NEW ORLEANS – The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Mississippi/Louisiana Chapter announced Sidney Torres, IV and Kaye Courington as New Orleans’ Man & Woman of the Year (MWOY) on Thursday, June 15, at the Grand Finale Gala at the National World War II Museum.
The inaugural New Orleans’ event claimed the honor of largest first year event in Leukemia and Lymphoma Society history by raising $829,036 in ten weeks.
Woman of the Year Kaye Courington raised $126,949 for the cause, followed by first runner up Amy Edmond and second runner up Hartley Crunk. Man of the Year Sidney Torres raised $210,365 followed by first runner up Ben Kazenmaier and second runner up Warren Backer, Jr.
The event honored Boy and Girl of the Year Quentin Murray and Lucy Boudreaux, leukemia survivors and patient heroes.
The Grand Finale Gala, chaired by Chris Bellone, included a cocktail reception and silent auction with Mark Romig emceeing the evening’s events. A live auction was the highlight of the evening with big-ticket items including trips to Aspen and London, fine art and jewelry and a trip on Sidney Torres’ private plane to The Cove, a resort designed and developed by Sidney Torres in Eleuthra, Bahamas.
Attendees also enjoyed entertainment from the 610 Stompers, music by BRW Band and live painting by Amanda and John Bukaty.
This year’s MWOY candidates included:
• Warren Backer, Jr. – Engel & Volkers
• Bob Bergeron – Crescent Title
• Kaye Courington – Courington, Kiefer & Sommers
• Kaitlin Crabtree Rodgers – Arnaud's Restaurant
• Hartley Crunk – Whitney Bank
• Amy Edmond – Preservation Title
• Dan Forman – The Dependency Pain Treatment Centers
• Blake Haney – Dirty Coast
• Ben Kazenmaier – City Greens
• Tricia King – Gardner Realtors
• McKenzie Lovelace – FSC Interactive
• Travers Mackel – WDSU
• Lauren Marshall – Woodward Design + Build
• Billy Nungesser – Louisiana Lieutenant Governor
• Dito Patron – Ameriprise Financial Services
• Peggy Rodriguez – Everybody LLC
• David Salley – Salley, Hite, Mercer & Resor
• Sidney Torres, IV – IV Capital
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS’s mission is to 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, reps said.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, New York, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
The inaugural New Orleans’ Man & Woman of the Year campaign raised $829,036 in ten short weeks, making it the largest first year event in Leukemia and Lymphoma Society history.
Amy Edmonds accepts the LLS citizenship award with Boy & Girl of the Year Quentin Murray and Lucy Boudreaux.
