The concept for the Alliance for Childhood Cancer emerged from the National Summit Meetings on Childhood Cancer in 1999 and 2000, sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
The Summit participants created a task force to implement the recommendations from the summit. One recommendation was to establish an alliance of concerned parties that would increase awareness of childhood cancer, advance research and policies to prevent cancer and improve diagnosis, treatment, supportive care and survivorship of children and adolescents with cancer.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) facilitated the groundwork and the Alliance for Childhood Cancer was officially launched on September 12, 2001. ASCO continues to provide support for the work of the Alliance.