It was a night of well-deserved recognition at the 2025 Volunteer Leadership Summit in Dallas, TX, where outstanding volunteers and partners were celebrated for their contributions to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Among the honorees was Suzy Lawrence, who received the prestigious Volunteer Leadership Award for her dedication to the Relay For Life program and the ACS mission.
For the past two years, Suzy has served as the lead of the nationwide Relay For Life leadership team, the highest volunteer position in the program. A passionate Relayer and ACS volunteer for more than 30 years, she has embraced her leadership role by attending more than a dozen events and fundraisers—often at her own expense—to support and thank fellow volunteers and ACS staff.
One of Suzy’s most significant accomplishments has been the revival of a nationwide training series, uniting volunteers and staff across regions for high-quality, consistent virtual training. In its first year, the program trained hundreds of volunteers, strengthening their ability to plan and execute successful Relay For Life events.
“Suzy’s genuine passion, approachability, and leadership have earned her the deep respect and admiration of team members and volunteers alike,” said Bryan Sherwood, National Senior Director for Relay For Life. “She is truly seen as the leader of the Relay movement, directly impacting the results of more than 1,000 Relay communities and 150,000 participants across the U.S. who collectively raise more than $65 million per year for the ACS mission.”
In addition to her leadership in Relay, Suzy is an active member of the Virginia Area Board, recently serving as its chair, and volunteers as a dedicated Road To Recovery driver, helping cancer patients access transportation to treatment.
Also honored with the Volunteer Leadership Award was Dr. Ella Kazerooni, recognized for her groundbreaking work in lung cancer screening and early detection through the ACS National Lung Cancer Roundtable.
To read more about all the 2025 Volunteer Leadership Summit award winners, visit My Society Source.