November 10, 2026 |Health & Wellness, Lynn Community Health Center, News, Non-profits, Resources

Lynn Community Health Center works with the American Cancer Society and NFL’s Crucial Catch Initiative to Increase Cancer Screening

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From the Lynn Community Health Center: When caught early, the five-year survival rate for many cancers is over 90%. Through Crucial Catch, Lynn Community Health Center, the American Cancer Society, and the National Football League (NFL) are working together to improve cancer outcomes in New England. Since 2009, Crucial Catch has focused on educating fans on the importance of cancer screening, early detection, and risk reduction, while raising funds for CHANGE grants that help community health centers and NFL-affiliated or in-market hospitals in under-resourced areas improve access to cancer screening. Lynn Community Health Center is a 2026 Crucial Catch CHANGE grant recipient-the only one in all of New England.

Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. Lynn Community Health Center will use the resources provided to them through this grant to screen for colorectal cancer. The rate of people being diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer has dropped overall since the mid-1980s, mainly because more people are getting screened and changing their lifestyle-related risk factors. But this downward trend is mostly in older adults.

The American Cancer Society and the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative has supported projects that have helped deliver more than 1.1. million cancer screenings. This year, those effortsreached a milestone of 2.7 million people with education, patient navigation, screening reminders, and resources that help reduce barriers to screening. In 2025, Crucial Catch projects impacted 435 participating clinic sites from 64 health systems, reached over 760,018 eligible patients, diagnosed 9,757 cancers, and helped to increase cancer screening rates by an average of 4.1 percentage points.

“We are honored to partner with the American Cancer Society and the NFL’s Crucial Catch campaign to expand access to colorectal cancer screening for our patients,” said Brenda Rodriguez, CEO of Lynn Community Health Center. “With colorectal cancer rates increasing among younger adults, ensuring access to FIT testing and other screening options is critical. We know that early detection saves lives, and everyone should begin routine colorectal cancer screening at age 45. This funding helps us remove barriers to care and reach more patients with preventive services. We are especially grateful to our providers and care teams whose commitment to screening and early detection makes a meaningful difference in the health of our community every day.”

“We are grateful for the NFL’s Crucial Catch program, which allows us to partner with respected organizations that are making a difference in the community,” said Mike Duff, VP of development, American Cancer Society. “Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in men and women in the United States and now the 2nd most common cause of death from cancer. Through partnerships like these, we will be able to provide additional resources to provide early detection and end cancer, as we know it, for everyone.”

By donating 100% of its proceeds from the sale of Crucial Catch-branded products, NFL auctions, and general fundraising, the NFL has raised more than $38 million to support the American Cancer Society’s work to improve cancer screening in under-resourced communities. The NFL does not profit from the sale of Crucial Catch-branded items on NFL Shop or from items sold on NFL Auction. 

The NFL-funded grants are part of 85 projects funded by the American Cancer Society that focus on improving cancer screening rates in communities with the greatest need. Visit NFL.com/CrucialCatch to find local cancer screening resources and learn how to reduce cancer risk.