Carolyn Aldigé serves as president of the Cancer Research Foundation of America (CRFA), which she founded in 1985 in memory of her father, Edward P. Richardson, who died of cancer one year earlier.
Since its inception, CRFA has provided more than $32 million in support of its mission: cancer prevention through scientific research, education and early detection. The foundation has become nationally recognized as a leader in the fight against cancer through prevention. In recognition of the many contributions CRFA has made to the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Carolyn Aldigé was named a Washingtonian of the Year 1996.
Ms. Aldigé currently serves as president of the National Coalition for Cancer Research, having been a member of its board of directors since 1996. She is formally affiliated with the following NCI-designated Cancer Centers: Fox Chase Cancer Center (Member, Board of Directors); UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (Member, Board of Visitors) and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center (Member, Council of Scientific Advisors).
She is also a member of the boards of directors of the Intercultural Cancer Council, and the Friends of Cancer Research. Additionally, she serves as a collaborating partner of the National Dialogue on Cancer, a member of the Medical Advisory Board of In Touch magazine, the Board of Sponsors of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; and the honorary board of the Association for the Cure of Cancer of the Prostate (CaP CURE).
Important programs and partnerships developed under the leadership of Carolyn Aldigé include the Congressional Families Action for Cancer Awareness Campaign, Project Awareness, ¡Celebremos la Vida!, Buddy Check 9 and Dr. Health'nstein's Body Fun, an award-winning interactive CD-ROM game promoting healthy habits for elementary-school-age children. Mrs. Aldigé spearheaded a drive to raise funds for the GW Mammovan, the first mobile mammography facility in the nation's capital.
She has been honored with numerous awards for her leadership in cancer prevention and early detection. Her many efforts to support career development of young scientists were recognized with the 1998 Excellence Award presented by the Associate Member Council of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Ms. Aldigé has testified before committees of the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, Food and Drug Administration and Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the President's Cancer Panel. She is a member of the 1993 Class of Leadership America.
Carolyn Aldigé is a magna cum laude graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman's College, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She is a 1997 recipient of the College's Alumnae Achievement Award, and has been selected by the Class of 1999 as its commencement speaker. Her professional career includes ten years as a medical researcher in endocrinology at both Cornell University Medical Center and Georgetown University Medical Center.
