The Savannah Office of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Georgia Chapter announced its Man, Woman and Student of the Year winners Friday night at their campaign’s Grand Finale Gala at Savannah Station. Eleven local Savannah community leaders, four Student candidates and two National All Star Alumni candidates have been competing for the last ten weeks to raise the most money for LLS.  In its fifth year, the event raised $608,709.21 exceeding the original goal by over $100,000 and bringing the campaign’s total raised in just five years to nearly $2 million.

Brooks Zeigler of Morris & Templeton Insurance Agency was named the 2017 Man of the Year, raising $80,172.94. Ashley Curry of The Emily McCarthy Shoppe was named the 2017 Woman of the Year, raising $48,661.13.  Turner Stevens of Savannah Christian Preparatory School was named the 2017 Student of the Year, raising $14,770.  The Man of the Year runner-up was McNab Reeves of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; and the Woman of the Year runner-up was Courtney Victor Steigner of Glow Medical Spa.

In addition to the Man & Woman of the Year candidates, Savannah selected local Man & Woman of the Year Alumni - Emily Dickinson of Wet Willie’s Management Corporation and Tal Johnson of Dabbs, Hickman, Hill & Cannon, LLP - to run in the National All Star Campaign.  As All Star alumni for Savannah, Emily and Tal collectively raised $171.885.31; they will now be entered into the National Man & Woman of the Year All Star campaign, and the winners will be announced via a celebratory national webcast in July. 

“We were pleased to recruit such an outstanding class of candidates for this campaign. While only three people are awarded the titles Man, Woman and Student of the Year, we are extremely proud of all of our candidates.  In just the fifth year of our Savannah Man & Woman of the Year campaign, we have exceeded $1.9 million raised to cure blood cancers.  We couldn’t be happier with the results of our candidates or more proud of their accomplishments,” said Jennie Brewster, Area Director for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Georgia Chapter.

This year, Betty Barsic, student at St. Vincent’s Academy, won the Mission Integration Award; given to the candidate who demonstrated exceptional integration of the LLS mission into their campaign. Alison Harris of Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners won the Community Involvement Award; given to the candidate that facilitated exposure in the community and built a strong program and team. The Outstanding Team Member Award, given to a member of a candidate’s fundraising team in recognition of going above and beyond in support of their candidate and the LLS mission, was awarded to Amy Thomas of Team Weimar’s Warriors.

Every dollar the candidates raised counted as one “vote” and the candidates with the most votes were awarded the title Man & Woman of the Year. Woman of the Year, Ashley Curry, and Man of the Year, F. Brooks Zeigler, will now be entered into the national competition for Man & Woman of the Year, which will be named in July.  All the candidates competed in honor of LLS’s Boy & Girl of the Year, Daniel and Gabrielle, local children who are blood cancer survivors and sources of inspiration to others.  

The 2017 Savannah Man & Woman of the Year candidates:

Ashley Curry; Emily McCarthy Shoppe

Kara Ford; Abshire Public Relations

Alison Harris; Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners

Matthew Mahany; Film & Television Industry

Tyler Mouchet; Colliers International

McNab Reeves; Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

David Spisso; Southwest Airlines

Courtney Victor Steigner; Glow Medical Spa

Stephanie Sweeney; Savannah Dental

Ruth Weimar; AT&T

1. Brooks Zeigler; Morris & Templeton Insurance Agency

2017 Savannah Student of the Year candidates:

Betty Barsic, St. Vincent’s Academy

Jordan Cooper, Jenkins High School

Devin Rodgers, Savannah Arts Academy

Turner Stevens, Savannah Christian Preparatory

2017 Savannah National All Star Alumni:

Emily Dickinson; Wet Willie’s Management Corp.                        Tal Johnson; Dabbs, Hickman, Hill & Cannon, LLP

The candidates were selected by a Leadership Team co-chaired by Emily Dickinson of Wet Willie’s Management Corp. and Patrick McCarthy of Rabey Electric.  “The Man & Woman of the Year campaign is a great opportunity for participants to network with other candidates while raising money for an important cause,” said Patrick McCarthy, Leadership Team Co-Chair.  “We applaud the tireless efforts of our incredible candidates and thank each of them for making such a significant difference in the lives of so many people.”  

Sponsors for the 2017 Savannah Man & Woman of the Year campaign include: Diamond Sponsor: Wet Willie’s Management Co.; Gold Sponsor: Morris & Templeton Insurance Agency; Silver Sponsors: Savannah Toyota, Tate Law Group, Glow Medical Spa, Dabbs, Hickman, Hill & Cannon, LLP, Dr. Carl Pearl, Wells Fargo Advisors and In Loving Memory of Russell & Bette Morris; Media Sponsors: Savannah Magazine and Daly & Salter Photography.  To learn more about the campaign, go to www.mwoy.org/ga.