Ten outstanding community members are seeking the title of Man of the Year and Woman of the Year. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Southern Florida Chapter (LLS) officially has launched its 2016 Miami Man & Woman of the Year campaign.
The Man & Woman of the Year campaign is a spirited competition benefitting LLS that is designed to help fund lifesaving blood cancer research and raise awareness of LLS’s mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
Candidates are a select group of honored individuals that are nominated by their peers. They are dynamic, passionate, sometimes competitive and from both social and business communities.
This year’s campaign honors two local patient heroes: Gio Peña, the 2016 Boy of the Year, and Mairen Bello, the 2016 Girl of the Year. Biographies for the 2016 Boy and Girl of the Year may be found at www.mwoy.org/sfl/localchapter/mia/boy_girl.
A special Kickoff Celebration, hosted by BBVA Compass Bank South Florida Market president Roberto Muñoz, tookm place on Apr. 6 at the financial institution’s Brickell offices. Muñoz is chair emeritus of the Man & Woman of the Year campaign and the 2011 Miami Man of the Year.
The campaign concludes with the Journey of Hope Grand Finale Gala set for Saturday, June 11, at the Intercontinental Miami.
“In 2015, South Florida patients and families received $1 million in copay assistance and $21,000 in travel assistance” said DeAnn Hazey, CFRE, executive director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Southern Florida Chapter. “The Man & Woman of the Year campaign is a great way for candidates to partner with other influential leaders in their communities to bring hope to thousands of blood cancer patients.”
The 2016 Man & Woman of the Year campaign is led by Alejandro Mendieta, of MetLife Premier Client Group of Florida. Mendieta is the 2013 Miami Man of the Year.
The 2016 candidates are: Melissa Bales, Multivista; Angela de Cespedes, Akerman LLP 1; Brian Diaz, actor and entertainer; Janet Oñate, Bacardí; Alex Pascual, BBVA Compass Bank; Nick Peña, Cruise Planners; Hugo Perez, United Data Technologies; Ali Samek, Samek Sells; Yolanda Strader, Carlton Fields, Christina Telesco, Luxury Attaché/Paramount.
Additionally, Jay Granieri, a 2015 Fort Lauderdale Man of the Year candidate, is now a candidate for the 2016 National All Star Man of the Year competition, representing the Southern Florida Chapter of LLS. Granieri is competing against other past candidates from across the U.S. during this 10-week period, rather than against our local candidates. Granieri is a successful Realtor who serves as part of Jonathan Keith, PA & Associates at Coldwell Banker in Fort Lauderdale.
To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at 1-800-955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
