Chapter Raises $2,750 for Lights of Hope 2025

Lights of Hope is ACS CAN's annual signature fundraiser — a nationwide effort where volunteers raise money and dedicate illuminated bags to loved ones affected by cancer. Each $10 raised creates one bag, displayed in communities across the country and on the National Mall in Washington D.C. as a visible message to lawmakers that the fight against cancer demands their attention.

This fall, the Contra Costa County ACS SEL chapter ran its first full Lights of Hope fundraising campaign, mobilizing members across multiple school networks to collect donations from friends, family, and community members. The result: $2,750 raised, representing 275 bags dedicated to survivors, patients, caregivers, and those we've lost.

Members set up personal DonorDrive fundraising pages, shared their stories on social media, and organized informal peer fundraising pushes in the weeks leading up to the October display deadline. Several members dedicated their bags to family members personally impacted by cancer, making the campaign a deeply personal one for the chapter.

The $2,750 raised by our chapter contributes directly to ACS CAN's mission of making cancer a legislative priority at the local, state, and federal level. For a first-year chapter, it's a number we're proud of — and one we're determined to beat next year.