About Us

About Your American Cancer Society: Your Dollars at Work
For nearly a century, the American Cancer Society has fought for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. By taking what we’ve learned through research and turning it into what we do, we have contributed to a 15 percent decrease in the overall cancer death rate between the early 1990s and 2005. That means that we helped avoid about 650,000 cancer deaths and created the potential for more birthday celebrations. Overall, 11 million cancer survivors in America will celebrate a birthday this year.

Together with our millions of supporters, the American Cancer Society saves lives and creates more birthdays by:

Helping you stay well with tips, tools, and online resources to help people set goals and stay motivated to eat healthy and maintain an active lifestyle to reduce their risk of cancer, and by helping you take steps to prevent cancer or detect it early, when it’s most treatable.
Helping you get well by being in your corner around the clock and providing information to help make decisions or free services like transportation to and from treatment and a place to stay when undergoing treatment away from home.
Finding cures by funding and conducting research into cancer’s causes, cures, and treatments; we’re the largest non-governmental funder of cancer research in the United States, having spent more than $3.4 billion on cancer research since 1946.
Fighting back by working with lawmakers everywhere to make this world a healthier place to live and rallying communities around the globe to join our fight.

History of Coaches vs. Cancer

Coaches vs. Cancer is a nation-wide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers basketball coaches, their teams, and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer. The program leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of basketball coaches nation-wide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs.
Coaches vs. Cancer evolved from a concept championed by Norm Stewart, former head coach of the University of Missouri men’s basketball program, cancer survivor, and member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He started the program by challenging fans to pledge a dollar amount for every three points made by his team during the season.
The American Cancer Society and the NABC adopted that concept in 1993 and transformed it into a nation-wide effort to unite coaches across the country in the common mission to provide help and hope to all people facing cancer. Today, high school and Division I, II, and III college coaches across the country are involved in the program. Coaches vs. Cancer has raised more than $50 million since its inception to support the American Cancer Society’s work to save lives from cancer.
In 1998, the Coaches vs. Cancer Council was formed a distinguished group of NABC member basketball coaches, American Cancer Society volunteers, and business leaders from across the country to explore new and innovative ways to raise funds, recruit prominent coaches, enhance the program, and help save lives from cancer.
Because cancer has touched so many of our nation’s basketball coaches, Coaches vs. Cancer offers them a unique opportunity to fight the disease. Through integrated fundraising activities and public awareness campaigns, participating coaches are truly making a difference in the fight against cancer and are raising awareness in their communities about the importance of cancer prevention, early detection, and making healthy lifestyle choices.
For more information about the American Cancer Society, call us at 1.800.227.2345 or visit cancer.org.