Georgia Volunteer Receives Emerging Leader Award for Excellence in Cancer Advocacy

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Emily Fain of Atlanta was presented the Emerging Leader award by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) for her innovative advocacy efforts to help make cancer a national priority.

This annual award is presented to a state volunteer who has demonstrated a promising start in her role with ACS CAN by taking advantage of new opportunities to advocate for cancer patients.

“Emily has paved her own way toward becoming a champion for the cancer community by developing new ways to advance our mission,” said Chris Hansen, president of ACS CAN. “We are excited by the energy that Emily brings to her advocacy work on behalf of cancer patients in Georgia and nationwide.”

Ten years ago, Fain got involved with ACS CAN’s sister organization, the American Cancer Society, through Relay For Life and helped to raise money to support its mission. Just over a year ago, Emily she began serving as an unpaid intern with ACS CAN in Georgia to support our advocacy mission. Each weekend Fain attended Relay events across the state to promote ACS CAN priority issues. After completing her internship, she accepted the role of volunteer lead advocate in her congressional district and attended local, state and national gatherings to promote ACS CAN policy priorities.

“Volunteers respond and respect Emily because of her passion for supporting cancer patients,” said Storm Goodlin, ACS CAN’s grassroots manager in Georgia. “She leads with integrity and fosters an environment of teamwork. She is passionate about the mission of ACS CAN and conveys her passion to those around her. We are truly lucky to have a volunteer like Emily on our team and we are thrilled she has been recognized as an emerging leader.”

The award was presented yesterday in Washington, D.C., as part of the annual ACS CAN Leadership Summit and Lobby Day. Nearly 700 cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones traveled to the nation’s capital to meet with their elected officials and urge them to make cancer a national priority.

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.  ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.acscan.org.

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