March 21, 2025 • 30 mins
Community DC Host Dennis Glasgow visits with Co-Chair of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Ball, Katie Yanushonis - that is taking place on Saturday, March 29th. Listen for all the details and how to get tickets to a wonderful evening that will include Comedian and Actor Nick Kroll at the Washington DC Convention Center.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Good morning, and welcome to another edition of Community DC.
I'm your host, Dennis Glasgow. This morning we get a
chance to talk about a very special event coming up
on Saturday, March twenty ninth, and that's a twenty twenty
five Leukemia Ball with one of its co chairs now
eight years of involvement, Katie Yana Shannis. Over the next
thirty minutes you'll get all the info on the ball,
and yes, there are still tickets available for this outstanding
(00:24):
evening in Washington, d C. Here's my conversation with Katie.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Good morning, Katie.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Good morning, how are you?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Dennis, I'm great, Thanks for doing this. I really appreciate it.
We have so many friends, including Ria from LS that
have been on and everybody heard that in the open
of our relationship, and I know you have a long
standing one as co chair eighth year doing the twenty
twenty five Leukemia Ball. So we're going to talk a
lot about that that's coming up on March twenty ninth.
So it's just around the corner. And as we have
(00:53):
this interview air on a Sunday morning, you're only six
days away, so I imagine that every year there are nerves.
But I think the first thing we should do before
before talking about the ball, is your involvement in LLS.
I know that everybody has their own origin story about
why they get involved. Tell us why you got involved
in LS.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Sure, I'm happy to do so, Dennis so I was
asked to join the Executive Committee back in twenty seventeen
through a former co chair. His name is Rob Kpedo,
another commercial real estate professional that I know well, and
when he made the ask looking to bolster more people
within commercial real estate within the Executive Committee, it was
(01:30):
a very easy yes for me given my personal connection
to the mission. I have an uncle who passed away
in nineteen eighty six from alll acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He
was twenty four years old, otherwise perfectly healthy, and it
obviously rocked my family's world. I was only six years old.
(01:51):
I still have memories of him. I was his first niece.
We were incredibly close, but obviously a very traumatic experience
for my father, my uncle, and obviously my grandparents. I think,
what is crazy to think about and sit here today
and at a big reason why I am so proud
to be a part of this LLS event.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Is at the time that my uncle John.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Was diagnosed with ALLL, there was a thirty percent success
rate with that form of blood cancer, again for perfectly
healthy young people. You fast forward to today, largely thanks
to so much of the great work that LLS has done,
and that same blood cancer now has a success rate
of over ninety percent.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
So that is absolutely extraordinary. I did not know those numbers.
And you know, you talk about being touched with a
family member, you know mine too. My mom's had leukemia
for as long as I can remember, I think since
nineteen eighty and she's eighty six now. And I've got
RA so you know, I have my own blood disorder.
But I think this disease has touched somebody directly or indirectly,
(02:59):
and it's amazing. I'm sure after eight years of being
a co chair with the Leukemi Ball that you've met
so many people, so many families that have been touched
by it in one way or another, would I be correct?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
That is absolutely correct.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
So the executive Committee meets, i'd say, starting in August
or September, so a good you know, six seven months
in advance of the ball.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Actually happening.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
We meet monthly, and at the beginning of every meeting,
we actually have a mission moment so that each member
of the committee, if they don't already know this many do,
really gets a few minutes to reset and understand why
are we here, what is this mission about, and how
are so many people and families personally affected by blood cancers.
(03:43):
So it's it's always, you know, you never want to
hear that stuff, but it's always a great way to
start the meeting to say, this is why I'm doing
this because there's been so much progress made with funding
an advancement of treatments with blood cancer patients, but there's
still more to go, and we don't want to stop
until we get to a place where there's no more
(04:05):
blood cancer for us to have to fight.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
I think what's also cool, too, Katie, is that this
is a great example about you paying it forward and
giving it back and whatever you want to call it.
