Melissa McDermott’s Post

Learn more about #Play4Kay and how you can get involved below!

Very moving talk about the importance of “failing forwards” with integrity, and aligning our actions with our goals and experiences that drive us.

Today is Rare Disease Day and we are celebrating with the story of Sean Wachter . Sean is a business guy, a husband, and a father of two young girls. He also happens to be a former two-sport collegiate athlete and a former pro football player, and after battling and surviving a rare form of melanoma, he is using wrestling – of all things – to raise awareness and raise funding for cancer research (all while finishing his MBA and working with several major cancer organizations). Sean’s story challenges us all to live large, make the most of every moment, and maybe even do big, crazy sh*t to make a difference. His story is so inspiring that he’s our very first male Uplifter Ambassador! 🌟 What you’ll hear in this episode -How a video of Inky Johnson changed the course of Sean’s life -How a rare cancer saved Sean’s life and gave him his family and a powerful purpose -How Sean ended up in a wrestling ring at almost 40- winning titles and raising lots of money to fight cancer Thanks to Janet Prete for nominating Sean. After you listen wherever you get your podcasts, grab your ticket 🎟️ for Uplifters Live on May 17 (link in comments), where you’ll meet Sean and 26 of our other Uplifters Ambassadors that you’ve heard on our podcast! #Inspiration #SupportSystem #rarediseaseday2024 #SurvivorStories #Cancer #CancerAwareness #Athlete #AthleteMotivation #Overcomingadversity #Purpose #FindingPurpose #CancerSurvivor #InspiringJourneys #FightAgainstCancer #VictoryOverCancer #TheCancerFighter #Fight #ProWrestling #FcxkCancer #FuckCancer #TheUpliftersPodcast

Excited to be joining the list of speakers at this years Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum in Philadelphia to represent the American Cancer Society! Tag teaming this content with Laurie Benner (she/her/hers) from the Canadian Cancer Society we are ready to talk all things Youth & College Volunteer Leadership! Are you/your organization coming to Peer2Peer? Come fill our room and share with anyone you know that is coming. #p2p #peertopeer #speaker #americancancersociety #canadiancancersociety #youthempowerment #volunteerism Let's talk about what to expect! When a young volunteer asks to get involved with your organization, do you find yourself automatically asking them to stuff envelopes or engage with you on social media? In this session, the American Cancer Society & Canadian Cancer Society are teaming up to show you that youth volunteers are capable of so much more and how your organization can build strong staff-volunteer partnerships with young leaders and start them on a lifelong journey of support.  Key takeaways include: Ways to build trust with youth volunteers How to find and harness their unique skills Methods and messages to help best communicate with this next generation

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Tennessee Affiliate Partners with Sports Community! Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease that affects thousands of individuals and their families each year. With a very low five-year survival rate of 13% and limited treatment options, the need for increased funding and awareness is more critical than ever. That's why the Tennessee Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Affiliate has taken a proactive approach by partnering with several sports teams across the state to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer research. The Power of Partnerships: Collaborating with sports teams has proven to be a powerful way to reach a wider audience and engage the community in the fight against pancreatic cancer. By leveraging the popularity and influence of sports, the Tennessee Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Affiliate has been able to raise significant funds and spread awareness about the disease and the importance of early detection and treatment. How You Can Get Involved: If you want to join Team Tennessee in the fight against pancreatic cancer, there are plenty of ways to get involved. You can attend games and events organized by the sports teams in partnership with the Tennessee Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Affiliate, make a donation towards pancreatic cancer research, or volunteer your time to help spread awareness in your community. Chattanooga Lookouts Tennessee Titans Nashville Sounds Baseball Club Tennessee Smokies Baseball #CommunityEvents #CommunityEngagement #Sports #NashvilleSounds #TennesseeSmokies #TennesseeTitans #ChattanoogaLookouts #pancreaticcancer #pancan

Breast Cancer Research Study Currently Enrolling Black Women The VOICES of Black Women is a study led by the American Cancer Society. The focus of this study is to better understand cancer and other health conditions among Black women. Participation in VOICES involves completing an online health and life history survey at enrollment and updating information twice a year for at least 30 years. Results from this study will help inform how to improve the health of Black women for generations to come. Enrollment is open in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. https://voices.cancer.org/

🌟 ILLUMINATE 🌟 What an incredible morning at The Marketing Society's Annual Conference, held at the stunning TikTok offices with breathtaking views of Times Square and the Hudson River. Here are some highlights from the sessions and a few favorite quotes: 🔹 Marcela Marañon set the tone with her journey of a brave woman, shedding light on the misconceptions surrounding people with disabilities, particularly women. Her story was nothing short of inspirational, reminding us of the power we hold to help others. 🔹 Jon Hussey, interviewed by Nicola Nimmo, shared his successful campaign at Dartmouth College (60% of alumni donate 💵 ). His piece of advice inspired by his children: "keep asking WHY and stay curious." 🔹 A captivating panel conversation moderated by Margaret Molloy 🙋♀️ with CMOs from non-profit organizations, including UNICEF, AARP, ETS, and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Each one shared their one word for being a change maker: relevance, consumer centricity, fear, impact. A powerful message from Martha Boudreau (AARP): "we have to fight ageism as we do for feminism or racism." 🔹 Sofia Hernandez's story, about embracing her authentic self at work and sharing (on TikTok 😉) how to overcome challenges like a recent health issue was truly empowering, resonating with many of our personal journeys. 🔹 Lynn Teo was immensely generous sharing her detailed 100-Day Plan as CMO of Northwestern Mutual and the remaining of her first year. It was a valuable lesson in leadership and goal setting. 🔹 Matt Scheckner's preview of Advertising Week left us excited for the upcoming event, especially the Panel of Future Change Makers, which features GenZ with their CMO Parents. If you have a spare ticket, I am interested! 🔹 Catherine Newman's talk about the "Why" behind consumer behavior, with fascinating examples from her experiences, reminded us of the importance of insights in our marketing strategies. An example of insights that drove impactful decisions: "BBC makes me informed, The Times makes me WELL informed." Thank you to The Marketing Society for organizing such an enlightening event. Let's keep the discussions and inspiration flowing as we continue to make a positive impact in the marketing world! 🚀 #MarketingSociety #ChangeMakersIlluminate #ChangeMakers

This #MemberMonday, our Internal Event Chair Caroline Gauss shares her inspiration, insights, and memories gleaned from four years of involvement with our chapter of American Cancer Society Chicago Associate Board of Ambassadors. Caroline is an Associate Account Director at Real Chemistry, a healthcare PR firm. What inspired you to join the Chicago Associate Board of Ambassadors? I lost both my grandma and grandpa to cancer. I want to do my part in honoring their memory and working toward a world free from cancer as we know it. What is your favorite memory from being an ABOA member? Skyline Kickoff 2023 was a blast, and it fell on my birthday! It was my favorite way to celebrate with so many friends I've made through the board. When you think about your time on the ABOA, what are you most proud of? I've raised over $10K the past 2 years and counting, which I'm super proud of. I can't thank my network enough for the support. We're doing amazing things! If you could have dinner with 3 living celebrities (all together), who would they be? John Summit, Rob Mcelhenney, and Jennifer Lawrence. I feel like it would just be a good time. If you played baseball, what would your walk up song be? So cliché, but “Sweet Caroline”. It gets the people going! If you could see one movie again for the first time, what would it be and why? The Sandlot. Absolutely fantastic movie that has so many hidden innuendos that you only pick up on as an adult, which makes it even better. Also a top 5 summertime movie. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. It's never as deep as it seems.