Gear Up Man and Woman

A glitzy glamorous evening was hosted to kick-off the Third Annual Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Texas Gulf Coast Chapter 2012 Man & Woman of the Year Campaign at Saks Fifth Avenue on March 29th.

Sonia Azad of Channel 13 was the emcee for the evening who unveiled the nine men and twelve women that will compete for the title of 2012 Man and Woman of the Year. This campaign has been a success across the nation for the past 20 years, however the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter introduced its first in 2010. In 2011, the campaign raised over $336,000 with Soccer Hero Danny Cruz as the Man of the Year and Lacey Dalcour-Salas bagged the Woman of the Year title.

I personally had the opportunity to speak to some of the this years candidates. Candidate Joe Francisco, recruiter for the Art Institute of Houston/In-Game Host for the Houston Astros is a young enthusiast with sprawling ideas and an overactive winning attitude. Tall humble Harry Faulkner from Asset Team Manager-Hilcorp Energy Company looked confident as he had his girlfriend Tracy Orolin alongside who was last year’s woman of the year candidate.

Smart, beautiful, and peppy Reyne Hirsch knows what she is getting into. This TV Host and Expert 20th Century Decorative Arts, Published Author and co-owner of Icing Cupcakes has many events in the pipeline. Indian American Ayna Sehgal, of MHJ Designs and Former On-Air Meteorologist is also popularly known as Narin’ s (owner of Bombay Brasserie) daughter. She has the support of the Indo and American community.

All in all, Houston’s finest compete for the Man and Woman of the Year Title aiding in the search for a cure to cancer, in honor of the Chapter’s Boy & Girl of the Year. The local children who are blood cancer survivors and sources of inspiration to others. This year’s Boy of the Year is Noah Bratsch(6), and the Girl of the Year is Chloe Rodriguez(13).

So gear up Houston for a tough fight for a great cause as winners will be declared at the Grand Finale to be held on June 1, 2012, at the River Oaks Country Club.

Supporters of the LLS family were spotted at the kick-off. Cheering for the candidates were Cara Morales, Jared Lang, Edward Sanchez, Evelyn Eightman, Billie Sue Parris, Elizabeth Weiss, Marty Price, Tim White, Laura La Rue, Carol Young and many others.