The American Cancer Society 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.

Description:
The Berks Unit, headquartered in Reading, is part of the East Central Region (Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, and Schuylkill counties) which is part of the Pennsylvania Division.

History:
The organization was founded in 1913 by a group of ten physicians and five lay people and called The American Society for the Control of Cancer. They raised $10,000 that first year and published a pamphlet, "Facts about Cancer", to educate the public.

In 1945 the American Cancer Society was reorganized. It was a beginning of a new era for the organization and, in many ways for the country as a whole. World War II was over, the single greatest threat to modern democracy had been defeated, and the nation could focus its attention on the enemy at home. Many believed it was time for another bold move. In 1946 Mary Lasker and her colleagues met this challenge, helping to raise over 4 million dollars for the Society -- $1 million of this was used to establish and fund the Society -- 1 million of which was used to establish and fund the Society's research program. With the aid and assistance of dedicated volunteers like Lasker and Elmer Bobst, the Society's research program quickly began to bear fruit.

Within a year Dr. Sidney Fraber, one of the Society's first research grantee, had achieved the first temporary cancer remission using the drug aminopterin, thus beginning the modern day era of chemotherapy for cancer treatment. Over the years scientist supported by the American Cancer Society have established the link between cancer and smoking, demonstrated the effectiveness of the PAP smear, developed cancer fighting drugs and biological response modifiers such as interferon,, dramatically increased the cure rate for childhood leukemia, proved the safety and effectiveness of mammography, and much, much more.

Contact people:

Stephanie McDonald, Senior Community Income Dev. Specialist, (610) 921-2329 , ext. 3014, (email) Tom Harper, Volunteer Involvement Specialist, (888) 227-5445 x 3010, (email) Melissa Snyder, Community Income Dev. Specialist, (610) 921-2329, (email)

Office fax number: (610) 921-9521

Address:

498 Bellevue Avenue Reading, PA 19605 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.cancer.org

Miscellaneous Information

Youth Volunteer Opportunities
	Yes