The Austin Cancer Support Coalition was created in 2017 as a joint initiative of local Central Texas cancer support organizations, institutions, and businesses with one shared mission: to connect and communicate in order to streamline cancer support and care for patients, survivors, and caregivers in Central Texas.

In May of 2017, the LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes  convened a half day cancer community town hall which marked an important first for the Austin cancer community: it was the first time that cancer support providers convened to focus solely on their programs and services for the community. The LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes hosted more than 45 organizations and nearly 80 individuals from across Central Texas to share their existing work and discuss gaps in cancer support, with the ultimate goal of determining constructive strategies for how the Institutes will collaborate with the community to improve care.

During that convening, it became clear that each of the participating organizations offers valuable services to patients and or loved ones and while there was some duplication of effort, providers and organizations were committed to collaboration to better streamline services in the community. Many participants expressed interest in meeting on a regular basis. As a result, the ACSC formed organically with leadership of several longstanding local cancer non-profits which formed the founding steering committee.