'Man & Woman Of Year' Contenders Halfway Through Fundraising Campaign

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society North Bay Chapter's Man & Woman of the Year (MWOY) candidates are about half way through their campaign, and will be hosting a Midpoint Celebration for the candidates and their teams on Thursday, May 15 at Compadres Rio Grille in Napa. 

The MWOY campaign is an annual 10-week fundraising competition between community leaders united by one goal, to use their leadership skills to raise funds to help blood cancer patients live longer and more fulfilling lives.  

The MWOY candidates compete in honor of the North Bay Boy & Girl of the Year, Jared McDaniel and Itzel Mendez, who are both from Napa and are battling blood cancer.  

In this friendly competition, every dollar counts as one vote and the titles are awarded to the man and woman with the most votes at the end of the campaign, which will be announced at our Grand Finale Celebration on June 19 at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards in Sonoma. 

And the competitors working hard fundraising:

• Holly Wick, owner of Athletic Soles, hosted a dunk tank at Petaluma’s Butter and Egg Day Parade and had Congressman Jared Huffman in the tank to help raise money and awareness for her campaign.
• Jennifer Buffo, owner of Pure Luxury Transportation, hosted a dinner and auction at Sally Tomatoes with Ken Wayne from KTVU as the Master of Ceremonies.
• Gordon Huether, founder and owner of Gordon Huether Studio, will be hosting an event titled, Victory for Itzel at Cole’s Chop House on Thursday, May 22.  Itzel’s father is a chef at Cole’s Chop House and they will be having the dinner and silent auction in her honor.
• Mike Gibson, NFL player and Napa native. 
• Sonoma State University student Sophie Edwards.
• Sign-A-Rama owner Aaron Friedman 
• Registered dietitian with Sutter Medical Center and Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation Dana Kettmann 

The MWOY campaign will culminate on June 19 at the Jacuzzi Family Vineyards.  The event will feature a reception, silent auction, dinner and program where the 2014 North Bay Man and Woman of the Year will be announced. 

Follow the competition here on Facebook. 

More info on the candidates, their upcoming events and the Grand Finale Gala can be found at http://www.mwoy.org/gba/localchapter/NorthBay/.