American Cancer Society honors Duchossois Family Foundation

The American Cancer Society has awarded its highest honor, the Medal of Honor, to the Duchossois Family Foundation of Illinois for its outstanding contributions to the fight for a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Members of the Duchossois family received the award at a ceremony during the American Cancer Society’s annual meeting in Atlanta.

The Duchossois Family Foundation is receiving the Medal of Honor for Philanthropy in recognition of the family’s generosity and dedication to funding research, patient and family services and treatment facilities, as well as leadership in raising funds to help people deal with cancer.

“The Duchossois Family Foundation is one of the most respected family foundations in Illinois,” said Steven M. Derks, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society’s Illinois Division. “Their support and leadership has been instrumental in leading the American Cancer Society’s fight to eradicate cancer as a major health problem.”

In 2003, the Duchossois Family Foundation donated the seed funding that was used to establish the Patient Navigation Services program. This program has helped 150,000 Illinois cancer patients and caregivers over the years by connecting them with highly trained experts who help them make informed choices with regard to cancer treatment options, support services, and lifestyle choices. Additionally Craig Duchossois, his sister Kimberly T. Duchossois, and other members of their family have volunteered in a number of leadership capacities with the Society’s Illinois Division over several years, and have been instrumental in helping to raise millions of additional dollars beyond their own support.

“When one family member — our mother — was touched by cancer, we in turn were touched by physicians, we were touched by researchers, and we were touched by the American Cancer Society,” said Craig Duchossois. “It made a whole world of difference to our family.”

The Duchossois Family Foundation has given more than $100 million to charity over the last 30 years, with the emphasis being on causes related to fighting cancer. This includes more than $11 million to the American Cancer Society.

The Medal of Honor, originally called the American Cancer Society Award, was first given in 1949. Past Medal of Honor recipients include former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; Lance Armstrong; the late Honorable Edward M. Kennedy, senator from Massachusetts; C. Everett Koop, M.D., former U.S. Surgeon General; and advice authors Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren.

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grass-roots force with more than 100,000 volunteers in Illinois and millions elsewhere, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer, and countless more who have avoided it, will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more or get help, call any time at (800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

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