The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The journey of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) began not in a boardroom, but from the profound grief of a family. In 1944, the de Villiers family of New York experienced the devastating loss of their 16-year-old son, Robert, to leukemia. At a time when treatment options were scarce and the understanding of blood cancers was limited, their personal tragedy ignited a powerful resolve. Driven by the belief that these diseases were conquerable, Rudolph and Antoinette de Villiers established the Robert Roesler de Villiers Foundation in 1949. With a modest starting investment and a small group of dedicated volunteers operating from a small office in Manhattan, they laid the groundwork for what would become a global force in the fight against blood cancer. This nascent organization was fueled by an unwavering commitment to fund research and provide support to families grappling with similar heart-wrenching diagnoses.

As the years passed, the foundation evolved, mirroring the growing understanding of the diseases it sought to eradicate. In 1955, it became the Leukemia Society, and by the 1960s, it had expanded its reach across the nation, rebranding as The Leukemia Society of America to reflect its broader scope. A pivotal moment came in 2000 when the organization once again changed its name to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a strategic move to underscore its dedication to combating all forms of blood cancer, including lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma. This evolution was more than just a name change; it signified a deeper commitment to a comprehensive mission encompassing research, patient support, education, and advocacy. Today, LLS stands as the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to blood cancer, having invested over $1.8 billion in cutting-edge research. From its humble beginnings born of personal loss, LLS has grown into a beacon of hope, relentlessly pursuing cures and improving the quality of life for countless patients and their families across the United States and Canada.