2019 Annual Report

Read the Report (PDF)

Celebrating 70 years

A Letter from our Leadership

Dear Friends,

You are part of our story—the story of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)—which begins with one family’s hope and will end with curing cancer in our lifetime.

Rudolph and Antoinette Roesler de Villiers founded LLS in 1949 after losing their 16-year-old son Robbie to leukemia. Determined to spare other families the devastating loss of a child, the de Villiers set out to transform cancer treatment and care. As an organization founded by a family for families, our vision is rooted firmly in the de Villiers’ drive to create a world without blood cancer.

This year, LLS celebrated our 70th anniversary. Thanks to generations of patients, families, volunteers, researchers, and supporters, we are a global leader in the fight to end cancer today. From launching The LLS Children’s Initiative to take on children’s cancer to connecting patients to clinical trials, LLS is committed to putting patients and families first.

With your support, we press on with unwavering dedication.

Gratefully,

Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer

Jorge Benitez
Chair of the Board

Advancing Our Mission in 2019

Thanks to you, our 70th year was the most impactful one yet at LLS. Your support helped LLS invest $283.9 MILLION in our mission this year, bolstering research, education and support, and policy and advocacy efforts that helped put patients and their families first.