Leukemia & Lymphoma Society announces Man and Woman of Year
The 12 candidates competing in Delaware’s sixth annual Man and Woman of the Year campaign raised an astounding $303,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in just 10 weeks. Craig Murray of D’Huy Engineering Inc. earned the title of Man of the Year, and Claire Harmer of Young Conaway Stargatt and Taylor LLP earned the title of Woman of the Year.
Both winners will have the opportunity to attach their names to an LLS-funded research portfolio for achieving the national benchmark of raising more than $50,000 for the mission.
The grand finale celebration was held June 6 at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Wilmington. In addition to the announcement of the Man and Woman of the Year, the Citizenship Award was presented to Denise Westbrook of Wilmington University for her spirit of volunteerism, community engagement and mission integration throughout the campaign.
The recipients of the 2015 Touching Lives Award, given to those who raised $25,000 or more for the mission, were also recognized: Claire Harmer, Alice Martinelli, Craig Murray and Dr. Heather Ragozine-Bush.
Man and Woman of the Year is a 10-week fundraising competition through which candidates form campaign teams and raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through community outreach, fundraising events, and other personal initiatives. Candidates competed in honor of the Boy and Girl of the Year, 9-year-old Colin Tjaden of Wilmington and 7-year-old Sami Meyers of Middletown, who are both local blood cancer survivors.
The following candidates all successfully completed the 2015 Man and Woman of the Year campaign:
- Doug Bartsch, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Hartly
- Nicole B. Comer, CE Solutions, Hockessin
- Evan Friedkin, Delaware Jaycees, Newark
- Claire D. Harmer, Young Conaway Stargatt and Taylor LLP, Wilmington
- Joe Iavarone, Garnet Valley Middle School,Springfield, Pa.
- Alice Martinelli, Millie's R-CHOPpers, Hockessin
- Craig Murray, D’Huy Engineering Inc., Greenville
- Joe Pacello, The Men's Room Barber Shop, Greenville
- Dr. Heather Ragozine-Bush, Christiana Care/IPC Healthcare, Glassboro, N.J.
- Deborrah Setting, De Ja Vu Vintage Shop, Centreville
- Dave Tancredi, Delmarva Power, Newark
- Denise Z. Westbrook, Wilmington University, of Lewes.
“In committing to run for [Woman of the Year], I was thankful for the opportunity to bring awareness to LLS's efforts in defeating blood cancers, especially in Sussex County, Delaware. I have witnessed our community join together in support of one cause,” says Citizenship Award recipient Denise Westbrook. “Through the commitment and dedication of the candidates, our teams and our chapter leadership, research will continue to be funded, and families will be supported with actual dollars we have raised. A true impact!”
For more information call 302-661-7300 or go to www.LLS.org/de.
