American Cancer Society Honors Companies, CEO of the Year for Outstanding Commitment to the Fight Against Cancer

ST. LOUIS, June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the American Cancer Society recognizes several companies for their generous contributions to the Society's fight against cancer, their efforts to reduce employee cancer risk, and the annual CEO of the Year award. These awards are all part of the American Cancer Society Corporate Impact Award Series, presented annually by the Society's Corporate Relationships and Strategic Alliances team.

The companies will be presented with the awards during the American Cancer Society Corporate Impact Conference, held June 18-19, at the Eric P. Newman Education Center on the campus of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.  Photos will be posted on the @ACSImpact Twitter page later today and tomorrow.

The American Cancer Society recognizes Steven Bangert of CoBiz Financial as the CEO of the Year Recipient. This annual award goes to a CEO who has supported the Society through time, commitment and company involvement.   

"Steven Bangert shares the commitment of the American Cancer Society to help people stay well and get well, to find cures for cancer and to fight back," says John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. "Mr. Bangert continues to give back because he understands the importance of cancer prevention among his workforce and community --- and he knows we have to take action to avoid a tsunami of unnecessary disease and suffering."

Bangert has ensured that all of the company's 530 employees participating in the company-sponsored health plan have 100% coverage of all cancer prevention and early detection screenings, and are reminded to do so with a special email on their birthdays. Employees receive a paid day off to get a physical, with 95 percent employee participation.  Employees also have access to a 100 percent tobacco-free work place and cover Nicotine Replacement Therapy for employees and dependents.  Employees have many opportunities to engage in American Cancer Society fundraising activities and the company has committed to donating more than $120,000 in sponsorship to the American Cancer Society.

"I am so honored to receive the CEO of the Year Award and to engage with the important mission of the American Cancer Society," said Bangert. "As the leader of a company, you have a unique opportunity to engage your employees in living longer, happier, healthier lives. That's the real reward for me.  I encourage other CEOs to consider engaging their companies and their employees in finishing the fight."

The Awards of Excellence recognize the following companies for their efforts to impact cancer's effect in the workplace, for their contributions to support the American Cancer Society's efforts to save lives; and for their efforts to address responsible community involvement:

• CoBiz Financial receives the Excellence in Cancer Control award for their commitment to the mission of the Society through the promotion of employee health and wellness benefits, policies, and programs. 
• Delta Air Lines receives the Excellence in Employee Engagement and Excellence in Philanthropy award. 
• IBM Corporation receives the Excellence in Employee Giving award for their outstanding employee giving contribution campaign and involvement in Society activities where their employees live and work. 
• Express Scripts will receive the Excellence in Tobacco Control award for major improvements to their tobacco policy. 

The following 20 companies are presented with the American Cancer Society Excellence in Philanthropy award for their generous support of the Society's efforts to eliminate cancer as a public health burden. The honor is given to corporations that have provided $1 million or more to the Society during the previous calendar year through a combination of corporate contributions, in-kind support, cause marketing and sponsorship, employee giving, and/or event fundraising.

This year's winning corporations collectively contributed more than $47 million to the Society's mission to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Abbott Laboratories
Bank of America
Curves International
Delta Air Lines
Extended Stay America Hotels
General Motors Corporation and Chevrolet
Humble Bundle
IBM Corporation
Kohl's Department Stores and Kohl's Cares
Kroger Company
Lee Jeans
maurice's, dressbarn  & Lane Bryant, divisions of the ascena retail group, inc.
National Football League
Nucor Corporation
New York State United Teachers (NYSUT)
Procter & Gamble (Pantene Beautiful Lengths)
The Walgreen Company
Walmart
WellPoint
Wells Fargo

"We have learned from more than 100 years of saving lives from cancer that silence won't finish the fight – only action will," says John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. "The generosity and ongoing support of these companies has a direct impact on the Society's ability to ensure that lifesaving cancer research continues to get funded, to provide people facing cancer with the help they need, and to amplify our efforts so that we can, hopefully, make this cancer's last century."

For more information on each company's specific engagement, visit acsworkplacesolutions.com/impactawards.asp. 

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates.  Thanks in part to our progress, nearly 14 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. As we celebrate our 100^th year of service, we're determined to finish the fight against cancer.  We're finding cures as the nation's  largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more.  For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

SOURCE American Cancer Society