American Cancer Society

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Unbalanced scales.svg
 The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (May 2013)
American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society Logo.svg
Founded 1913
Headquarters American Cancer Society Center
Atlanta, Georgia
Origins New York, New York
Key people John R. Seffrin, PhD, Chief Executive Officer
Otis Webb Brawley, MD, Chief Medical Officer
W. Phil Evans, MD, FACR, President
Cynthia M. LeBlanc, EdD, Chair
Area served United States and Puerto Rico.
Focus "To save lives by helping people stay well, helping people get well, by finding cures, and fighting back."[1]
Method Cancer research, Endowments, Public policy, and Education.[1]
Website cancer.org

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer.

Established in 1913, the society is organized into twelve[2] geographical divisions of both medical and lay volunteers operating in more than 900 offices throughout the United States, including Puerto Rico.[3] Its home office is located in the American Cancer Society Center in Atlanta, Georgia. As the official journals the ACS publishes Cancer, CA: A Cancer Journal For Clinicians and Cancer Cytopathology. [4]

In 1994, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, an industry publication, released the results of the largest study of charitable and non-profit organization popularity and credibility conducted by Nye Lavalle & Associates. The study showed that the American Cancer Society was ranked as the 10th "most popular charity/non-profit in America" of over 100 charities researched with 38% of Americans over the age of 12 choosing Love and Like A lot for the American Cancer Society.[5] [6]

Contents

History[edit]

The society was originally founded on May 22, 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.[7][8]

In that time of founding it was not considered appropriate to mention the word ‘cancer’ in public. Information concerning this illness was cloaked in a climate of fear and denial. Over 75,000 people died each year of cancer in just the United States. The top item on the founders’ agenda was to raise awareness of cancer, before any other progress could be made in funding research. Therefore a frenetic writing campaign was undertaken to educate doctors, nurses, patients and family members about cancer. Articles were written for popular magazines and professional journals. The ASCC undertook to publish their own journal, Campaign Notes, which was a monthly bulletin with information about cancer. They began recruiting doctors from all over the United States to help educate the public about cancer.

Marjorie Illig was an ASCC field representative in 1936. She suggested creating a large network of new volunteers whose purpose was to wage “war on cancer.” In 1935 there were 15,000 people involved in cancer control in the U.S. By 1938 there was ten times that number. The Women’s Field Army, those volunteers working on behalf of the ASCC were responsible for this increase more than anything else.[9]

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."[10]

In the spring of 2013 the American Cancer Society reorganized nationally. The organization centralized and consolidated its operations and required all employees too reapply for their jobs. [11]

Activities and Fund allocation[edit]

Its activities include providing grants to researchers, icluding funding 46 Nobel Laureate researchers, discovering the link between smoking and cancer, and serving one million callers every year through its National Cancer Information Center. The 46 Nobel Prize laureates include James D. Watson, Mario Capecchi, Oliver Smithies, Paul Berg, E. Donnall Thomas, and Walter Gilbert.[12]

It also runs public health advertising campaigns, and organizes projects such as the Relay For Life and the Great American Smokeout. It operates a series of thrift stores to raise money for its operations. Notable endorsements include the 4K for Cancer, a 4000-mile bike ride from Baltimore to San Francisco to raise money for the society's Hope Lodge.[13]

1938 American Society for the Control of Cancer poster.

The society’s allocation of funds for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2010, lists 72% of funds for Program Services (Patient Support 28%, Research 16%, Prevention 16%, Detection and Treatment 12%). The remaining 28% are allocated for supporting services (Fundraising 21%, and Management, General administration 7%) 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).[14]

In 2012 the American Cancer Society raised $934 million and spent $943 million prompting a national consolidation and cost-cutting reorganization. [15]

John R. Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society, received $2,401,112 salary/compensation from the charity for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.[16] This is the second most money given by any charity to the head of that charity, according to Charity Watch. The money included $1.5 million in a retention benefit approved in 2001, “to preserve management stability.”[17]

Evaluations[edit]

ACS Hope Lodge in Manhattan

Charity Navigator rates the society two of four stars.[18] According to Charity Navigator the society is directed to "eliminating cancer" and destroying it. The American Cancer Society's website contains a chronological listing of specific accomplishments in the fight against cancer, for example the unipod technological device of UTD, that the ACS had a hand in, including the funding of various scientists who went on to discover life-saving cancer treatments, and advocating for increased use of preventative techniques.[19]

Charity Watch rates American Cancer Society a "C".[20]

Scandals[edit]

New York embezzlement[edit]

In the 1980s, an employee of a New York branch was indicted for a tax fraud scheme that allowed individuals to fraudulently claim contributions, much of which had been returned to them.[21]

Ohio embezzlement[edit]

In 2000, Dan Wiant, the chief administrative officer of the American Cancer Society of Ohio, pled guilty to embezzling $7 million from the organization.[22]

Lack of control over state affiliates[edit]

ACS offices in Washington, D.C.

