Bidens Step Down From Foundation as Presidential Campaign Is Formalized

As the 2020 presidential campaign kicks into high gear, the much-anticipated candidacy of former Vice President Joe Biden was announced. Biden, along with his wife Jill, had to make the necessary legal adjustments to cut ties with their formal involvement in the Biden Foundation (https://bidencancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/BidensforBCIBoard-4-25-2019.pdf), including a number of cancer-related projects. The Bidens made the move to eliminate any potential conflicts of interest with a presidential run.

Since Biden’s departure from government in 2017, the Biden family has been actively progressing the Cancer Moonshot initiative through continued efforts with the Biden Foundation (https://archive.bidenfoundation.org/). To improve access, treatment, research, and affordability, the Biden Foundation has worked with members of the public and private sector to advance cancer care. ONS members have participated in the project (https://voice.ons.org/stories/jill-biden-works-with-ons-members-and-others-to-understand-the-caregiver-experience), and ONS leadership has been appointed to positions (https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/ons-leaders-named-to-biden-cancer-initiative-board-and-advisory-committee) in the Biden Foundation. Oncology nurses are finding countless opportunities to contribute with a seat at the table.

In April 2019, Ted Kaufman, the foundation’s president, issued a statement (https://archive.bidenfoundation.org/) about the Bidens’ decision to cut formal ties with the foundation. Thanking staff and supporters, Kaufman reiterated the Bidens’ support for the foundation’s many causes and pledged to continue to fight for those issues in the future.