The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Palm Beach-Treasure Coast Chapter has announced the 27 candidates who have signed up for Students of the Year — an innovative and fierce seven-week fundraising competition, during which they appeal to family and friends to raise critical funds, which LLS deploys to advance breakthrough treatments and to support the more than 1.3 million blood cancer patients in the U.S. The candidate team that raises the most money at the end of the competition earns the title Student(s) of the Year.
This year, the local chapter has 15 candidate teams made up of 27 candidates and more than 150 team members, competing for the title. The 2020 Students of the Year campaign runs from Jan. 15 through March 6. The winning team will be announced at the Grand Finale Celebration on Friday, March 6 at the Country Club at Mirasol. Visit http://tinyurl.com/pbsoy20 and click “Shop Our Store” for tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities.
Students of the Year is a philanthropic leadership development program for exemplary high school students. During the campaign, participants foster professional skills such as entrepreneurship, marketing and project management in order to raise funds for LLS. Top local fundraisers become eligible to win the national title. The students raise money in honor of local patient heroes who are currently battling or are in remission from a blood cancer.
Students participating include several from the western communities, including Domenick Romano and Camryn Pacella of Palm Beach Central High School and Max Epstein of Wellington High School.
“It’s amazing to watch these young men and women work so hard to fundraise and help us cure cancer,” said Pamela Payne, executive director of the local LLS chapter. “These students exemplify all that is good with their generation, leaving a positive mark in the world. As the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to fighting blood cancers, LLS has a legacy of innovating in the fundraising category, and Students of the Year is our newest addition. This one-of-a-kind program brings together students from diverse backgrounds and experiences who are compassionate and driven to reach their own personal fundraising best.”
For motivated high school students, Students of the Year ensures they stand out among their peers when engaging with colleges and future employers. Through guidance and mentoring from experienced professionals at LLS, they will make a real impact in the fight against blood cancers. To learn more about the Students of the Year program and how it might work for you or someone you know, visit www.studentsoftheyear.org or contact Senior Campaign Manager Kellie Harrington at kellie.harrington@lls.org.
