American Cancer Society Presents Hope & Courage Award

The American Cancer Society (ACS) presented its inaugural Hope and Courage award to Dr. Richard Lublin, an American actor, philanthropist, lawyer and educator, at the February 2023 ACS Bucket List Bash in Naples, Florida.

In his presenting remarks, American Cancer Society Senior Executive Vice President Brant Woodward said that Dr. Lublin “embodies the hope of the American Cancer Society that one day, we will end cancer as we know it, for everyone.” He praised Lublin for demonstrating “great courage as a leader in our shared fight against cancer” and noted that Lublin’s familiarity with cancer makes him “a remarkable advocate for our mission.”

The American Cancer Society intends to make the Hope and Courage award an annual recognition of an individual who demonstrates a remarkable passion for the fight against cancer. “The actions of this individual help move the mission of the American Cancer Society forward to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.”

The 2023 Bucket List Bash, presented by Lublin and his wife Christine Stahl Lublin, raised more than $1.1 million, bringing the event’s fundraising total to $11.9 million since its inception in 2011.

Over the years, much of Lublin’s philanthropic activity has been devoted to cancer and medical research. In his home state of Connecticut, where Richard lived in Avon for many years, UConn Health bestowed its highest award – the Medal of Honor – in 2014 to Lublin and his late wife Jane in recognition of their extraordinary philanthropic activity for UConn Health’s Cancer Center. Before moving to Naples, Richard was the lead sponsor of the White Coat Cancer Fundraiser for the University of Connecticut Medical Center for 8 years.

In 2019, the University of Connecticut, during graduation ceremonies where Lublin delivered the commencement speech, bestowed an Honorary Doctorate Degree to Lublin in recognition of his distinguished career as an attorney, followed by his success as a television and film actor. Richard recently completed filming an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, with Larry David, in March 2023.

Lublin has also been recognized by The Lahey Clinic, Cape Cod Hospital in Massachusetts and Hartford Hospital in Connecticut for his philanthropic activity devoted to cancer and medical research.

For the last 6 years, Richard Lublin has been the main sponsor of The Bucket List Bash — one of the American Cancer Society’s most prestigious fundraising galas in Naples. Notably, in 2018, Lublin hired Diana Ross to attract donors. The fundraiser drew over 500 attendees and raised over $1 million.

Richard has helped raise over $13 million for the war on cancer. “Philanthropy is a means to an end,” Lublin said. “The act of giving, multiplied by many, can make the world a better place and hopefully one day soon, eliminate cancer.”