C-Change, a national, non-profit organization comprised of leaders from major cancer-fighting organizations has become CEO Cancer Gold Standard accredited, certifying their commitment to the health of their employees and their families by meeting an exceptionally high standard of cancer prevention, screening and health care.

In adopting the requirements of the Gold Standard, C-Change further renews the call of former President George H.W. Bush for organizations to come together to eliminate cancer as a public health threat. The forty-first President of the United States co-founded and is honorary chair of both the CEO Roundtable on Cancer and C-Change. The CEO Cancer Gold Standard was created in response to his challenge to business leaders to be “bold and venturesome” in their battle against cancer.

The CEO Cancer Gold Standard calls for companies to evaluate their benefits and culture and take extensive, concrete actions in five key areas of health and wellness to fight cancer in the workplace. To earn accreditation, a company must establish programs to reduce cancer risk by discouraging tobacco use; encouraging physical activity; promoting a healthy diet; providing appropriate screening to detect cancer at its earliest stages and providing access to quality care, including cancer clinical trials.

William C. Weldon, chairman and chief executive officer of Johnson & Johnson, chairs the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, the nonprofit organization of cancer-fighting CEOs that created the CEO Cancer Gold Standardâ„¢ in collaboration with leading health professionals. “Adopting the Gold Standard is a tribute to the extraordinary leadership of C-Change and to their determination to provide inspiration and support to organizations large and small that are committed to playing an active role in winning the battle against cancer.”

Earlier this year, the President’s Cancer Panel report, “Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Policy, Program, and Personal Recommendations for Reducing Cancer Risk,” identified the CEO Cancer Gold Standardâ„¢ as an initiative that is helping reverse negative, unhealthy lifestyle trends and creating hope in the fight against cancer for America’s workers and their families. “Programs like the Gold Standard recognize the dramatic, life-lengthening impact employers can make by supporting employees and their families in making healthier choices,” said Dr. LaSalle Leffall, Jr. who chairs the President’s Cancer Panel and also serves as Board Chair of C-Change.

In addition to C-Change, sixteen other companies have received CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation: American Cancer Society, American Legacy Foundation, AstraZeneca, Duke Medicine, Edelman, Enzon Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Jenner & Block, Johnson & Johnson, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Novartis, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Quintiles Transnational, SAS Institute, The University of North Dakota and Valeant Pharmaceuticals.

About C-Change

C-Change is comprised of the nation’s key cancer leaders from government, business, and nonprofit sectors. These cancer leaders share the vision of a future where cancer is prevented, detected early, and cured or is managed successfully as a chronic illness. Former President George Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush are Honorary Co-chairs of C-Change; Senator Dianne Feinstein serves as Honorary Vice Chair. Currently, there are C-Change member participants from more than 130 organizations, all of whom are central figures from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

To read the President’s Cancer Panel report, please go to: http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp07rpt/pcp07rpt.pdf

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