When Competition and Philanthropy Go Hand-in-Hand

RYE BROOK, N.Y., March 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the greatest competitors of all time, Michael Jordan, once said, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." Today, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) officially kicks off the 29^th annual competitive fundraising campaign, Man & Woman of the Year®. In 80 communities across the country, a select group of individuals and their campaign teams come together for an exciting 10-week philanthropic competition to see who will win the title of Man or Woman of the Year in their community.

Why would someone want to be a Man or Woman of the Year? According to last year's National Man of Year, Scott Peterson, "The campaign is literally the most rewarding, challenging and amazing experience that I've ever been a part of."

2017 National Woman of the Year, Jessica Paulen Goldich, echoes that sentiment, "Knowing your dollars have such a positive effect makes it much easier to ask people for money!"

The funds raised through LLS's Man & Woman of the Year are used for:

• Ongoing breakthrough research to discover lifesaving therapies like targeted therapies and immunotherapies, which are saving lives today;
• Free blood cancer information, education and support when patients and families need it most;
• Patient advocates in communities across the country, throughout LLS's 56 chapters;
• Driving federal and state laws and policies that increase development of and access to new treatments.

"The impact that these passionate and relentless Man & Woman of the Year participants have made on the fight against cancer is outstanding, they are unstoppable in their desire to find cures," said LLS executive vice president and chief product officer, Andrew Coccari. "Through campaigns like Man & Woman of the Year, LLS has invested more than $1.2 billion since its founding almost 70 years ago, in research to advance breakthrough therapies. In fact, approximately 40% of new cancer therapies approved by the FDA since 2000 were first approved for a blood cancer, and LLS helped advance most of them."

This year's candidate class will be featured in an announcement advertisement in USA Today on March 16.

About Man & Woman of the Year

Man & Woman of the Year candidates across the country compete in honor of a local boy and girl who are blood cancer survivors, to raise the most funds for blood cancer research. Every dollar counts as one vote, and the titles are awarded to the man and woman with the most votes at the end of the campaign. The top local fundraisers in the country win the national titles.

This year, a record breaking number of past participants will show their star power by competing again in Man & Woman of the Year's "All Star" competition. This program provides an opportunity for select Man & Woman of the Year alumni to represent their local campaign nationally.

Visit the Man & Woman of the Year website (www.mwoy.org) to support a candidate and learn how you can become engaged with LLS.

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, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

For additional information visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media contact:
Kristin Hoose
914-821-8973
[email protected]

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society