In 1995, the Arizona chapter of the American Cancer Society was targeted for its extremely high overhead. Two economists, James Bennett and Thomas DiLorenzo, issued a report analyzing the chapter's financial statements and demonstrating that the Arizona chapter used about 95% of its donations for paying salaries and other overhead costs, resulting in a 22 to 1 ratio of overhead to actual money spent on the cause. The report also asserted that the Arizona chapter's annual report had grossly misrepresented the amount of money spent on patient services, inflating it by more than a factor of 10. The American Cancer Society responded by alleging that the two economists issuing the report were working for a group funded by the tobacco industry.[23]

Criticisms[edit]

Declined participation of atheist organization in Relay For Life National Team program[edit]

The American Cancer Society was criticized for turning down participation from the Foundation Beyond Belief in its Relay For Life "National Team" program, worth more than $500,000. The ACS responded to the criticism by stating the "National Team" was to become a corporate sponsorship program and that non-profits and advocacy groups were no longer going to be included in this sponsorship program. This change in policy occurred after the ACS had already agreed that Foundation Beyond Belief could have a team under the Relay non-corporate National Team program.[24][25]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "About The American Cancer Society". About Us. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  2. ^ American Cancer Society: Fact Sheet
  3. ^ "American Cancer Society". Charity Navigator. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-06. 
  4. ^ "Books and Journals". Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  5. ^ The Charities Americans Like Most And Least, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, December 13, 1996 And USA Today, December 20, 1994, "Charity begins with health", FINAL 01D
  6. ^ http://www.workingtogive.org/charities/disease-research/american-cancer-society/history History
  7. ^ name="charitynavigator.org"
  8. ^ http://journaltimes.com/news/today-in-history-american-cancer-society-is-founded-strongest-ever/article_8d048ba8-c17b-11e2-ba4e-001a4bcf887a.html Journal Times
  9. ^ http://www.workingtogive.org/charities/disease-research/american-cancer-society/history History
  10. ^ "ACS History". Archived from the original on 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2008-01-16. 
  11. ^ http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Cancer-Society-chapters-facing-reorganization-4446222.php Times Union, Cancer Society Reorg
  12. ^ "American Cancer Society". Nobel Prize Winners. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-18. 
  13. ^ "Hope Lodge Baltimore". Retrieved 2008-07-28. 
  14. ^ "American Cancer Society Annual Report 2010". Retrieved 2008-12-23. 
  15. ^ http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Cancer-Society-chapters-facing-reorganization-4446222.php Times Union, Cancer Society Reorg
  16. ^ "American Cancer Society - Charity Reports". BBB. Retrieved 2013-05-02. 
  17. ^ Charity Rating Guide and Watchdog Report 59, American Institute of Philanthropy, "Charity Watch", Dec 2011 
  18. ^ "American Cancer Society". Charity Navigator. Archived from the original on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
  19. ^ "ACS: Milestones". American Cancer Society. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-19. [dead link]
  20. ^ Charity Rating Guide and Watchdog Report, Volume Number 59, December 2011
  21. ^ Ex-Fund-Raiser At Cancer Society Indicted In $4 MillionTax Fraud. The New York Times. Retrieved on February 9, 2007.
  22. ^ Cancer Society Executive Surrenders to the F.B.I.. The New York Times. Retrieved on February 9, 2007.
  23. ^ Dougherty, John (26 Jan 1995), "Charitable taking the Arizona division of the American Cancer Society eats up 95 percent of its budget with salaries and overhead. Cancer victims get the leftover crumbs.", Phoenix New Times (Voice Media Group), ISSN 0279-3962 
  24. ^ Levy, Piet (3 Oct 2011), "Atheists say cancer volunteering thwarted." (news article), The Christian Century (Christian Century Foundation), Religious News Service, ISSN 0009-5281 
  25. ^ Christina, Greta (11 May 2012), "Atheism’s new clout." (news article), Salon (Salon Media Group, Inc.), retrieved 2 May 2013, "Non-believers are becoming increasingly successful fundraisers -- and cultural forces to be reckoned with." 

External links[edit]

American Cancer Society
People
Events
Related
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Cancer_Society&oldid=559906244"