Congratulations to the 2008 Man & Woman of the Year candidates for another amazing year!  To date, these ten special people have raised over $200,000, and money is still coming in!

Congratulations to the 2008 Man & Woman of the Year:
Brad Hayes and Michelle Kelly!

Hayes, a Special Education Teacher at Carver-Scott Education Cooperative, raised $56,248.  He dedicated his campaign to his father, father-in-law, and two close friends, all who have had or are currently fighting leukemia or lymphoma.  Kelly raised $26,177; she is Director of Installations and Acquisitions for Medco Health Solutions.  Kelly was motivated to participate by a close colleague who had been touched by this disease.

Thank you to all ten of the 2008 candidates for committing their time and resources to this important cause.  You are all winners in the fight against blood cancers!

Man & Woman of the Year, presented by Dedicated Logistics, is a unique fundraising campaign in which business and community leaders vie for the prestigious titles of Man & Woman of the Year. During the ten-week campaign, candidates raise funds in honor of The Boy & Girl of the Year. At the end of the campaign, the top fundraising man and woman are named the 2008 Man & Woman of the Year.

Meet the 2008 Candidates

Melissa Abdouch
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Melissa Abdouch, a Senior Financial Analyst for the Hartford in Woodbury, is the mother of daughter Alex and sons Andrew and Avery.  She is currently enrolled at the University of St. Thomas, working on her B.A. in general business.  Melissa says, "My family is very dedicated to raising funds and awareness for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in memory of my niece Jessica.  For many years, we've held an annual garage sale to benefit LLS.  I have also fundraised and run marathons for Team In Training.  The nomination to run for Woman of the Year fits with my family's own mission to help find a cure for blood cancers.  We're thrilled and honored with this opportunity!"

Carolyn Clarke
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Carolyn Clarke, Director of Sales for Valassis Sales and Marketing Services in Minneapolis, has a  B.A. in Communications from the University of Minnesota and an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas.  She was nominated to be a Woman of the Year candidate by Nancy Imholte, a Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor who is the 2007 Woman of the Year Runner-Up.  Carolyn says, "I'm happy to help out such an amazing cause in honor of a dear friend."  Her favorite quote - one that she is committed to living out - is "Much is expected from those to whom much is given."

Mark Coleman
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Mark Coleman, Vice President at Thrivent Financial in Minneapolis, graduated from the University of Waterloo with degrees in chemistry and computer science.  Mark and his wife, Ruthanne, are the parents of Jeffrey, Stephanie and Laura; the family moved to Minnesota in 2005.  Flying is a passion for Mark, who is a pilot for AngelFlight Central and a member of its Northstar Wing management team.  AngelFlight pilots provide free air transportation for people who need to travel to specialized healthcare facilities or to distant destinations because of a family, community or national crisis; as part of the Northstar Wing, Mark recruits pilots and promotes the AngelFlight program in Minnesota and the Dakotas.  A philanthropist at heart, Mark says he accepted his nomination because "I want to be part of the solution to make leukemia and lymphoma diseases of the past."

McKaela Grasmick
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McKaela Grasmick, a marketing graduate of Iowa State University, is a Business Development Manager for Express Employment Professionals' Chanhassen branch.  She says, "Over the past few years, I've become friends with many great people who are connected to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  They have been wonderful supporters of my personal and professional life.  When a couple of them nominated me, I felt it was a way to give back to them and a great way to give back to the community as a whole."  McKaela was nominated by 2004 Woman of the Year Cammie Lillehaug, and 2005 Runner-Up Rachel Barber.  McKalea is confident that her campaign will be well-guided by these experienced, successful women.  She says, "My goals are to raise as much money as possible while raising awareness about LLS, and to meet more gracious, giving people.  Also, to have some fun!" 

Steve Gunther
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This will be Steve Gunther's second consecutive run for Man of the Year.  Last year he raised over $33,000, making him the 2007 Runner-Up.  Steve is President of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Minnesota Chapter Board of Trustees, and a former executive at IBM and Seagate Technology.  Besides philanthropy, he is an annual competitor in Ironman triathlons and an owner of Anytime Fitness in Savage, MN.  He and wife, Helen, have two college-age sons, Jim and David.  Steve has been dedicated to furthering the LLS mission since 2004.  Steve says that we all "have an obligation to help others reduce their pain and their suffering. We need to provide effective treatment for those diagnosed with these diseases, as well as hope for a better, more comfortable life for them, their family and their circle of friends."

