Teal’s 10-week fundraiser was led in honor of her late grandfather, Bill Teal, who was a leukemia patient and veteran.
3.5 minute read
Brooke Teal, vice president of legal at EverChain, an ACA International member company based in Henderson, Nevada, led a 10-week fundraising campaign for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), raising $163,585 to battle leukemia. Currently residing in Atlanda, Teal was named a runner up in the Atlanta Man & Woman of the Year awards ceremony in June.
Teal’s efforts were dedicated to the memory of her grandfather, Bill Teal, who was a leukemia patient and a veteran. The LLS mission is to cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of patients and their families by focusing on research, advocacy, and patient support.
In recognition of her fundraising efforts, Teal was awarded the unique opportunity to link a mission portfolio in EverChain’s name, which allocates funds to a specific LLS mission. For this EverChain portfolio, $50,000 is being allocated directly to patient financial support. The Atlanta Man and Woman of the Year campaign raised $2,432,808 in total.
For more than 30 years, Man & Woman of the Year has been a philanthropic staple, with a group of highly motivated individuals in communities across the U.S. leading the way in the fight against blood cancer. Starting this year, the title will be changed to “Visionaries of the Year,” according to the LLS website. Through this initiative, candidates form fundraising teams and compete in honor of two local blood cancer survivors. The individual who has raised the most funds during the 10-week campaign is awarded the prestigious title of “Visionary of the Year” in their community.
ACA had a chance to talk with Teal about her fundraising campaign.
Q. What has it meant to you to spearhead the LLS campaign in honor of your grandfather?
A. Leading Teal Team Six in honor of my grandfather has meant everything to me. I can attribute so many opportunities, qualities, and memories to him and his impact on my life. I am so grateful that I had this platform to honor him.
Q. How did EverChain get involved?
A. From the day I found out that I was nominated as a candidate, our founder, Matthew Wratten, as well as the entire EverChain team, was on board to help me in any way. EverChain has a substantial commitment to charity, and we all know and value the importance of giving back.
Thanks to EverChain’s support, I have specifically named an LLS mission impact portfolio for patient financial support. A cancer diagnosis is the leading cause of medical debt, and we aim to protect the consumer by providing support at such a trying time.
Q. Is there anything you’d like to share about leukemia that people might not know?
A. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society funds leading-edge research for every type of blood cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other rare types of blood cancers. As the largest nonprofit funder of cutting-edge blood cancer research to advance cures, LLS has invested more than $1.5 billion in cancer research since it started in 1949, leading to breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine that are improving and saving the lives of patients. Additionally, LLS helped advance 85% of the blood cancer treatment options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2017.
Q. Do you have plans for next year to fundraise again?
A. I do have plans to fundraise for LLS again next year, but likely in a different role. I plan on having a lifelong involvement with LLS!
Q. How can others get involved to help support research and advocacy for leukemia?
A. You can join your local LLS chapter and visit lls.org for more information.
Q. Is there anything else you’d like to add about your experience with LLS?
A. I was absolutely honored and floored by the support of all of my friends in the collections industry. Everyone was quick to donate, spread the word, and support me in every way possible. The people in our industry are incredibly helpful and are doing amazing things in their communities.
Read the full profile on Teal here.
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