Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Western & Central New York announces $124,000 raised through virtual 'Students of the Year' campaign

Local high school students ‘relentless’ in virtual fundraising for much-needed cancer research & support

From The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Western & Central New York Chapter

Every nine minutes, somebody in the U.S. dies of a blood cancer. And, in today’s times of uncertainty, cancer patients need support now, more than ever. Through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Western & Central New York Chapter’s innovative fundraising campaign, “Students of the Year,” more than 17 motivated high school students raised significant funds through virtual fundraising events for LLS’s cutting-edge cancer research and patient services.

The sibling duo Charlotte and Cutler Greene of Nichols School in Buffalo raised the most funds with over $28,000 and earned the winning title, “Students of the Year.” These fundraising superstars raised funds to support LLS’s goal of finding cures for blood cancers and ensuring that patients have access to lifesaving treatments.

“Students of the Year” is a seven-week philanthropic leadership development program during which students foster professional skills such as entrepreneurship, marketing and project management in order to raise funds for LLS, a global leader in the fight against cancer. The title “Student(s) of the Year” is awarded to the candidate or co-candidates in each community who raises the most funds during the competition. Top local fundraisers become eligible to win the national title. The students raise money in honor of a local patient hero who is currently battling or is in remission from a blood cancer.

When the Greene siblings learned they were named the local “Students of the Year,” they were thrilled.

“We’re honored to be named the Western & Central New York Chapter’s local ‘Students of the Year,’ ” Charlotte said. The pair added, “Our mission was not only to raise the most money, but also to bring attention to blood cancers like leukemia, which is the most common form of cancer in children and teens. Since the early 1960s, five-year survival rates for many blood cancer patients have doubled, tripled or even quadrupled – we hope to help LLS continue improving on these results!”

“Congratulations to Charlotte and Cutler and all our candidates, supporters and volunteers who helped to make ‘Students of the Year’ a huge success. Despite the unprecedented challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and running this campaign nearly 100% virtually, they never lost hope,” said Michael Crisona, LLS’s Western & Central New York Chapter’s executive director. “While everyone was working to adjust to a 'new normal,' they relentlessly wanted to make sure to not forget the over 1.4 million people living with or in remission from a blood cancer, many of whom are children. For these individuals, it’s not just about winning a title; it’s all about the impact they are making in their communities and the generations ahead of them.”

To learn more about LLS’s “Students of the Year” program, visit https://studentsoftheyear.org/.

To learn more, visit www.lls.org/childrens-initiative.