With the upcoming Syracuse Go Red For Women Luncheon, my year as chairwoman is coming to an end. It has been an incredible year! I’m so proud of the dedicated volunteers who have spent so much time with me raising funds and awareness in the fight against heart disease and stroke.
I wanted to get a cross section of women from all sectors of local business for my volunteer team. The women that make up what’s called the Executive Leadership Team donated their time and efforts to come up with creative ideas to bring in sponsorships and donations, and to get the Go Red For Women message out into the public. These women are all passionate about their work and their personal interests. I knew they would bring that same passion to the Go Red For Women movement. These women made a great team. We divided up the tasks so no one’s work load was too heavy. Everyone used their connections and networks to generate the financial support and awareness we needed.
We have spent the past year meeting at the Wegmans in DeWitt to plan our efforts. It was a fun location – and convenient, too! Many of my volunteers would get their shopping done before or after the meeting. We weren’t always at Wegmans, though. We had a get together at Laci’s Tapas Bar and Restaurant in Syracuse halfway through the campaign to celebrate the hard work we had done. The owners, Laura Serway (one of my Executive Leadership Team members) and Cindy Seymour were nice enough to host us and everyone had a great time.
Being the Go Red For Women Chairwoman is a tough job, but it is certainly a rewarding one. I have loved every minute of the last year. I am truly grateful to Wegmans for all of the support my company has given me in this effort. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Wegmans.
When I first started my term as chairwoman, I was a little overwhelmed by the financial goal. Every dollar raised through Go Red For Women helps save the lives of women in our community, so I knew how important the fundraising efforts are, but hitting a target can be daunting! I’m really excited to announce our fundraising total at the Go Red For Women Luncheon, and I think the CNY community will be pleased with our efforts.
I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have planned for the luncheon. This year, I was really able to put my personal touch on the event as chairwoman. Plus, it gave me an excuse to go out and add more red to my wardrobe!
Heart disease is not just a man’s disease. One in three women dies of heart disease and stroke. I have spent the last year working to fight that statistic. I hope you will join me at the luncheon and celebrate the amazing Go Red For Women campaign. See you Thursday!
Congratulations to my sister Evelyn on a wonderful job as Chairwoman. I imagine you and your team of capable women will reflect with pride, gratitude and smiles on your many accomplishments throughout this year. All the best as you all continue to go forward and Go Red!