Our History

It started with one person, but it was never about one person. It was always about the 1.9 million people diagnosed with cancer each year. It was about your mom, or your uncle; your grandfather, or your best friend. Our mission was—and will always be—advancing survivorship and ensuring no one affected by cancer has to live in shame or through hardships they simply shouldn't have to bear alone.

2018-Present 2012-2017 2006 - 2011 2000 - 2005 beginning

2018 - Present

  • Livestrong surpasses the 9.4-million-people-served milestone leading into the Foundation's 25th anniversary.
  • After extensive research, surveys, and listening to thousands of cancer survivors, healthcare professionals, and advocates, Livestrong launches the Solution Grants program to fund innovative solutions that address overlooked issues in underserved populations. The inaugural Solution Grants funding cycle awards nearly $600,000 to eight organizations after reviewing 230 applications.
  • The Innovation Conversation Series (Icon Series) launches to bring people from diverse backgrounds and fields together in a series of virtually-hosted conversations to uncover new opportunities for serving overlooked and underserved communities affected by cancer.
  • The Livestrong Cancer Institute's CaLM Clinic opens, offering patient-centered care to people affected by cancer in 7 major focus areas and 58 subspecialty programs.
  • Help Starts Here launches on Livestrong.org, providing people with cancer and their caregivers self-guided access to survivorship resources and tools.

2012 - 2017

  • Livestrong raises $48 million to support programs that serve people affected by cancer.
  • 90 cancer care facilities receive funding through Livestrong’s Community Impact Project to implement one of four cancer support programs: Pillars4Life, Livestrong at the YMCA, The Creative Center and The Joint Commissions Advanced Certification for Palliative Care.
  • The Livestrong Foundation joins the Institute of Medicine’s National Cancer Policy Forum.
  • Central Health, the Livestrong Foundation and the Shivers Cancer Foundation collaborated with public health consulting firm, Health Resources in Action (HRIA) to develop a white paper report and propositions to improve cancer care in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties.
  • Livestrong launches the inaugural Big C Social Innovation Challenge, a one-of-a-kind competition to generate innovations and products to help improve the quality of life for people affected by cancer now.
  • The Livestrong Foundation and Genentech co-develop Rev, a forum on treatment, advocacy and policy in cancer care in Washington, D.C.
  • Livestrong partners with Dell Medical School at University of Texas at Austin to establish the Livestrong Cancer Institutes, an innovative enterprise that places people affected by cancer at the center of designing and delivering cancer care, education and research.
  • Livestrong receives $6.8 million from the Movember Foundation to expand its existing programs and services targeted for men affected by testicular and prostate cancer.
  • Livestrong successfully pilots a post-treatment fertility preservation program.
  • The Foundation partners with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Flip the Clinic to engage over 150 of Austin’s most critical healthcare stakeholders in designing innovative, patient-centered approaches to addressing cancer and health issues in our community.
  • Livestrong at the YMCA grows to serve over 35,000 cancer survivors in more than 460 locations in 40 states.

2006 - 2011

  • The Foundation hosts the inaugural Livestrong Summit.
  • Four additional populations are added to Living After Cancer Treatment (LACT) brochure series.
  • The Foundation releases the report, Closing the Gap: Research and Care Imperatives for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute.
  • The Foundation partners with the YMCA of the USA to create Livestrong at the YMCA reaching growing to more than 80 YMCAs in 40 cities by 2010.
  • The Foundation leads Texans to Cure Cancer efforts to mobilize communities across Texas to pass Proposition 15, a constitutional amendment up to $3 billion in state general revenue bonds to fund cancer research, prevention, early detection and control programs.
  • Expands the Livestrong Survivorship Center of Excellence Network with the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania and the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.
  • The Foundation publishes the Livestrong Young Adult Alliance Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Progress Review Group Implementation Report and Action Plan.
  • Livestrong Leader program starts.
  • Second Livestrong Summit held in Columbus, Ohio, including the Livestrong presidential Town Hall on Cancer.
  • The Lance Armstrong Foundation changes its name to Livestrong.
  • The newly designed and built Livestrong HQ is opened at 2201 E. Sixth St. in Austin, Texas.
  • Livestrong Global Cancer Campaign launches and travels around the world, from Australia to Mexico to Italy throughout the year.
  • The Livestrong Global Cancer Summit brings together more than 500 world leaders, corporations, non-governmental organizations and advocates who are all working to reduce the burden of cancer in their own communities.
  • Livestrong Guidebook is published.
  • Fertile Hope and Planet Cancer merge with Livestrong.
  • The first-ever Livestrong Community Impact Project is launched with nearly 350,000 votes cast and awards given to over 60 organizations.
  • Livestrong Global Anti-Stigma Campaign launches with a pilot campaign in South Africa through culturally relevant and targeted messaging.
  • The Livestrong Cancer Navigation Center opens its doors in Austin, offering free one-on-one services to survivors, their family, friends and caregivers face-to-face.
  • Livestrong and the American Cancer Society release the joint report, Global Economic Cost of Cancer.
  • The Livestrong Survey collects information from more than 10,000 individuals on electronic health information exchange, sharing the results at ASCO, on Livestrong.org, at the Biennial Survivorship Cancer Conference and by clinical oncology journals.
  • The inaugural Livestrong Assembly connects program partners to the donors who fund them, and individuals who make the Foundation’s work possible are recognized for their contributions.
  • Livestrong and Univision hold first telethon targeted at providing the guidance and/or solutions on topics that affect Austin area Hispanics.
  • The Livestrong Community Impact Project distributes over $700,000 to 93 cancer care facilities to implement one of four proven cancer support programs including Camp Kesem, Livestrong at the YMCA, Livestrong Promotores Training Program and Cancer Transitions.

2000 - 2005

  • The first two survivorship grants are awarded, laying the groundwork for the Livestrong Survivorship Center of Excellence Network.
  • Wonders & Worries is awarded the first community program grant to help children cope when a parent has a chronic or life-threatening illness like cancer.
  • Livestrong's first Survivorship Program Guide is created.
  • The Foundation's community program expands nationwide and funds programs focused on physical activity, adolescents/young adults and survivorship education.
  • The Livestrong Educational Resource website Livestrong.org launches, providing cancer survivorship information to anyone, anywhere.
  • The Foundation receives a 5 year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to address cancer survivorship in medically underserved populations.
  • Livestrong SurvivorCare, the predecessor to Livestrong Navigation, is established, offering free, confidential, one-on-one support services for anyone affected by cancer.
  • The Livestrong wristband launches, generating $100 million in donations and starting a worldwide phenomenon of support for cancer survivors.
  • The Foundation releases the National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship with the CDC.
  • The Livestrong Survivorship Notebook is introduced.
  • In 2004, the Foundation hosts its inaugural Livestrong Day.
  • The Livestrong Survivorship Center of Excellence Network is established with five centers and 15 community affiliates.
  • The Foundation reaches out to underserved populations through the Living After Cancer Treatment brochure series.
  • The Livestrong Young Adult Alliance is established with over 150 organizations working to improve survival rates and quality of life for cancer survivors ages 15 to 39.
  • The Foundation awards $500,000 to assist survivors affected by Hurricane Katrina.
  • Patient Advocate Foundation becomes a Livestrong SurvivorCare partner.

1996 - 1999

  • The Foundation is established in 1997 as the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
  • The first Ride for the Roses takes place, funding the first research grant.
  • The Foundation announces a shift in focus to the field of survivorship.