Greater Sacramento Man, Woman & Teen of the Year
Celebrating 14 Years of Outstanding Acheivement

In just ten short weeks, eleven amazing individuals raised more than $201,000 for blood cancer research and patient services, as part of  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society?s (LLS) Man & Woman of the Year fundraising competition for the Greater Sacramento Chapter. Congratulations to our Man of the Year, James Fitzgerald, Vice President of MarketOne Builders, and our Woman of the Year, Martha Bernauer, Coldwell Banker Agent.

James, who raised an unprecedented $79,100 will be presented with the opportunity to name a research grant. The grant will be named in honor of his late nephew, Joseph Fitzgerald, who lost his battle with leukemia in 2008. In addition, both James and Martha will be recognized in Sacramento Magazine, and on bus tail advertisements and billboards throughout the area this summer.

The complete list of 2010 candidates include: Christopher Oster from US Bank; James Fitzgerald from MarketOne Builders; Paul Danczyk from the University of Southern California; Toss Vallentine from Gurbb & Ellis; Angelina Dalton Bravo from Matriscope Engineering; Martha Bernauer from Coldwell Banker; and Sheri Moemeni from Greater Sacramento Specialty Pharmacy.  Teen of the Year candidates are: Brennan McGee & Savo Gojkovich; Chloe Garcia & Natasia Lutes; and Wesley Freeman & Matthew Tarr.

During a ten-week fundraising period beginning with a kickoff celebration, the candidates were judged solely on their success in raising money to help LLS fund research to find cures and better therapies and provide information and support to blood cancer patients and their families.

Every dollar raised counted as one ?vote.? James and Martha were the candidates with the most ?votes,? and were awarded the title of 2010 Man & Woman of the Year at a grand finale gala on June 12, 2010. The candidates competed in honor of LLS?s Boy & Girl of the Year, local children who are blood cancer survivors and sources of inspiration to others. 

In addition to James and Martha, 2 local high school teens were named Teen of the Year for their efforts.  Chloe Garcia of Gold River and Natasia Lutes of Sacramento, both students at St. Francis High School, raised nearly $19,000 for the LLS. Chloe and Natasia were presented with a college scholarship because of their outstanding volunteerism and philanthropic endeavors. 

Congratulations to the entire team of outstanding individuals that participated in this year's campaign!