Since 2010, the Foundation has honored a cancer champion pioneer at the Gala.
Past awardees have included:
2023 – Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) were honored for their significant contributions to increasing access to prevention and early detection. Senator Carper for his longtime support of affordable and accessible health care for all Americans, including championing tobacco control and affordable tobacco cessation legislation and benefits for firefighters. Senator Capito for her introduction of the “Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services for Cancer Act,” which would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program to ensure more women have access to lifesaving cancer screenings.
2022 – Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Representatives Terri Sewell (D-AL), Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Raul Ruiz (D-CA) and Richard Hudson (R-NC) for their leadership as the original co-sponsors of the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act of 2021
2021 – Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) ~ Senator Scott was honored for contributions to cancer prevention and early detection, Sponsorship of the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act of 2021 (S. 1873) and support of lung cancer early detection, minority health awareness and increasing access to affordable health care; Representative Dingell was honored for advocacy of women’s health issues (including breast cancer), founding the National Women’s Health Resource Center, leadership in cancer prevention including the Congressional Cancer Prevention Caucus and support of the 21st Century Cures Act.
2020 – Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR) ~ Honored for their contributions to cancer research and quality care; limiting access to tobacco products among adolescents and young adults; advocating for co-testing for cervical cancer screening; and advocating for dedicated funding for FDA, NIH, CDC and NCI.
2019 – Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) ~ Honored for their leadership in protecting coverage of services for veterans, seniors and first responders; raising awareness on colorectal cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and hepatitis, a leading cause of liver cancer; limiting access to tobacco products among adolescents and young adults; ensuring transparency in care delivery; and expanding funding for biomedical research in cancer.
2018 – Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Patty Murray (D-WA) ~ Honored for their leadership in protecting the appropriation for the National Institutes of Health, enabling it to continue being the global leader of biomedical research.
2017 – House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) ~ With his support of the 21st Century Cures Act, Leader McCarthy contributed to bipartisan support of this historic effort to speed up the discovery, development and delivery of lifesaving cures.
2016 – Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Representative Diana DeGette (D-Colorado) ~ In 2014, Rep. DeGette and Chairman Upton launched the 21st Century Cures initiative, a multi-year effort aiming to bring researchers, industry experts and patients together to speed up the discovery, development and delivery of lifesaving cures.
2015 – Senator Mike Crapo ~ U.S. Senator from Idaho who is a two-time prostate cancer survivor. Senator Crapo collaborated for many years with the Foundation on a signature initiative, a Health Awareness and Screening Booth at the Idaho State Fair. He has also been a champion of legislation that helps advanced progress in cancer research and quality of care for cancer patients.
2014 – Mrs. Ellen Noghès ~ wife of former Ambassador of Monaco Gilles Noghès, a three-time cancer survivor who is focuses her efforts on raising awareness of cancer among the diplomatic community.
2013 – The Honorable Ellen Tauscher ~ For bringing awareness to cancer prevention and early detection by sharing her personal battle with esophageal cancer.
2012 – Congressman Michael Oxley ~ For his work in the advancement of cancer prevention and early detection.
To make a donation for to the Michael G. Oxley Lung Cancer Research Fund, click here.
2011 – Congresswoman Doris Matsui ~ Founder of the Foundation’s Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program.
2010 – Dr. Elmer Huerta ~ Director of the Cancer Preventorium at Washington Cancer Institute, Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Huerta founded the low-income prevention and screening clinic in 1994 and continues to use it as a vehicle for reaching the Hispanic/Latino community in the Washington, DC.
