The American Cancer Society

IT was in May 1913 that a small group of forward-looking physicians and laymen in New York City took the decisive step of form- ing the parent national organization of the American Cancer Society.They named it the Ainerican Society for the Control of Cancer.The $10,000 contributed the first year was used to publish a pamphlet and promote discussions in women's clubs of a taboo subject-cancer.In contrast to that small beginning, the Nation in 1956 contributed $27,000,000 to the American Cancer Society's coordinated, countrywide program of public and professional education about cancer, service to patients, and scientific research into the cause and cure of this disease.The American Cancer Society is a voluntary organization of people united to speed the con- quest of cancer.It is composed of 60 chartered divisions serving the 48 States and Alaska through 2,788 organized units and more than a million volunteers.The divisions and units operate under volunteer directors, or governing committees, composed of lay and professional people who formulate policies and program ob- jectives within the framework of national and divisional policies.Represented on the national board of the society are all areas of the country and business, industry, law, science, medicine, and communications.The society reports an- nually to the contributing public about funds collected and expenditures made.