Albert Lasker
Public Service Award
Lane Adams
For the extraordinary management skills, integrity and vision with which he has expanded the American Cancer Society into the major volunteer force in the battle against cancer.
Trained as a banker and seasoned as a businessman, Lane Adams left his native Salt Lake City 25 years ago to become Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society. He brought with him many years of experience as an active ACS volunteer on the local, state and regional levels.
At the time, the American Cancer Society was a sleeping giant. Then, as now, it was the world's largest voluntary health organization, with an annual income of $35 million. Although hundreds of thousands of volunteers stood ready to help in the battle against cancer, the Society lacked the organizational framework to take advantage of its human resources on a national scale.
With his rare combination of consummate management skills, creative vision, and a knowing touch with people, Lane Adams—working with volunteers—opened up communications between the 58 independent Divisions and the National Office that serves them. By establishing a policy that prohibits the solicitation or acceptance of federal, state or local tax funds, the ACS strengthened the urgency of its appeals, and made the Society unique among voluntary organizations worldwide. Under his leadership, the Society has strengthened its influence among local, state and federal policy makers.
A former member of the National Cancer Institute's Citizen Advisory Council, Mr. Adams's perspective of the nation's total research effort is reflected in the American Cancer Society's greatly expanded and innovative research program. It is second only to the U.S. government as a source of funds for cancer research and care.
Since 1960, the American Cancer Society has not only grown into a $250 million a year institution with two million volunteers, with a continuing emphasis on the prevention and early detection of cancer, but it has also matured into the great model for voluntary organizations worldwide.
To Lane Adams, who has channeled the energies of all the warm, brilliant and dedicated people whose lives have been touched by this dread disease, and whose determination to defeat cancer lights the darkness around them and the hopes of those who are helping in its conquest, this 1985 Albert Lasker Public Service Award is given.
Ann Landers-Eppie Lederer
For her respected advice and practical translations of authoritative medical opinion and her tireless commitment to the health and well-being of the American people.
Since 1955, Eppie Lederer, known as Ann Landers, has written the most respected human relations column in the history of journalism. Her column has 85 million readers in more than 1000 newspapers around the world. She reaches more people in a single day than any doctor can reach in a lifetime.
On matters of personal relationships, Ann Landers speaks with common sense and good humor. On questions of health, she consults medical experts and translates technical information into clear and cogent prose.
In 1971, Ann Landers's eloquent plea to the American people to support the National Cancer Act generated an unprecedented flood of letters and telegrams to Senator and Congressman. She told her readers to write—and write they did. Never in the history of Congress has so much mail been received on a single subject, including the war in Vietnam. In 1971, the National Cancer Act became law. This legislation made available $100 million in federal funds to fight cancer.
Ann Landers's daily columns reflect an extraordinary overview of human entanglements. Her replies get to the heart of the problem with an economy of words. Dr. Robert Ebert, former Dean of the Harvard Medical School, said, "Ann Landers runs the most effective referral service in the country." This accolade is richly deserved. A single mention in her column resulted in over 400,000 requests for a booklet from the National Institute of Mental Health.
Ann Landers alerts her readers to the help available from organizations such as the American Medical Association, Planned Parenthood, the Heart and Lung Association, the National Institutes of Health, the American Psychiatric Association, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the American Cancer Society, and many others. She has educated millions through her column and speaking engagements about Alzheimer's disease, depression, alcoholism, AIDS, Huntington's disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and stroke, and continues to win the gratitude and admiration of everyone from Presidents to grandchildren.
To Ann Landers—Eppie Lederer—for 30 years of tireless commitment to improve the physical and emotional health of the American people, and for her unique ability to relate to individuals on every intellectual, economic and social level, this 1985 Albert Lasker Public Service Award is given.