And I imagine you've meant other people that have been
affected directly or indirectly by the disease, whether it's a spouse,
it is a sibling, it is a friend, it is
a coworker, or something in the family that you can
do something to give back. And I imagine also when
(04:30):
it comes to the co chair with just the Ball
and just in general, you're meeting a lot of people
that have been affected, but you're coming together because one
of the things I talk about with all these different
nonprofits is the simple acknowledgment that we can relate that
the same thing happened to us might be a little
bit different, but we're all kind of in the same arena,
and that I can share my story with you and
vice versa. You're not alone.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Absolutely, And if you were to take the roughly twelve
hundred people who we expect to come to the Ball
on Saturday, March twenty ninth, and you asked them one
question and you said, could you raise your hand if
you know someone who's been personally affected by blood cancer,
I guarantee you almost everyone in that room would be
raising their hands.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah. Yeah, you're right about that. So I want to
do this. We're going to talk about so many different
things about the ball coming up on the twenty ninth
of where it is, how people can get tickets, all
the cool things that are happening that evening. But I imagine
you've seen different iterations of how the ball has progressed
over the years and when you first started to where
it is now, I imagine that it probably just blows
it out of the water. With that said, when you
(05:33):
started your first one and you were a coacher on there,
what was it like in what did you expect when
you first started out eight years ago?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
You know, LUs is just such an amazing behemoth of
an organization, So you know, it was amazing to be
able to kind of come in and see how they
operate and raise some really significant dollars to advance their mission.
So when I first started, I came in really just
as a member of the executive committee with a goal
(05:59):
to raise a certain amount of dollars you know, by
company sports sponsorships or personal sponsorships as well.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
And over time, given.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
My involvement, and I've tried to kind of grow that involvement.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Year over year, my goal is every year to.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Be obtaining more dollars through corporate sponsorships and personal fundraising
to put towards this event. So you know, our goal
every year is probably to raise somewhere between two million
and two and a half.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Million dollars solely through this one.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Specific event that LS hosts through the Leukemia ball As
you can imagine, starting in twenty seventeen, you know, things
were i'd say a little bit different than they are
today from kind of an overall economy standpoint. So when
COVID hit, things became a little bit more challenging as
far as the dollars that we could raise. A lot
(06:50):
of people's corporate sponsorship dollars got slashed, right, and that
was just kind of an unfortunate outcome that I think
a lot of nonprofits unfortunately experienced. But i'd say in
the aftermath of that in twenty twenty two, twenty twenty three,
and as we're kind of coming into twenty twenty five,
we are starting to see that number come back up,
which is really the impetus for why we have this
(07:13):
very exciting and hopefully achievable goal of raising two point
five million this year. Our slogan has been two point
five in twenty five, and we're fighting.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Tooth and nail.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Our executive committee is literally doing outreach day and night
on raising dollars. From my perspective, I've been telling our
committee from day one, you know, it's not about the
home runs, It's about hitting singles, right, let's get those
tables in there. Let's you know, if someone wants to
come in and send twenty five dollars to your personal
fundraising page, that's twenty five.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Dollars closer to our goal.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
So whatever we can do to kind of ship away
to get towards our goal, you know, we are eternally grateful.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
For just overall. Tell us about the evening, where is
it located, and then I want to go through all
the things are going to happen that evening.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Sure, so, the Lukema Ball is a phenomenal, phenomenal black
tie event. As I mentioned earlier, we expect to have
i'd say over twelve hundred people at the ball itself.
It's going to be held at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center. The event starts at six thirty pm. What's
so great is you get about an hour of cocktails
(08:23):
and then we have a very robust silent auction where
we're going to have hundreds of items that you can
bid on, again, all in support of raising dollars for LS.
From there, we have a phenomenal evening filled with dinner.
We'll have dancing in the after party. We're going to
have a lot of opportunities to raise additional dollars by
(08:43):
way of an amazing live auction at the event as well.
And then one of the things that's super exciting. I
think the Leukemia Ball has always been known for its
great entertainment. This year, we are incredibly excited that we
have Nick Kroll coming as our comedian.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Well, that's huge. I love him. I mean, he's going
to be great. That's a great kid, by.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
The way, I know, right, Well, what's really great about
Nick is he is our first entertainment or comedian that
we've ever had that actually has a personal connection to
the mission. Ah, so we look at that as even
more impactful that you know, this is a fight that
he has been supporting for many, many years. For those
(09:25):
who know Nick, he actually is the one who spearheaded
an event up in New York City called Stand Up
to Cancer where he brings together a bunch of comedians
including John mulaney, Jim Gaffigan and others and it's all
to support Slomtetterings Cancer Wing. So we're so excited to
have him as our entertainment and as a huge supporter
(09:47):
of LLS.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Well, that is just fantastic. And being a fan of
him and his connection. By the way, just on chance,
do you know his personal story about how he's connected
to LLLS, So.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I don't want to miss quote it.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I believe it's either his sister or his sister in
law okay, and I believe she is currently in remission,
so things are going well thankfully for her. But I
think that really spurred his strong desire just to support
blood cancers.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
So I'd like you to get into the weeds a
little bit because I think you gave a really nice
thirty thousand foot view of the things that are happening.
