$32,506 for LLS!!

What an amazing number:  $32,506!! That's how much "Team Sarah Jindra & Friends" raised for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's "Man & Woman of the Year" campaign!

Over the last 10 weeks, my campaign team and I have been fundraising for LLS and helping spread its mission by posting heartfelt videos on this site highlighting people whose lives have been impacted by blood cancer.   We didn't have any huge corporate sponsors or donors, but our little grassroots campaign still managed to double our fundraising goal and bring in $32,506!  It was incredibly inspiring to see so many people and local businesses step forward to help us.  I am so thankful to everyone who sent words of encouragement, attended our events and made donations.  We couldn't have done it without you:) 

We didn't end up winning the "Woman of the Year" title, but we did win two of the four citizenship awards for helping spread the mission of the organization and for getting the community involved.  The candidates who raised the most money and won "Man & Woman of the Year" were Jill Pontillo and Kostas Giannoulias.  They brought in more than $100,000 EACH! So amazing!

All of the candidates combined raised a whopping grand total of $637,000!!  All that money goes directly to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help fund life saving blood cancer research and patient services.

Thank you to everyone who supported this campaign over the last 10 weeks!  It was an amazing experience, heightened by everyone's extreme generosity and compassion. 

Here are some photos from the grand finale gala where the winners and combined fundraising total were announced: 

The Grand Finale Gala was held at Hyatt McCormick on May 20

There was a silent auction and a live auction!

Just some of the many friends and family members who supported me during the campaign!

All the candidates being announced on the big stage!

We won the Community Involvement Award for INSPIRING the community! AWESOME:)

....AND the Mission Award!!!  So exciting!

The 2011 Man & Woman of the Year are... Jill Pontillo and Kostas Giannoulias!

Some members of our team celebrating with our awards!!

Me and Vin Tormo (the inspiring man who nominated me!)

A special thanks to all the members of "Team Sarah Jindra & Friends" for all their hard work:   

Aliza Skolnik, Amanda Foley, Amy Siler, Andrea Myers, Anna Bashline, Bethany Herrera (my amazing campaign manager!), Brent Taylor, Carol Mayer, Catie James, Courtney Lucas, Gary Jindra, Jennifer Ashrafi, Jen Dolan, Jessica Jindra, Justin Jindra, Kathy Jindra, Kristi Vervack & Liz Borges