40 Years of Fighting Cancer: Inside the 2025 Prevent Cancer Foundation Gala

Last Thursday evening, more than a thousand guests gathered at the National Building Museum for the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Annual Gala: a milestone 40th‑anniversary celebration under the theme “The United States: Innovation & Inspiration.”

‘Prevention’ was the lodestar for the night as each speaker put a focus on early detection, outreach, and new technologies, and the house was full of people touched by cancer, in one way or another, who believe in doing something before the diagnosis.

Sara Sidner, CNN Anchor & Senior National Correspondent, served as Master of Ceremonies. A breast cancer survivor herself, Sidner brought both gravitas and urgency to the evening, speaking not just as a journalist, but as someone for whom early detection was more than a story.

Two Congressmembers also took center stage as the evening’s Cancer Champions: Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R‑PA) and Representative Robin Kelly (D‑IL). Both have been lauded for their work in increasing access to prevention and detection services, especially for populations that too often get left behind.

Rep. Fitzpatrick’s advocacy resonated personally; his brother, former Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, survived colon cancer before succumbing to melanoma in 2020. Rep. Kelly’s long history of focus on health disparities and preventative care rounded out the message: innovation must be paired with equity.

“The Congressman and I have worked on several pieces of legislation together, including the NIH clinical Trial Diversity Act,” Kelly said. “Our bill would help insure that historically marginally communities are included in clinical trials dedicated to finding cures for diseases like cancer.”

As the Prevent Cancer Foundation enters its fifth decade, its goals are both ambitious and urgent. The organization has committed to:

• Reducing cancer deaths by 40% by 2035
• Investing $20 million in technologies for early detection and multi‑cancer screening
• Dedicating $10 million to increasing screening and vaccination access in medically underserved communities
• Another $10 million for public education around screenings and vaccinations

The gala’s proceeds support these efforts through grants for researchers, community outreach, and public education — including efforts like Prevent Cancer’s “Early Detection = Better Outcomes” campaign.

There’s something profoundly hopeful about a 40‑year anniversary built not on curing every cancer, but on preventing as many as possible. The Prevent Cancer Foundation Gala wasn’t just dinner and speeches, it was a reminder that in the crowded, urgent world of health and philanthropy, prevention is still one of the smartest, most humane strategies.