A NOTE FROM OUR CHAIRS

“Over the past several years, Kelly and I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on how we can make a greater impact in the lives of those with cancer. Kelly served as a certified ONS nurse for more than a decade, and after 23 fulfilling years at GE Healthcare—focused on expanding access to care in underserved and rural communities—I made the decision to dedicate more of my time to directly supporting patients by joining Thyme Care in 2024.

At Thyme Care, we’re transforming the cancer care experience by partnering with payers and providers to improve cost, access, and outcomes. For people with cancer and their caregivers, this means access to a 24/7, oncology-trained Care Team that helps members understand their diagnosis, manage symptoms, navigate social and economic barriers, and receive timely, coordinated care. Today, more than 1,000 oncologists nationwide collaborate with Thyme Care to deliver value-based care, offering patients comprehensive support both inside and outside the clinic.

Thyme Care was built by a team of oncology and healthcare veterans committed to improving cancer care at every stage—and the mission of the American Cancer Society (ACS) aligns closely with our values and vision.

Kelly and I are honored to build on the incredible work of Magda and Dr. Stephen Schleicher, who helped make last year’s event such a success. Our goal is to make the 2025 Discovery Ball at the Four Seasons in Nashville a meaningful celebration—one that would make proud those we’ve lost to cancer, including my aunt and godmother, Claire Weimmer and Kelly’s aunt and godmother Marie Johnson.

We invite you to join us in supporting this year’s event. And thank you to our generous sponsors, whose continued support helps ACS improve the lives of people with cancer through groundbreaking research, advocacy, and direct patient support.”

-Mark and Kelly Lombardi