But when somebody is attending and once again folks will
give you a ticket, to ticket links and all the
things you need to be a part of this. Because I imagine, Katie,
there are still some spots left open. I don't want
to assume that, but are there spots left open for
people to purchase tickets?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Well, you know the benefit of being at the convention
center is to some degree it feels like the sky's
the limits.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
The room that we have.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
We can host up to two thousand people, so that's
cut eight hundred listeners who would like to join a comedy.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Yeah, I do love that that's wonderful, and it's a
great location too, So maybe if you could just get
a little bit more into the weeds about when somebody
comes in the doors, about all the things that they
can expect.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
So first and foremost what we try to promote to
people is the Convention Center does not have parking associated
with it.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Yes, there are parking garages.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Nearby, but we would prefer and love for people to
take some type of ride share or public transport, also
because we're going to be having great cocktails and wine
at dinner.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Just for everybody to stay safe. So i'd say, when.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Your uber or your lyft or your cab pulls up,
you come into like the main lobby of the Washington
Convention Center, which is a really incredible kind of grand space.
You will immediately be greeted by LLLS volunteers to tell
you exactly where to go. We'll have a coach check
on the first level for those who will be bring
(11:44):
a coat with them. You'll then take the escalators up
one level and immediately you will come into the area
where you can again go and look at and then
hopefully bid.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
On hundreds of sig on auction items.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
I think when I talk to Julie Hansen, who's been
our main using kind of event coordinator for day of.
I think we have twelve bars open bars for when
you kind of agreed in and come into the silent
auction area. One of the things that we're doing this
year is we are working hard to get people's information
your name, your email, your cell phone number in advance
(12:19):
so that you can do all of the registration upfronts
when you get there at six point thirty, you don't
have to spend five minutes in line to get yourself
registered and set up and ready to go. You can
go right in, grab a cocktail and go look at
these amazing gifts.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
So spend you.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Know, the first forty five minutes one hour in the
silent auction area, socialize with other professionals. We have a
host of incredible companies who are supporting us, including KPMG,
who is our event sponsor, Bdo, Truest Bank, my company TMG.
So we're super excited about all of the great corporate
sponsors we have.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
So you'll have, you know, again, over.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
One thousand people to rub elbows with and socialize, get
to meet new people, and then from there the doors
will open at around seven fifteen, seven thirty, we will
have our seated dinner.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Our MC's for the evening are actually.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Going to be lindsay' Zarniak, who has been a great
supporter of this event.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
I love Lindsay, of course, I watched her on WRCNNBC
four for many years and then she went to ESPN
and she's she's wonderful. I'm glad you got her.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
She's super she is, she is amazing.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
I think you know what we love is that this
is just an event that she loves to be a
part of. So when we make the ask year over year,
it's it's always an easy yes for her, and that
just makes our lives a lot easier because she's a
well known name locally, but she's also obviously the prominent
national name as well.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
This year, she's actually going.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
To partner with Alex okafor NFL veteran Super Bowl champion
with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also has a personal
connection to the mission. I believe it's his mother who
was diagnosed with blood cancer and again it is in
remission and is doing well. So super excited to have them.
They're kind of like the sports powerhouse MC's of the evening,
(14:08):
which I think will be a great fit. And we
haven't had Alex in this role with her previously, but
I think he's just a very magnanimous person and a
great just kind of athlete and person who is very
supportive of LLLS given his personal connection.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
And I'd be remiss as my own Washington, DC residency
in the northwest that, folks, when Katie talked about, you know,
finding a way to get there to the contingent Center,
the easiest way is metro because I think I'm correct
about this gallery place is only a couple of blocks
away from the convention Center. Am I correct about that?
Speaker 3 (14:40):
That is correct? Just about two blocks south?
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Perfect, So that's the way to go, folks. That's an
easy one. I did want to talk about once again
acknowledgment and relating to people. You know, you have a
lot of people that are going to have a great time,
and you talked about Nick and Lindsay and Okrafer and
all the cool people they are going to be there.
I want to talk a little bit more about the
things that people can do while they're they're again, but
(15:04):
I imagine for you, besides just making sure that everything goes off,
you know really well, and you have just an ex
sale because I know what it's like to put on events.
It doesn't matter if it's radio, TV or an event
like you do. It's a year round. There's a lot
of stress and then hopefully that night you'll be able
to relax because everybody's got it handled and there's nothing
(15:25):
you can do at that point. Let's run a play, right.
