Nearly 20 Arizona business executives from local companies joined forces on Nov. 29 at the Phoenix Country Club to pledge continued commitment to the American Cancer Society CEOs Against Cancer, an initiative uniting organizations to prevent cancer and save lives.

This inspirational event reinforced each executive’s commitment to the CEO Chapter and to their company’s culture of health as they share frontline ideas that address cancer-fighting solutions within their organization.

The conversation included a recap on 2016 American Cancer Society statewide mission and income numbers and goals, an informative presentation by the Society’s locally-funded researcher from Barrow Neurological Institute, a panel discussion featuring three CEO chapter members who discussed their current engagement with the Society through their employee wellness initiatives, employee engagement in fundraising events, and peer recruitment of other local CEOs to engage more companies and their employees to save lives from cancer.

“When it comes to cancer, it’s everyone’s business,” said Lorraine Bergman, president and CEO at Caliente Construction and Arizona Chapter Chair. “Partnering with the American Cancer Society allows us to save lives from cancer by starting with our employees, and being involved in improving the lives of people in our communities. By joining CEOs Against Cancer, it empowers us to make a large scale difference.”

CEOs Against Cancer was founded in 2004 in Chicago, and since then, the initiative has grown to include 14 chapters and more than 380 chief executives nationwide, united in creating a healthier corporate culture. In Arizona, more than 34 companies and healthcare organizations have engaged in the Arizona CEOs chapter, impacting over 331,100 lives since 2010.

“The American Cancer Society helps CEOs demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the health of their employees by linking employees to Society programs such as those that promote physical activity, encourage cancer screenings and help people quit using tobacco, which not only can enhance the company’s health benefits package, but also provides hands-on tools employees can use as they pursue healthy, cancer-free lives,” said Bergman.