The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Announces the 2015 Sacramento Man & Woman of the Year and Students of the Year Winners

SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Greater Sacramento Area Chapter recently announced the winners of its Man & Woman of the Year and Students of the Year campaigns. Dr. Shahzad Siddique and Joan Medeiros were announced as the 2015 Man & Woman of the Year, respectively, at the Grand Finale Gala at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento on June 20, 2015. Abby Fitzgerald of St. Francis High School and Maverick Kuhn of Jesuit High School, whose team was named Team Fundrangers, were announced as the 2015 Students of the Year at the Grand Finale Celebration at Niello MINI on May 9, 2015.

Nearly 500 guests attended the Man & Woman of the Year Grand Finale Gala, which celebrated four candidates and one alumni team. Rob Stewart, host of Rob on the Road on KVIE Public Television, served as the master of ceremonies for the evening, which was themed Celebrating Survivors. A Top Fundraiser Recognition Award for raising over $50,000 was given to Man of the Year Dr. Siddique, an oncologist with Mercy Medical Group, a service of Dignity Health Medical Foundation. He is also a member of the Dignity Health Cancer Institute as well as the LLS Greater Sacramento Area Chapter Board of Trustees. The Woman of the Year title held extra meaning to Joan Medeiros, managing partner at Medeiros Law Firm, since she fundraised in honor of her life partner Sergio Musetti, a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor. More than $216,000 was raised by the Man & Woman of the Year candidates.

The Students of the Year Grand Finale Celebration was hosted and presented by the Niello Company, with emcees Jason, Katie and Gavin of "The Wake Up Call" on 107.9 The End. More than 210 guests attended to honor the six students and celebrate the over $131,000 raised to support LLS. In addition to winning Students of the Year, Fitzgerald and Kuhn received a Top Fundraiser Recognition Award. The award was also given to Team Bailey's Cancer Busters, which included Abby Douglas of C.K. McClatchy High School and Julia Davis of Rio Americano High School. This year, the final amount raised through the Man & Woman of the Year and Students of the Year campaign totaled over $347,000.

The Man & Woman of the Year and Students of the Year campaigns are annual 10-week fundraising competitions between students and influential community members united by one goal, to use their strong ties in their communities to raise funds to help blood cancer patients live longer and more fulfilling lives. The candidates compete in honor of the Boy & Girl of the Year to raise the most funds for blood cancer research. This year's Boy & Girl of the Year were RJ and Bailey, respectively, who are both local blood cancer survivors. Every dollar counts as one vote and the titles are awarded to the man, woman and students with the most votes at the end of the campaign.

For more information on the Sacramento Man & Woman of the Year and Students of the Year campaigns, contact Kathy Severson at [email protected] or 916-246-3325 or visit www.mwoy.org/sac.

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 and provides free information and support services for patients and their loved ones.

Major LLS fundraising campaigns include Team In Training, Light The Night Walk, School & Youth, Man & Woman of the Year and Leukemia Cup Regatta.  To reach the widest possible audience, LLS partners with national and regional level companies and brands, including Nike, Disney, Burlington and others.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada.  To learn more, visit www.LLS.org.  Patients and caregivers should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Greater Sacramento Area Chapter