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Fort Wayne
Congratulations to the amazing 2012 Man & Woman of the Year candidates for collectively raising $143,150!
2012 Man & Woman of the Year Winners
Congratulations to 2012 Man of the Year, Craig Vanderwall, Jr. of General Petroleum, Inc. and 2012 Woman of the Year, Jill Sample of Granite Ridge Builders, and to all of our outstanding past candidates for their dedication, time and efforts!
The Campaign
Each year, in communities across the country, dynamic and passionate candidates engage in a spirited 10-week fundraising competition to earn The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 'Man & Woman of the Year' titles by raising funds for blood cancer research. Our exciting 2012 campaign started with a lively Kick Off event in mid-February and culminated with a celebration of everyone's efforts at the Grand Finale Gala on Friday, April 27th at Ceruti's Summit Park's Diamond Room with hors d'oeuvres, drinks, live entertainment and fabulous silent and live auctions.
The Candidates
The ideal candidates are community and businness leaders who are philanthropic, ambitious, socially active, resourceful and passionate about making a difference in the lives of people suffering from blood cancers. Their relentless ambition drives them to fundraise with remarkable results.
The Honorees
All candidates raise funds in honor of our Girl and Boy of the Year, as well as their own personal connection to blood cancers. This year, two of our candidates were blood cancer survivors, and another a bone marrow donor for a loved one battling AML.
The History
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Man & Woman of the Year campaign began in 1990 in San Francisco to honor John Spencer, a Society volunteer and valued employee at Hastings Clothier. Spencer lost his battle to leukemia at the age of 39. It was in John's memory that Hastings Clothier began supporting the LLS's Northern California Chapter with the San Francisco Man & Woman of the Year campaign.
Now, more than 62 Man & Woman of the Year campaigns take place across the nation, making this a highly visible fundraising program. Since 2009, 28 candidates from Northeast Indiana have collectively raised over $449,400!
The Reason
Although someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer every 4 minutes, there is great hope for the future. LLS is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improving the quality of life of patients and their families. This is done through research, patient aid, education and advocacy with the funds raised by generous supporters.