So with that said, when it comes to maybe doctors
and researchers and families that have been affected by leukemia
and lymphoma and all the different kind of blood cancers
out there, it must be just calming to be around
other people that are sharing the same thing that you are.
Because I go back to this, you know, and my
(15:46):
listening audience knows this, Katie. You know I got Ari
Beck in nineteen eighty seven when I was coming on
to college, and this is pre internet, pre social media,
zero education. I thought, plainly, I was the only person
on the planet that had this bizarre disease called rheumatward arthritis,
and I was just being dispense medication and I was
pretty sick for a couple of years. But I don't
(16:07):
want to digress about that. But my point to saying
that is because of the Internet, social media, education, and
now the way nonprofits like LLLS are run, there is
the opportunity of like minded people that have the experiences
that you do, that can just relate with each other.
So I imagine when you get in that big room,
everybody's having a great time. The food is great, the
entertainment's great, but also that shared kinship that you know what,
(16:30):
the same hell that I'm going through you are too,
Let's talk about it. That must be just very heartwarming
to watch that unfold that evening.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
It is, it's very inspiring. It can be very emotional.
We'll have some type of mission moment at the event
as well. Again, so people who may not be familiar
with LS can really understand why are we doing this?
Why are we trying to raise meaningful dollars in support
of this organization.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
So I completely agree with you.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
We're all kind of rowing the boat in the same direction, right,
we all have the same goal.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Some people there have personally fought the fight.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Some people have a relative or a friend or a
coworker who has. But it's inspiring and it's energizing to
be in a room and say, you know, for this
one night. We might have different political affiliations, we might
have different sports teams that we support, but at the
end of the day, we're all here tonight for the
same reason.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
And it's to raise dollars for blood cancer.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Speaking of which, and I don't want to hold you this,
but I know people when it comes to the tickets
and donations and stuff like that, and we'll give the
regular website at the end of the interview too beside this,
But when people are buying tickets to this and you're
hoping to raise about two million dollars, and did I
get that number correct? Is that what you're trying for?
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Ye?
Speaker 3 (17:42):
I think goal our stretch goal is two point five okay, but.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I think anything over two million we're going to call
a huge win.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Yeah. Well, that's an extraordinary number. Do you get to
know where the money goes? Will it go locally? Is
it a national thing or do people get followed up
with when it comes to that. I don't know, I'm
just asking.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Yeah, No, that's a really great question.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
So I think for certain sponsorships, especially if they are
some of our larger sponsorships, LLLS can actually work to
direct your dollars where you would like them to be.
So as an example, we have certain companies who say,
you know, we try to focus on local sponsorships within
each of our regions. So if we're based in DC,
(18:25):
we want to ensure that we're supporting organizations that are
more DC based. Yes, LLS is a very robust, robust
national organization, but LLLS does have the ability to direct
those dollars towards local initiatives, programs, patient advocacy specific.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
To the DC region.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
So that's I think the great thing about the power
of LLS is that they really can influence where your
dollars go. And I think along those lines, I would
be remiss if I didn't say this, because I think
it's such an impactful data point for people to know
that LLS eighty cents of every dollar goes back to
(19:04):
the mission and that is a tremendous kind of ratio
compared to other nonprofits. And that's not to discount other nonprofits.
Everyone's doing the best they can, but I think LLS
has found a way to kind of be very lean
and smart on their overhead in a way that allows
you know, almost all of your dollars to go directly
(19:27):
towards the mission of LLS. Yeah, and that is very
hard for a lot of other organizations to say. I'd say,
you know, typically you're looking more at like forty fifty percent.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
So it's a meaningful difference.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Yeah, true, which ls IT sure is. I'm glad. I'm
glad you mentioned that because that's tremendous and I think
people need transparency, especially today because there's so much chaos
going on the world on fire. I think people would
really appreciate that that much is going towards that. And
I should mention that the main website, and we talked
about this and what rhon again, the executive director talk
about this, but simply it's ls dot org and there
(20:03):
is a donate button on the top right hand corner,
and there is an eight hundred number of eight hundred
and nine five five four five seven two, and there
is live chat and email. And near the end of
our interview, if you're already having Google it, Katie is
going to give you how you can get tickets, and
we'll kind of recap the event to make sure that
everybody knows what they're up against. And there are tickets
available folks, once again at the Convention Center in downtown DC.
(20:25):
Lots of room there, so that's wonderful. I did want
to ask you about doctors research and all that stuff.
