Champion for Cures Award

Honoring Philanthropy

The AACI Champion for Cures Award was created in 2018 to recognize one or more people, who, through direct financial support of an AACI cancer center, demonstrate exceptional leadership in advancing cancer research and care and in inspiring others to do the same.

Selected by the AACI Board of Directors, the awardee has gained distinction through their visionary approach to promoting our shared goal of a future without cancer. Through their transformational philanthropy, which may take many forms—including supporting a new facility, cancer center infrastructure, or programming—the cancer center can focus beyond immediate needs to foster creativity and innovation and multiply its impact on patient health, research, and its surrounding community.

Please note that the 2019 nomination period is now closed.
 

2019 Recipient Spotlight

Huntsman family

The Jon M. and Karen Huntsman Family

The Jon M. and Karen Huntsman family will receive AACI's 2019 Champion for Cures Award, in recognition of their significant leadership in supporting efforts to cure cancer and in inspiring others to do the same. The Huntsman family’s first major gift to cancer research came in 1993 at $10 million, followed by a $100 million gift in 1995 that formally established and named the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah. In all, the family has donated or inspired donations totaling $1.4 billion to cancer.
"The Huntsman family’s generosity and its commitment to ending cancer is unmatched," said AACI President Roy A. Jensen, MD. "AACI is pleased to recognize the Huntsman legacy of advancing cancer research and improving care for generations of patients with cancer."
Learn More About the Huntsman Family's Commitment to Ending Cancer

  • Only directors of AACI member cancer centers are eligible to submit nominations
  • Nominees must make their major philanthropic gift to an AACI member center
  • Eligible nominees will be considered based on satisfactory completion of the nomination form, which should include descriptions of the following:
    • The impact the nominee's gift is expected to have on cancer research, patient care, or the community
    • How the nominee's gift serves as a catalyst for lasting change at the cancer center
    • How the nominee's gift is visionary and serves to inspire others
Download the Nomination Form

The Champion for Cures honoree will be selected by a majority vote of the AACI Board of Directors. The AACI president will notify the cancer center who submitted the name of the selected honoree by April 1 and the award will be presented at the AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting.

In the event that there is no nomination or no nominee meets the award criteria, no award will be made for that cycle. 

January 31, 2019
2019 nomination period is now closed 

February 28, 2019
Board of Directors completes review of nominations 

April 1, 2019
Board president notifies cancer center director of selected honoree

June 3, 2019
Honoree announced in AACI Update newsletter

October 21, 2019
Award presented in person at AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting in Washington, DC

December 2, 2019
2020 call for nominations posted in AACI Update newsletter

Please note: all dates are subject to change.