An Eastern Division Board member, Robert Kugler, Esq. was presented with the Volunteer Award for Excellence in Advocacy in 2015. For more than four decades Kugler contributed to the American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s success in countless ways. He may have been best known for his leadership and unwavering commitment to reducing tobacco use among youth and adults.
Sr. Maggie Lopez, ACS CAN grassroots manager for New Jersey, worked closely with Kugler. “Countless victories in the fight against cancer have been achieved as a result of Rob’s constant and heartfelt determination and commitment to the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN. Even after more than four decades of service to our organizations, he continued to be a driving force for our mission and a role model for all of us as we strive to make cancer a top priority in the halls of government.”
Kugler served ACS CAN as a member of the Board of Directors from 2005 – 2013, including service as Treasurer (2008 – 2010), Secretary (2011) and Chair of the Board (2012– 2013). Throughout his time on the Board, Kugler served as a sounding board for ACS CAN leadership prior to making important strategic decisions. He also saw ACS CAN’s revenue increase more than 500 percent – from $427,000 (FY 2005) to $2,684,500 (FY 2013).
Under his leadership as Chair of the Board, he saw all of the Society’s advocacy activities and staff transitioned to ACS CAN; the first National Forum on the Future of Health Care was held; the Cancer Votes program was launched; spending on electoral activities increased from $35,000 in 2008 to $1.5 million in 2012; ACS CAN launched the Regulatory Roundtable series to help educate fellow patient advocates about the importance of their involvement in regulatory process; ACS CAN led the creation of the new Patient Quality of Life Coalition with more than 20 organizations working in support of the palliative care legislation.
Also while Chair of the Board, Kugler oversaw numerous advocacy success like the Supreme Court decision about the Affordable Care Act (ACA); major provisions of the ACA were implemented (kids on parents’ plans, summary of health benefits, plans required to cover specific women’s preventive services at no cost); a $250M increase for medical research at National Institutes of Health in 2012; and the introduction and obtaining of almost 200 bipartisan House and Senate co-sponsors for the Patient Centered Quality of Life for Life Act and the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act.
We are grateful for Robert’s unwavering support of the mission of ACS and ACS CAN, and we are honored to have the Kugler family be the first recipient of the Robert R. Kugler Memorial Impact Award. Starting in 2024, this award will be presented to an individual or organization who:
Danielle Massi, M.S., LMFT is a best-selling author, international keynote speaker, SELF(ISH)philly Conference Founder, and Cofounder of Modrn Wellness, a holistic healing center in Philadelphia. Danielle has written for and been featured in New York Mag, The Cut, Shape Magazine, the Huffington Post, Bustle, and Buzzfeed, and is a frequent guest on talk shows and major news outlets. As a cancer survivor, she has worked to help bring awareness and funding to The American Cancer Society through the ResearcHERS Program and the I Love You, Get Screened campaign.
The American Cancer Society is the leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. We are the only organization improving the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
