Leading retailers, CPG companies take on cancer

Some of the biggest names in the retail and consumer packaged goods industry were recognized by the American Cancer Society with 2012 Excellence in Philanthropy Awards.

It is a distinction reserved for a select group of companies who contributed in excess of $1 million to aid the Society’s efforts to eliminate cancer as a public health burden. This year’s award recipients collectively donated $53.6 million to the Society’s mission to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Among the 2012 honorees were, Abbott, Procter & Gamble, Bank of America, The Coca-Cola Company, Curves International, The Pampered Chef, Foot Locker, United Airlines, General Motors, Walgreens, HairUWear, Walmart, IBM Corporation, Kohl’s, WellPoint, Wells Fargo, Kroger Company, The National Football League and the Maurices and Dressbarn division of the Ascena Retail Group.

"The generosity and ongoing support of these companies has a direct impact on the American Cancer Society’s ability to help people stay well and get well, to find cures for cancer and to fight back," said John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., CEO of the Society. "It is with their help that we are able to save 350 lives per day from cancer and continue on the path toward our goal of saving 1,000 lives per day."

The Excellence in Philanthropy recognition is part of the American Cancer Society’s Corporate Impact Awards, presented annually by the Society’s Corporate & Systems Initiative. 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.