Brad Hayes
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Brad Hayes, an Emotional/Behavorial Disorder Special Education Teacher at the Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative in Chaska, grew up in Big Lake and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stout.  Standing right beside him as he makes a run for Man of the Year will be his wife, Kim, and their children, Coleman and Marin.  Close-knit, the Hayes' family is passionate about spending time together with their familiy and friends.  It's likely that you'll find them snowmobiling in the winter, and sailing on Leech Lake in the summer.  Brad has personal reasons for dedicating himself to the LLS mission: "My campaign is in honor of my father, Jim Hayes, who is currently in maintenance therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.  I'm also doing this for my father-in-law, and two close friends - all who have had or are currently battling leukemia or lymphoma."     

Michelle Kelly
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Michelle Kelly, a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is Director of Installations and Acquisitions for Medco Health Solutions in Eden Prairie.  She and her husband Jeff have three daughters: Brittany, Caitlin, and Emily.  Michelle says, "Having a friend and colleague touched by this disease, has taught me that there are more important things in life than what I have or want.  I accepted this nomination from my co-worker, Kelly Lagnese, who was the 2007 Woman of the Year.  I know I have some big shoes to fill, but I feel that I'm up for the challenge!  In the end, I just hope that my involvement will inspire others to get involved in one way or another.  I want to raise awareness about blood diseases and raise money that will help contribute towards continued research to find cures."

Jason Mikunda
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Jason Mikunda, a mortgage consultant for Countrywide in Minneapolis, graduated from Minnesota State University - Mankato, with degrees in finance and marketing.  In his free time, Jason is a world-traveler: "After graduating from college, I traveled Europe in pursuit of coaching Lacrosse, which I played in college. After that experience, I had the itch to see more.  I've been to every country in Europe and about 25 countries worldwide, including Japan and Thailand.  My next big adventure - after The Man & Woman of the Year event, of course - will be South America the end of this year."  Jason was nominated to run for Man of the Year by a childhood friend; he says that his goals are to raise awareness about blood diseases and funds for people in need.  "I'm running in memory of a good friend, who was a doctor of mine, he died of lymphoma in March 2007.  I also hope to inspire others of my generation to volunteer for good causes."    

Larry Paradise
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A retired father of three and grandfather of six, Larry Paradise grew up in a large St. Paul family.  He graduated with a degree in education from the University of Minnesota, where he was a three-year letter winner in hockey and a member of the 1970 championship team.  After teaching elementary and high school students and coaching a variety of high school sports teams, he had a long career in sales and building construction.  Although Larry has not been personally affected by blood diseases, it's his gratitude for his health and his children's and grandchildren's health that is driving his campaign: "I'm in this to raise as much money as possible - for our Boy & Girl of the Year, and for other children like them."  

Marissa Slag
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Marissa Slag and her husband, JJ, are the parents of  Mason and Selah, and are expecting a baby boy in May.  After studying vocal music at Northwestern College, Marissa performed professionally in a few performing groups and sang backup on albums for local artists.  "Presently," she says, "I am loving being home with the kids and volunteering in their schools and our church."  Marissa says she accepted her nomination because, "I watched my nephew, Jack, undergo treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia when he was six years old.  I also watched a good friend go through treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma right after her daughter was born.  Thankfully, both are now cancer-free and living life to the fullest.  I'm in this race to honor the survivors and victims of blood cancers." 

For more information about Man & Woman of the Year, contact Cathy Swanson, Sr. Campaign Director, at (763) 545-3309, ext. 112.

Join the Leadership Team - The Man & Woman of the Year Leadership Team is responsible for nominating and mentoring candidates

Nominate a Candidate - Sign yourself up or nominate someone for our Man & Woman of the Year campaign

2008 Sponsors - Thank you to our Sponsors!

Candidate Resources - Online resources for Man & Woman of the Year Candidates

Relentless for a Cure Award - The Relentless for a Cure Award is presented to an outstanding Minnesota medical professional who has contributed to the imporved quality of life of patients and their families.

Grand Finale Gala - Join us at the 2008 Man & Woman of the Year Grand Finale Gala!

Auction Items - Check out the preliminary list of auction items that will be featured at our 2008 Grand Finale Gala

Man & Woman of the Year Photo Gallery - View our pictures from our 2007 Grand Finale Gala. Please feel free to download any of these photos. In order to download please right click and select "save as".

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