My Nonprofit Reviews
Susan
Review for American Cancer Society Foundation, Atlanta, GA, USA
As a mom, who lost her eldest son Douglas, at age 17 to Ewing's Sarcoma, I needed a place to work through my grief. I found it with the American Cancer Society (ACS). My first ACS experience was as a volunteer leader with the Relay For Life in my community. This opportunity led to volunteer leadership at the New England level, an opportunity to exercise my teacher training skills when I joined the National Training Team. As a member of this team, I have traveled to Dublin, Ireland and many places in the U.S. to share information on how to make Relay For Life more successful and how we ALL can make a difference in the Fight against cancer. I'm also a member of the Connecticut Advocacy team, traveling to meet with legislators in Washington, D.C. and my state capitol in Hartford, CT. I am now a mentor to local Relays. I focus on being sure that people know that through their participation with the Relay For Life, that they are a valued member of the American Cancer Society -- and that they are helping people they may never meet to get well, stay well, find cures and fight back!!! There aren't many organizations that you can be a part of that have this level of impact!! I Relay for Douglas and the many others I have met in my journey in fighting back against Cancer.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
raising awareness about the programs and services, the mission and advocacy of the American Cancer Society and the Cancer Action Network -- in letting our legislators know that we care about cancer and we will be heard!
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
not have waited so long to get out an ad campaign like "Official Sponsor of Birthdays" -- as too many people do NOT know what the American Cancer Society does, or what Relay For Life is.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
That through my efforts that I am making a difference in the lives of many. I share the 1-800-ACS-2345 number of the National Cancer Information Center and of the Hope Lodges, so that donors know that their donations make an impact!
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
most often those who have great passion towards the mission of the ACS and are great partners to work with.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
assure sure that more research was funded, that more information on quality of care, info. about the 1-800-ACS-2345 number was shared and that more advertising about what Relay For Life IS and ISN'T was made available (e.g. no athletic ability needed).
Ways to make it better...
I had more personal time to give to the American Cancer Society.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
the continuous turnover of the ID Staff - the ones who are the primary face of the ACS to the community Relays. The turn-over, results in need for continuous training at the beginning levels and impacts the ability to grow Relays to the next level.
One thing I'd also say is that...
The nos. regarding the number of us who will be directly impacted by cancer in our lifetime is daunting (1 in 3)! We need to care enough to make a difference, we need to know that our valuable discretionary income is spent wisely -- and it is w/the ACS!!
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
