The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2016 Cruise Planners Fort Lauderdale Man & Woman of the Year

BROWARD BUSINESS LEADERS UNITE TO RAISE NEARLY $600,000 FOR
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY IN MAN & WOMAN OF THE YEAR COMPETITION

PHILANTHROPIST BRENT HAGEY NAMED 2016 FORT LAUDERDALE MAN OF THE YEAR
CRUISE PLANNERS ‘IN MEMORIAM’ CANDIDATE BEVERLY BREAN NAMED WOMAN OF THE YEAR

A fierce yet friendly competition designed to raise important funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) concluded Saturday night with philanthropist Brent Hagey crowned as 2016 Fort Lauderdale Man of the Year, and the late Beverly Brean of Cruise Planners, An American Express Travel Representative, as 2016 Fort Lauderdale Woman of the Year.

Hagey and Brean, represented by a large group of Cruise Planners colleagues, were joined by nine local leaders, honorary Man & Woman of the Year candidate Kids Can Foundation, and a national All Star candidate in raising a stunning $587,049 for LLS.

The announcements were made at the 2016 Cruise Planners Fort Lauderdale Man & Woman of the Year Journey of Hope Gala, held at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six. The winners are determined based on their fundraising support of the Southern Florida Chapter of LLS. Every dollar raised by Man & Woman of the Year counts as a “vote.” Fundraising began March 23 and concluded just after 9PM Saturday at the Gala.

As candidates in LLS’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign, these distinguished members of the Broward County business and philanthropic communities have greatly helped in funding 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.

The 2016 campaign honors two local patient heroes. Davi Moreira, the 2016 Boy of the Year, and Vanessa Joseph, the 2016 Girl of the Year. Biographies for our 2016 Boy and Girl of the Year may be found at www.mwoy.org/sfl/localchapter/ftl/boy_girl.

“We are extremely proud of our candidates, and of the children representing Kids Can Foundation for their tremendous efforts in bringing hope to thousands of blood cancer patients in our community,” said DeAnn Hazey, CFRE, Executive Director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Southern Florida Chapter. “The 2016 Fort Lauderdale Man & Woman of the Year campaign has fully demonstrated how local leaders can showcase their fundraising and community outreach skills as well as their humanitarianism, and achieve positive results.”

Fort Lauderdale Man & Woman of the Year Chairs are Ana Vento, owner of Events By Vento Designs, and Brian Koch, shareholder at Greenberg Traurig. Vento is the 2011 Fort Lauderdale Woman of the Year; Koch is the 2015 Fort Lauderdale Man of the Year.
The 2016 candidates are:

• Jeff Adelman, Adelman & Adelman P.A.
• Beverly Brean, in memoriam, Cruise Planners
• Patrick Daoud, Daoud’s Fine Jewelry
• Michelle Esposito, On The Ball Marketing
• Brent Hagey, Philanthropist
• Denise Righetti, Savor Our City
• Jared Shusterman, SproutLoud Media Networks, LLC
• Kate Stout, Castelli Real Estate Services
• Emily Ziegler, AmeriDream Funding Group

This year’s candidates also included, as an honorary candidate, Kids Can Foundation. Kids Can is based on the concept of kids helping kids. Their mission is to unlock the potential in our children by empowering them with the opportunity to give back to the community and enrich the lives of children who may be less fortunate.

Lastly, Jay Granieri, a 2015 Fort Lauderdale Man of the Year candidate, is a candidate for the 2016 National All Star Man of the Year competition. 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 Team Jonathan Keith at Coldwell Banker in Fort Lauderdale. The announcement of the National All Star Man & Woman of the Year will be held later this month via a video conference call with participants.

For more information, contact DeAnn Hazey, CFRE at deann.hazey@lls.org or by phone at 954-744-5300.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to finding cures for 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 White Plains, 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.