Coaches vs. Cancer® Honors NCAA Coach Roy Williams with National Circle of Honor Award

University of North Carolina Men’s Basketball head coach Roy Williams has been awarded the 2019 Circle of Honor Award, a prestigious national honor within the Coaches vs. Cancer® program. The award recognizes college coaches for their extraordinary commitment to the American Cancer Society’s mission of saving lives against cancer through fundraising and awareness.

The Circle of Honor Award was presented this week during the 20^th Annual Circle of Honor Dinner and Reception at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. It was part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Annual Golf Invitational. Since its inception 20 years ago, the event has raised more than $4 million to help the American Cancer Society save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.

Roy Williams has been passionate about fighting cancer since losing his mother to the disease in 1992. When Coaches vs. Cancer started in 1993, he didn’t hesitate to get involved and has been an ardent supporter and champion for the program. In addition to hosting numerous fundraising and awareness events over the years, Coach has recruited others to get involved. He has dedicated his recent efforts to the loss to cancer of both a close friend and another close friend’s 5-year-old grandson.

For the first time, funds from this year’s event will be dedicated specifically to support pediatric cancer programs. In partnership with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest charitable funder of childhood cancer research grants, proceeds from Annual Golf Invitational will fund and manage a grant-making program to invest in new and improved care for childhood cancer patients. Many coaches and golfers have a personal interest in pediatric cancer and this year’s Golf Invitational provided participants with a meaningful fundraising opportunity to celebrate the event’s 20th year.

“It’s a privilege to honor Coach Williams for his selfless support of the Coaches vs. Cancer program,” said Sharon Byers, chief development, marketing and communications officer, American Cancer Society. “Coach is an inspiration to those who know him, and his leadership in Coaches vs. Cancer is critical to helping us successfully launch this exciting new project with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.”

“It’s not surprising that Coach Roy Williams and fellow NCAA basketball coaches helped tip off our partnership with the American Cancer Society,” said St. Baldrick’s Foundation CEO, Kathleen Ruddy. “As long time champions of cancer research, they’re now protecting future players and fans.  That’s a big win.”