieved on 2007-12-06. 
  2. ^ "American Cancer Society". Charity Navigator. http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=6495. Retrieved on 2007-12-06. 
  3. ^ "ACS History". http://www.cancer.org/docroot/AA/content/AA_1_4_ACS_History.asp?. Retrieved on 2008-01-16. 
  4. ^ "Hope Lodge Baltimore". http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/hopelodge/MD_Baltimore/bm_news_one.asp. Retrieved on 2008-07-28. 
  5. ^ "American Cancer Society meets the BBB Wise Giving Alliance's Standards for Charity Accountability". http://charityreports.bbb.org/public/seal.aspx?ID=1413312005. Retrieved on 2008-12-23. 
  6. ^ Fischer PM, Schwartz MP, Richards JW Jr, Goldstein AO, Rojas TH. Brand logo recognition by children aged 3 to 6 years. Mickey Mouse and Old Joe the Camel. JAMA. 1991 Dec 11;266(22):3145-8. PMID 1956101
  7. ^ "John Seffrin, PhD on Your Cancer Today". http://www.yourcancertoday.com/pr/accesstocare.html. 
  8. ^ "American Cancer Society". Charity Navigator. http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=6495. Retrieved on 2007-12-06. 
  9. ^ "6 Questions To Ask Charities Before Donating". Charity Navigator. http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=28. Retrieved on 2007-12-06. 
  10. ^ "ACS: Milestones". American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/AA/content/AA_1_3_Milestones.asp?sitearea=&level=. Retrieved on 2008-11-19. 
  11. ^ Cancer Society Executive Surrenders to the F.B.I.. The New York Times. Retrieved on February 9, 2007.
  12. ^ Ex-Fund-Raiser At Cancer Society Indicted In $4 MillionTax Fraud. The New York Times. Retrieved on February 9, 2007.
  13. ^ The American Cancer Society: The World's Wealthiest "Nonprofit" Institution

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Cancer_Society"
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