
Albany, NY – At a Grand Finale Gala held on Friday, May 13, 2016 in the elegant Renaissance Albany Hotel, The Upstate New York/Vermont Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society announced the names of the 2016 Man and Woman of the Year. Kelsey Carr of The Chazen Companies, was named Woman of the Year, raising over $95,000 for LLS, while Rick Ostroff of Ostroff Associates was named Man of the Year, raising a record $161,500.



Year after year individuals take on the challenge to raise the most funds to find cures and ensure access to treatment for blood cancer patients, but only two can win. This year, 16 candidates signed on to participate in the 10-week campaign and raised over $600,000.
The Grand Finale Gala marked the finish of a fundraising competition that launched on March 4, 2016. Local winners will go on to compete for the national title, which will be announced later in the summer.
This year’s fundraising was in honor of two local patient heroes, the 2016 Boy and Girl of the Year: Lucas Santoro and Kendra Sisco.
Proceeds benefit LLS’s Mission: to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
For more information about the campaign, contact Susanne Keller, 518-438-3583, and local campaign website is www.mwoy.org/uny/
The 2016 candidates were:
The 2016 Man & Woman of the Year committee Co-Chairs are AJ Bodden of Townsquare Media Events and Laura Petrovic of the Renaissance Albany Hotel.
This year’s campaign was sponsored by Keeler Motor Car, as the Premier Sponsor of Hope, as well as Walmart, The Capoccia Family, Treen Events, Criafulli Bros., Twin Technologies, Huck Finn’s Warehouse, Angelo Riggi, IUE-CWA Local 301, Aeon Nexus, and FedEx.
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.