​ACS CAN honors team members and volunteers.​​

On Sunday evening, Sept. 15, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) began its annual Leadership Summit and Lobby Day (LS&LD) by honoring team members and volunteers for the exceptional leadership advocacy work they displayed throughout the year to make cancer a top national priority. The honorees include the following. 

Team Member Awards 

ACS Partner of the Year – This award is given to an American Cancer Society team member who collaborates with ACS CAN to advance its mission to reduce the cancer burden through public policy change. 

Jeff Hille, senior consultant, Financial Planning & Analysis: During his decade-plus tenure, Jeff has worked to integrate ACS and ACS CAN seamlessly. A valued partner to every function of ACS CAN operations, from field to national, communications to grassroots, he is able to translate and make sense of complex financial planning with a can-do attitude. 

Field Government Relations Professional of the Year – This award recognizes a government relations professional who has worked tirelessly to make a powerful, lasting impression in cancer-related public policy. 

Emily Kalmer, government relations director, Missouri: Emily shepherded the passage of key legislation in Missouri that has impacted millions of lives on multiple cancer policy issues, including- increased access to breast and cervical cancer treatment, tobacco cessation and prevention funding and copay assistance for prescription drugs. She spends countless hours working behind the scenes to ensure that ACS CAN’s volunteers have impactful opportunities and moments. 

Field Grassroots Professional of the Year -- This award is presented to an ACS CAN team member whose collaborative efforts further the achievement of advocacy-related mission goals. 

Britta Babel: Britta has used her creativity to draw attention and priority from state lawmakers to ACS CAN’s legislative campaigns. She has amplified and empowered the voices of volunteers and partners, ensuring they were elevated throughout the continuum of ACS CAN’s policy work. 

National Professional of the Year – This award is presented each year to an exemplary team member who has made significant contributions to ACS CAN through their cancer advocacy work.  

Marissa Beasley, strategic director, Alliance Development: Marissa’s transformative skills have helped to create a new model for ACS and ACS CAN fundraising partnership, further highlighting, and emphasizing the importance of the organization’s advocacy work.

Dave Woodmansee Award for Excellence – In honor of longtime ACS CAN State and Local Campaigns Director David Woodmansee, who passed away in 2019, this award is presented to a team member who has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in the areas of advocacy and public policy.  

Trista Hargrove, director, Media Advocacy – Health Equity: Trista has exponentially grown the relevance and resonance of advocacy, engendering mission literacy among team members and external stakeholders alike for more than 20 years. She’s a longtime champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has worked tirelessly to advance ACS CAN’s public policy agenda to address health disparities. 

Volunteer Awards 

Volunteer Award for Excellence in Advocacy (VAEA) – This award is the highest national volunteer advocacy honor bestowed by ACS CAN. 

Patty Avery, Indiana (NAT): Patty has been a volunteer with ACS since 2000 and went on to join ACS CAN as a delegate at the 2006 Celebration on the Hill, a year before the volunteer structure was formed. She now serves as co-chair of the National Ambassador Team (NAT) where she connects Global Relay partners to ACS CAN information and tools. She is also a former State Lead Ambassador of the Year Award recipient. 

State Lead Ambassador (SLA) of the Year – This award is presented to a lead state volunteer who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in advocating for ACS CAN’s area of cancer-related public policy. 

Caroline Torres Maldonado, Puerto Rico: Caroline is the first SLA in Puerto Rico and has excelled at expanding her volunteer team and building their knowledge and skillsets through trainings. She has amassed a following on social media where she has promoted ACS CAN, fundraised and engaged new volunteers.

Ambassador Constituent Team (ACT) Lead of the Year -- This award is given to a lead congressional district volunteer who has demonstrated remarkable leadership advocating for ACS CAN’s areas of cancer-related public policy. 

• Laura LaRosa, California: As an oncology nurse practitioner, Laura has used her firsthand experience to advocate on behalf of her patients to fight for policy that will change the course of cancer. She was instrumental in getting her congressman to cosponsor the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act and was the second highest Lights of Hope fundraiser in the country, raising over $23,000 last year.  
• Debra Nevels, Wisconsin: Debra has remained a fierce advocate and champion for health equity, consistently centering and uplifting the needs of underserved communities. She is a proud member of ACS CAN’s Black Volunteer Caucus (BVC) and played a pivotal role in the PSA for HIM Screening Act postcard advocacy initiative, where she collected the most postcards out of any state. She also represented her state of Wisconsin for the Patient Quality of Life Coalition Lobby Day and pilot Inclusive Volunteer Engagement Training.   
• Eugenia Posada, Texas: Eugenia has continued to push ACS CAN’s mission forward to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. She has played a significant role in the organization’s engagement with Spanish-speakers, attending dual language town halls for her representatives and completing several Spanish media engagements in her state. As an active member of the ACSí Se Puede Affinity Group, she has continued to increase awareness about cancer disparities faced in her community. 

Young Leader Award - This award is presented to a state volunteer who has demonstrated an exciting promise in their start with ACS CAN by taking advantage of new opportunities to advocate for cancer patients. 

• McKayla McCullah, Hawaiʻi: McKayla currently serves as the Vice State Lead Ambassador (SLA) in Hawaiʻi. She has participated in multiple Cancer Action Days, LS&LD, has tabled at multiple college outreach events and community events, and hosted a cancer and coffee talk in her community. She committed to advancing health equity as a member of three volunteer affinity groups: the Young Leaders Caucus, the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Volunteer Caucus, and she co-founded ACS CAN’s newest Indigenous Volunteer Voices group. 
• Kira Sano, California: Kira has devoted many hours to ACS CAN through her dedication to emerging leaders in California. Under her leadership, she has mobilized nearly 100 peers statewide to save lives from cancer through policy change, advocacy, and community activism. 

Team Member and Volunteer

State Advocacy Team of the Year – This award is presented to combined team members and volunteer teams that have worked together to make a significant impression in cancer-related public policy.

New York: Thanks to this state team’s efforts, New York saw an increase of $2.5 million for the Cancer Services Program, a $7.5 million increase for tobacco control and smoking cessation programs, and raised the cigarette tax, making it the highest state tax in the nation. Their biggest win: a biomarker testing coverage bill was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Kathy Hochul after a vigorous campaign. (Pictured above)

 

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