Lawyer Anne Wells and Jeremiah Palmer of General Mills were named winners during the Man & Woman of the Year Grand Finale Celebration held by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Arkansas Division. The dinner celebration took place May 15 in the Great Hall of the Clinton Presidential Center.
Guests enjoyed a reception and silent auction prior to the meal and program, hosted by news personality Deedra Wilson of KARK-TV, Channel 4/KLRT-TV, Channel 16, and featuring a live auction by John Saugey.
Other Man & Woman of the Year candidates included Leslie Smith Doan of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Casey Ingram of Access by Design, and Barbie Jones of B. Jones Photography.
During a 10-week fundraising period that began with a kickoff celebration, candidates were judged on their success in generating funds to advance the mission of the society. Each dollar raised counted as one "vote." Finale attendees were also allowed to vote for their favorite candidates in this manner. The competition took place in honor of the organization's Boy & Girl of the Year -- Cooper Cody, 7, and Emmalee Fitzgerald, 8, former cancer patients. The children helped to present awards.
Altogether, Man & Woman of the Year candidates raised $72,000, with Wells bringing in more than $16,300 and Palmer nearly $23,600. The money will be used by the society, said to be the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer, to pay for research seeking cures and therapies in the local community.
High Profile on 05/25/2014