A fundraising total of $98,784 earned Dow Brantley of England the title of Man of the Year in a contest hosted by the Arkansas Division of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Jill Avery's raising of $23,629 earned her the Woman of the Year title.
The two were deemed winners at the 2017 Man & Woman of the Year Grand Finale Celebration, held April 21 in the ballroom of Embassy Suites Little Rock.
Other candidates for the titles were Justin Thomas, Jennifer Fitzgerald, Mike Mueller, Charles Robbins and Angela Stewart (who was absent due to illness). All participants dedicated 10 weeks to fundraising.
The evening began with pre-dinner mingling, cocktail-sipping and bids on numerous silent-auction items. KTHV's Amanda Jaeger and Tom Brannon were masters of ceremonies for a program lineup that included a stage appearance by Will Collins, the 2017 Boy of the Year and survivor of two blood cancers, and the awarding of the Legacy Award to former Woman of the Year titleholder Nadine Baxter.
A live auction conducted by Phyllis and John Saugey included an Argentinian dinner for eight with dancers, plus hunting-club packages and getaway stays at waterside facilities. Direct donations were taken during a "raise your paddle for a cure" segment. In addition, guests were given a chance to buy, for $250, the beautiful centerpieces made by Pine Bluff glass artist James Hayes, who was on hand to sign the pieces.
In all, more than $262,000 was raised for blood cancer research and aid for Arkansas patients.
-- Story and photos by Helaine R. Williams
High Profile on 04/30/2017