When approached about being part of the 2021 Augusta Man and Woman of the Year to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, P.J. Furno didn’t hesitate in saying “yes.”
“My father-in-law had Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and has been in remission for about 20 years,” said the area Realtor, who is one of 15 people committed to raise $600,000 in 10 weeks. The fundraiser began March 4 and will run through May 14.
Although Furno had yet to meet his wife, Megan, when her father, Duane Simons, had the illness, Furno said he’s grateful for the work organizations such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society have done. He’s been a supporter of LLS events such as Light the Night.
Furno has set an ambitious goal. He hopes to raise $125,000, and he has the backing of other Man of the Year winners. Greg Oldham won the title in 2019 after raising a record $228,756. And Scott Madaus was the 2017 Man of the Year. Both Oldham and Madaus are Realtors at Meybohm with Furno.
“I’m fortunate to have them right down the hall,” he said.
The Augusta Man and Woman of the Year campaign is in its 10th year. It will end with a virtual grand finale instead of the traditional banquet.
Others raising money and vying for the titles include Onnie Sanford, Paleo Num Yums; Mary Alice Cooper, Richmond County Board of Education; Kessler Davis, Mane 18 Hair Studio; Jan Grizzaffi, Blanchard and Calhoun; Philip Jacobs, Allegiance Ink Tattoo; Ashanti Lilley, The Law Office of Ashanti A. Lilley, LLC; Andrew Mize, Premier Insurance Consultants of Augusta; Danielle Pope, Augusta Entertainment Complex; Jeremy Ray, Advanced Services Pest Services; Candace Riddle, Southeastern Residential; Brian Smith, Southeast Restoration; Taylor Trapp, Trapp Window Tinting; Shelley Washington, Covenant Insurance; and Robert Young III, Virginia Systems and Technology.
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“Throughout the 10 weeks, each candidate will host events and motivate their networks to raise money for blood cancer research. The man and woman who raise the most money will be named as the local Man and Woman of the Year and go on to compete for national honors,” said Haley Reed, campaign development manager of LLS’s Augusta market, in a press release.
Furno said in-person events will likely be hard with the pandemic still going on and plans to rely a lot on one-on-one contacts.
To learn more about the Augusta Man and Woman of the Year or to donate, visit mwoy.org/mwoy-augusta-0.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
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