AACR Foundation

AACR Runners For Research

The AACR Runners for Research program continued to expand in 2024, enlisting a record number of participants to increase awareness of the AACR’s mission and support lifesaving cancer research.

• AACR Philadelphia Marathon. The AACR has been the title partner for the AACR Philadelphia Marathon since 2016. In November, a record number of more than 850 individuals participated in Marathon Weekend races as part of the AACR Runners for Research team. Through their passionate efforts and generous support, the Runners for Research community raised nearly $600,000 to support breakthrough cancer science.
• AACR Annual Meeting 2024 5K Run/Walk. During the AACR Annual Meeting 2024 in San Diego, 2024–2025 AACR President Patricia M. LoRusso, DO, PhD (hc), FAACR, and AACR Chief Philanthropic Officer Mitch Stoller welcomed Annual Meeting attendees, San Diego residents, and local running clubs to this signature event, which raised more than $180,000 to support AACR programs.
• TCS New York City Marathon. The AACR Runners for Research team was again designated as an Official Community Charity Partner for the TCS New York City Marathon, as six team members were invited to run the iconic race in November and expand awareness of the AACR’s mission. Team members included Rachel Ringer, who had watched the 2023 marathon from her home in Brooklyn while recovering from surgery following her breast cancer diagnosis. Rachel vowed to run the race in 2024, working in training sessions between her chemotherapy and radiation treatments. As a member of the AACR Runners for Research team, she achieved her goal while helping the team to raise more than $50,000 to support cancer research.

Community Relationships

• Believe in Progress Podcast. The AACR Foundation expanded the reach of its highly-regarded Believe in Progress Podcast in its second season. Hosted by Chief Philanthropic Officer Mitch Stoller, the podcast features candid conversations with AACR partners, scientific leaders, survivors, and patient advocates about the importance of cancer research and its impact on people who have been touched by the disease. The podcast showcased a wide variety of guests in 2024, including:
• Kristen Dahlgren, a medical correspondent for the Today show and breast cancer survivor who gave up her career as a journalist to launch the Cancer Vaccine Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the development of cancer vaccines by bringing together stakeholders and funding clinical trials.
• Former Philadelphia mayor and cancer survivor Michael A. Nutter, a public policy leader who has championed efforts to reduce violence, improve public health, and support cancer research through partnerships and advocacy.

Listen to the Believe in Progress episode featuring Kristen Dahlgren



Listen to the Believe in Progress episode featuring Mayor Michael Nutter

• Party with a Purpose. In October, the Friends of the AACR Foundation dedicated the seventh edition of this elite fundraising gala to supporting geriatric cancer research. The 2024 Party With a Purpose Scientific Achievement Award was presented to Andrew E. Chapman, DO, director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University. As part of his award, Dr. Chapman selected Kuang-Yi Wen, PhD, an associate professor and behavioral scientist in the Department of Medical Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University, to receive the Early-Career Investigator Award.

The Party With a Purpose Humanitarian Award was presented to Michael A. Nutter, former mayor of Philadelphia, in recognition of his prostate cancer advocacy work and his years of dedication to bettering the city and its communities.

The Party With a Purpose Humanitarian Award was presented to Michael A. Nutter, former mayor of Philadelphia, in recognition of his prostate cancer advocacy work and his years of dedication to bettering the city and its communities.

Read an interview with Party With a Purpose Humanitarian Award Winner Michael A. Nutter on the AACR Blog, Cancer Research Catalyst



Read an interview with Party With a Purpose Scientific Achievement and Early-Career Investigator Award recipients Andrew E. Chapman, DO, and Kuang-Yi Wen, PhD, on the AACR Blog

Planned Giving

The Dr. Bayard D. Clarkson Legacy Society ensures future advances in cancer science and medicine by encouraging individuals to make a planned giving commitment to the AACR. In 2024, the AACR received a generous bequest from the estate of Beatrice Mintz, PhD, FAACR, a pioneer in cancer biology who made unprecedented discoveries in fields such as developmental genetics, gene-transfer technology, embryology, epigenetics, and the tumor microenvironment.

Dr. Mintz received the 2012 AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research in recognition of her myriad contributions to cancer science, and she was elected to the inaugural class of Fellows of the AACR Academy in 2013. Her generous gift to the AACR ensures that a new generation of pioneers will uphold and expand her legacy of driving progress against cancer.

2024 AACR SUSTAINING MEMBERS

Acknowledgement of Donor Support

Donor support helps the AACR fund critical research that leads to groundbreaking discoveries, innovations, and treatments. The AACR is grateful for the exceptional commitment and generosity of its supporters, who drive progress to save, extend, and enhance the lives of patients with cancer.