Adyson and Chase, cancer survivors and 2015 Boy & Girl of the Year from the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
In 2011, Ray Davis almost did it.
The well-known Harrisburg-area realtor placed second in the Man of the Year competition held each year by Central Pennsylvania chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Four years later, Davis, an agent for RE/MAX Realty Associates, is back at it, but this time he’s trying to best the fundraising prowess not of folks from Mechanicsburg and Linglestown, but places much farther away, including south Florida and Los Angeles.
Davis is representing central Pennsylvania in the Man and Woman of the Year National All Stars, a coast-to-coast contest comprised of seven of the top fundraisers from local competitions of years past.
“It’s important that we continue to do everything we can to fight blood diseases,” said Davis. “This was one thing that I felt I could do.”
It was only after Davis got involved in the original LLS fundraising campaign that he realized how many people in his orbit have or have had a blood cancer. These include a brother-in-law, a very close friend and a colleague who is, thankfully, cancer free.
“Her condition now is mostly due to the advances of LLS and the money it raises,” he said. “It’s not a question of who but when you will know someone with a blood cancer.”
Since Davis first participated in his first Man and Woman of the Year campaign, people with family members who have died of these diseases have reached out to him to tell them their stories.
“It’s been very humbling,” he said. “I’ve felt honored that they’ve shared their experiences with me.”
Man and Woman of the Year candidates engage in a wide variety of activities to raise money for the cause. These include direct donations, dine-ins at restaurants, cocktail parties and sporting events.
For this competition, Davis is pulling out all the stops. He’s raising money online, through fundraisers at friends’ houses, at trunk shows, by courting media and by having folks dine with him, among other strategies. Besides placing first nationwide, his personal goal is to exceed the impressive $59,000 he raised during his 2011 campaign.
This year, fellow RE/MAX realtor Wendell Hoover and his wife, Brenda, are among those hosting a fundraising event for Davis.
“We just wanted to support Ray and his efforts on behalf on LLS as much as we could,” said Wendell.
Often, because of the intensive nature of the fundraising drive, those who have participated once don’t try for a second time.
“To be an All Star candidate, you have to be among the alumni of the Man and Woman of the Year program,” said Laura M. MacNeill, executive director of the central Pennsylvania chapter. “To further clarify, you have to have run in a local campaign prior to the year you are running as an All Star.”
Davis’ intense, eight-week fundraising effort began on April 1 and runs through June 10. It will conclude with a finale at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill.
Most Man/Woman of the Year candidates who take on this formidable challenge combine a belief in a social mission with a strong local presence. Davis is no exception. He’s tapping the vast business and social network he’s built throughout his 25-year real estate career.
“There can be a whole different set of dynamics depending on whether the person is raising money in north Jersey or central Pennsylvania,” Davis said. “But it all boils down to, whoever raises the most money gets the title.”
Whether Davis wins or loses, the important thing, he said, is that his fundraising will benefit LLS and those it serves.
“We’re all winners,” he said. “We raise awareness and help a wonderful organization.”
Ray Davis’ fundraising campaign continues through June 10. To contribute, visit www.raydaviskickcancer.com. To learn more about the local chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, go to www.lls.org/central-pennsylvania.
