Are you Man & Woman Enough?

Man & Woman of the Year Quick Facts:

• Man & Woman of the Year (MWOY) is philanthropic competition to support blood cancer research among a group of motivated and dedicated individuals in communities across the United States. Candidates form powerful fundraising teams and compete in honor of two local children who are blood cancer survivors.
• The man and woman who have raised the most funds during the ten-week campaign are awarded the prestigious title of Man or Woman of the Year in their community. The man and woman who have raised the most across the entire US will be recognized as the national Man & Woman of the year.
• The 29^th annual Washington, DC Man & Woman of the Year campaign will kick off on Thursday, March 26^th and end with a Grand Finale Gala on June 6^th, 2020.
• The goal of the 2020 campaign is to raise $3.5 million. The National Capital Area chapter of LLS consistently holds one of the top Man & Woman of the Year campaigns in the country, and since 2000, has hosted 13 national winners.
• 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.
• Why? Every 3 minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer and every 9 minutes someone loses their battle. LLS has a bold mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

How Candidates Fundraise:

• Candidates use their leadership abilities to conduct their own unique fundraising campaign on behalf of LLS. Candidates form 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. LLS 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, Evelyn Akers of Malloy Toyota and Carl De Groote 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:

• Candidate Workshop: The candidates spend a day working with past candidates and committee members to take a deep dive into all areas of the campaign, what to expect, and how best to prepare for the 10-week journey.
• Kickoff Celebration: This celebration officially marks the beginning of the fundraising competition. Candidates socialize, network, and meet the Boy & Girl of the Year.
• Mid-Point Pep Rally: This event is used to keep the candidates energized and reenergize them as they reach the mid-point of the campaign.
• Grand Finale Gala: 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 know someone who would be a good fit, nominate a candidate! Local LLS staff will contact you to discuss your next step. It is an honor to be nominated to participate in this exciting campaign and past candidates will tell you that it has been a life-changing experience.
• Companies can support candidates by becoming a local sponsor. For information about how your company can make a positive impact in the Washington, D.C. area by participating as a sponsor, please 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. LLS is the world’s largest national voluntary health organization dedicated to curing blood cancers and improving the quality of life of patients. We truly believe that beating cancer is in our blood.

Interested in being a part of the campaign?
Contact Megan Swahn by emailing Megan.Swahn@lls.org or calling 703-399-2922 to learn more about being a candidate, nominating someone you know or learning more about sponsorship opportunities.Top of FormBottom of Form