Passionate Connecticut Man & Woman of the Year Candidates Raise $305,000 for Blood Cancer Research
Candidates, Supporters and Survivors Celebrate Culmination of 10-Week Fundraising Campaign at Grand Finale Celebration
Wilton, CT, May 10, 2014 --(PR.com)-- On Saturday, May 3, West Hartford resident Robert O’Meara and New Jersey resident Vivian Altman were recognized as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) 2014 Connecticut Man and Woman of the Year for raising the most money among a group of 11 candidates during a fundraising campaign to support blood cancer research.
The LLS Connecticut chapter celebrated the culmination of its 10-week Man & Woman of the Year fundraising campaign at a gala held on Saturday evening at the Waterview in Monroe, Conn. Collectively, the 11 Man & Woman of the Year candidates raised more than $305,000 to fund research and patient services for individuals and families affected by blood cancers.
O’Meara, a realtor and partner at Keller Williams Realty Greater Hartford, enlisted in the campaign in honor of his father, who passed away from lymphoma. He beat out three other Connecticut Man of the Year candidates to take home the top male fundraiser prize.
“Since my father’s passing, I’ve wanted to do something more than donate to help the cause, but I’ve never had the time,” O’Meara said. “So I finally committed to making the time. In honor of my father, I set out to raise both awareness and money for the cause, and, more importantly, for a cure.”
Vivian Altman, Managing Director of Janney Montgomery Scott, which has eight offices in Connecticut, won top honors as Connecticut’s 2014 Woman of the Year. She participated in the campaign in honor of local children who have battled blood cancer and raised the most money out of seven Woman of the Year candidates.
“I am honored to be named the 2014 Woman of the Year,” Altman said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to raise funds for continued research and support for individuals and families affected by blood cancers.”
Altman and O’Meara are now in the running for the top national fundraisers, who will be announced later this summer, once all Man & Woman of the Year campaigns across the country are complete. Susan Caron, of FirstSouthwest, and Richard Sigal, of McKenna Long & Alrdridge, were the first
runners-up.
More than 200 guests attended The Grand Finale celebration on Saturday evening, including Connecticut State Treasurer Denise Nappier, who has served as Honorary Chair of the Connecticut Man & Woman of the Year committee for 12 consecutive years. Treasurer Nappier lost her sister to leukemia and is committed to supporting the cause and helping local families who are impacted by blood cancer.
In the 12 years that the Connecticut chapter has run this campaign, candidates have raised nearly $2 million dollars to fund blood cancer research and provide essential services for patients and their families. With funds raised through this campaign and other initiatives throughout the year, LLS believes it will find a cure for blood cancer, not someday, but today.
About the Man & Woman of the Year Campaign
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Man & Woman of the Year campaign is a fundraising competition in communities across the United States in which participants vie for the title of Man or Woman of the Year. The titles are awarded to the men and women in each community who raise the most funds during the 10-week campaign; the top local fundraisers in the country also win the national titles. Supporters can aid in their efforts by donating to or joining their campaigns not someday, but today. To learn more about the Connecticut campaign, please visit www.mwoy.org/ct.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. To learn more, visit www.lls.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
The LLS Connecticut chapter celebrated the culmination of its 10-week Man & Woman of the Year fundraising campaign at a gala held on Saturday evening at the Waterview in Monroe, Conn. Collectively, the 11 Man & Woman of the Year candidates raised more than $305,000 to fund research and patient services for individuals and families affected by blood cancers.
O’Meara, a realtor and partner at Keller Williams Realty Greater Hartford, enlisted in the campaign in honor of his father, who passed away from lymphoma. He beat out three other Connecticut Man of the Year candidates to take home the top male fundraiser prize.
“Since my father’s passing, I’ve wanted to do something more than donate to help the cause, but I’ve never had the time,” O’Meara said. “So I finally committed to making the time. In honor of my father, I set out to raise both awareness and money for the cause, and, more importantly, for a cure.”
Vivian Altman, Managing Director of Janney Montgomery Scott, which has eight offices in Connecticut, won top honors as Connecticut’s 2014 Woman of the Year. She participated in the campaign in honor of local children who have battled blood cancer and raised the most money out of seven Woman of the Year candidates.
“I am honored to be named the 2014 Woman of the Year,” Altman said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to raise funds for continued research and support for individuals and families affected by blood cancers.”
Altman and O’Meara are now in the running for the top national fundraisers, who will be announced later this summer, once all Man & Woman of the Year campaigns across the country are complete. Susan Caron, of FirstSouthwest, and Richard Sigal, of McKenna Long & Alrdridge, were the first
runners-up.
More than 200 guests attended The Grand Finale celebration on Saturday evening, including Connecticut State Treasurer Denise Nappier, who has served as Honorary Chair of the Connecticut Man & Woman of the Year committee for 12 consecutive years. Treasurer Nappier lost her sister to leukemia and is committed to supporting the cause and helping local families who are impacted by blood cancer.
In the 12 years that the Connecticut chapter has run this campaign, candidates have raised nearly $2 million dollars to fund blood cancer research and provide essential services for patients and their families. With funds raised through this campaign and other initiatives throughout the year, LLS believes it will find a cure for blood cancer, not someday, but today.
About the Man & Woman of the Year Campaign
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Man & Woman of the Year campaign is a fundraising competition in communities across the United States in which participants vie for the title of Man or Woman of the Year. The titles are awarded to the men and women in each community who raise the most funds during the 10-week campaign; the top local fundraisers in the country also win the national titles. Supporters can aid in their efforts by donating to or joining their campaigns not someday, but today. To learn more about the Connecticut campaign, please visit www.mwoy.org/ct.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. To learn more, visit www.lls.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
Contact
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Rachel Drake
203-665-1412
www.lls.org/ct
Rachel Drake
203-665-1412
www.lls.org/ct
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