The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s philanthropic competition, Man & Woman of the Year (MWOY), kicks off on March 22nd & ends with a Grand Finale Gala on June 2nd, 2018 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5quKSpUaWk&t=56s
MWOY Quick Facts:
- Known as one of Washington’s top fundraising events each spring, The Man & Woman of the Year campaign is a spirited fundraising competition in which 25-30 men & women set out to raise as much money as they possibly can for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) over a 10-week period.
- The 27th annual MWOY competition of the National Capital Area will run from March 22nd – June 2nd, 2018. The top male and female fundraiser are named Man & Woman of the Year and continue on to compete for the national title.
- The 2018 campaign goal is to raise $2.3 million. The National Capital Area chapter consistently holds one of the top Man & Woman of the Year campaigns in the country, and since 2000, has placed eleven national winners.
- LLS is currently recruiting candidates. Ideal candidates are community and business leaders who are philanthropic, ambitious, socially active, resourceful, goal oriented, and passionate about making a difference in the lives of people suffering from blood cancers. Candidates are asked to raise a minimum of $20,000 for LLS’s mission.
- The Reason: Every 3 minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer and every 9 minutes someone loses their battle.
MWOY Details:
- Each year, in over 80 communities across the country, dedicated candidates engage in an exciting competition to earn The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Man & Woman of the Year” titles. Raising funds for blood cancer research, the candidates compete in honor of children who are local blood cancer survivors, the Boy & Girl of the Year.
- Every dollar raised counts as one vote and the titles are awarded to the man and woman with the most votes at the end of 10 weeks. Top local fundraisers become eligible to win the national titles.
- “The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign provided me with a sense of empowerment. It gave me the opportunity to fight on behalf of my six-year-old goddaughter, Lily, rally our community and raise money to fund research and cures. Receiving the Woman of the Year title made me feel like Lily and the many people currently battling blood cancers will one day receive a cure.” – Jessica Harrison, 2017 Woman of the Year
How Candidates Fundraise:
- All candidates agree to use their leadership abilities to conduct their own fundraising campaigns on behalf of LLS. Candidates form their own teams and use their contacts to creatively raise funds. Every candidate and each of their team members receive their own personalized fundraising webpage to reach out to friends and contacts. Chapter staff assist candidates in goal planning and serve as fundraising consultants over the 10-week campaign.
- Each candidate team will receive mentorship and support from the Executive Leadership Committee, led by co-chairs, Jeana Foster of Pivotal Moments and John Brookbank of Cisco Systems.
- The campaign includes events and parties that allow opportunities for candidates to meet one another and other local business figures.
Events Include:
- Kickoff Celebration: This celebration officially marks the beginning of the fundraising competition. Candidates socialize, network, and meet the Boy & Girl of the Year.
- Grand Finale: The announcement of the Man & Woman of the Year winners is a celebration of all the candidates’ efforts as a collective class. Along with the Man & Woman of the Year titles, LLS will name three Citizenship Award winners, candidates who have significantly advanced awareness of blood cancers and the LLS mission in their communities. Surrounded by team members and friends, they enjoy a seated dinner, cocktails, music, and an outstanding silent and live auction.
How to Participate:
- If you are a dynamic individual that is driven to find cures, consider becoming a candidate or joining a candidate’s team. If you don’t want to be a candidate at this time but think you might know someone who would be a good fit, nominate a candidate! Local LLS staff will contact you to discuss your nomination further. It is an honor to be candidate for this exciting campaign. Past candidates will tell you that it has been a life-changing experience.
- Your company can support a candidate in their fight against cancer by becoming a local sponsor. Opportunities range from a $5,000 event sponsorship to a $75,000 presenting sponsorship. For information about how your company can make a positive impact in the Washington, DC area by participating as a sponsor, please visit http://www.mwoy.org/articles/nca-mwoy-sponsorship or contact Megan.Swahn@lls.org.
- During the campaign, the easiest way to get involved is to make a donation to a candidate who inspires you. All proceeds benefit LLS’s mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS is the world’s largest national voluntary health organization dedicated to curing blood cancers and improving the quality of life of patients.
Interested in being a part of the campaign?
Contact Megan Swahn at Megan.Swahn@lls.org or 703-399-2922 to learn more about the campaign, to discuss being a candidate, nominate someone you know or learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