Is that going to be featured about, because you know,
you mentioned that incredible stat from the thirty to eighty percent,
which or I think a ninety percent in you okay,
eighty percent, thanks for correcting me. So that's extraordinary. Do
(20:46):
you get to hear from doctors or researchers that evening
about you know what the latest and greatest is, what's
happening with some of the research out there.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Yes, you will hear from not just the head of
LS nationally, but you will also hear from one of
the doctors affiliated with LS who has been critical in
kind of research and advocacy for LLS. So yes, that
is a component of the evening and the program that
we have. Once you sit down at your table and did.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
You mention is there a live auction or is there
a silent auction?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (21:18):
There is a live auction.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Yes, and we have some great live auction packages as well,
which are super exciting, everything from a private dinner at
your house for six people hosted by Matt Baker, who
is Michelin rated chef bravatas we have a private dinner
on site at Mini Bar and Bar Mini, which is
(21:41):
a Jose Andres restaurant.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
I know that it's you know, everyone loves Jose Andres.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
I personally love him and his restaurants and all that
he's doing for communities around the world, and I take
a lot of pride that you know, he started here
in this region, so that's super exciting. We'll have some
amazing trips, including one that I believe was on the
Healthy Coast. So a lot of really exciting live auction
items that we're hoping will help to drive dollars raise
(22:07):
the night of.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
That's huge, And I'm going to give a little behind
the scenes because I've worked for sports teams before, when
I work in radio and TV, when you reach out
to people who are very generous by the way, when
it comes to live or silent auctions, and I'm sure
Katie's going to agree with me. The people that chase
down these people so they can donate their time to
whatever it is. It's not easy, folks. So if you
(22:29):
do go and you've bid on these, just appreciate that
how hard it was to get that person to donate
their time. Or the trip or the money for it,
or whatever it is you're bidding on. But Katie, I'm
sure you can agree it's hard to organize those items
when it comes to a live or silent auction, isn't.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
It It is? It's a labor of love.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Yes, Katie Stegman with LS has really led the charge
on all things auctions. She has an incredible auction committee
that works with her, and anyone on the committee who's
not an LS employee excuse me, is volunteering their time
to do this right and at times it's a lot
of hours that you're committed towards this, and I see
(23:11):
what it takes to be thoughtful about how do you
package these silent auction packages to maximize the amount that
we'll be able to raise the night of Okay, we
have this great live auction item, but I think to
really make it spectacular, we're going to need to figure
out how to get you know, private car service to
take you to the restaurant and back. So there's a
(23:32):
lot of logistics, it's a lot of asks. Right to
your point, it's going to people and saying would you
be willing to donate this to a very important cause?
Speaker 2 (23:41):
And you know, you're not always going to get a guess.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
But you know, I think we've been very thankful and
grateful that we've built a lot of great relationships over
the years that we do have a lot of return
donors and sponsors who will come back and donate an
auction item again or they're there to be a corporate
sponsor again. And you know, they are the lifeblood of
what we're trying to do here with the Leukemia Ball.
(24:04):
So we're very grateful for all those people who have
been with us, you know.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Time and time again, and especially for our new sponsors who.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Are also coming in during to your point, us a
very tumultuous time, yeah, right now, you know, And so
we're very grateful for the people who have have committed
both items and corporate sponsorships.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention when it
comes to Katie, she's got a full time job, folks,
and this is something that she does on the side,
which I think is cool for eight years now. And
I imagine, as you said, with the other co chairs
and you talk with Rhea and Katie and all the
good people at LLLS that you mentioned a couple of times,
the labor of love and the connection that you have
to LLLS, and I imagine that other co chairs on
(24:45):
there and people that you work with. You know, everybody's
got a full time life, some have families, got a
busy life, but you know that labor love that we
talked about. I imagine that you also share that with
people as you're organizing all this to keep everybody powered
up because this is and people don't know it is
a whole year of planning plus to put on Agala.
It just is because there's so many moving parts. But
(25:07):
I imagine the camaraderie that you have with the other
co chairs and the people at LS is pretty special,
would I be correct.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Katie, Oh yeah, we become a family. Well, we're going
through all of this. I mean, I'm communicating with Riha
and Katie and obviously Melissa Foster, who's really been the
head of this event this year, you know, daily, and
that will just continue as we're leading up to the
day of on the twenty ninth. It'll probably be three
(25:35):
times a day as we're doing run of show and
making sure that everything is operating as it should be.
So it's just been an absolutely incredible experience, and as
part of my co chair role, you know, our goal
is that if you come in for your first year
as a coachair, you will commit to a second year
as well, so that there is a nice succession plan
so that I can bring someone in next year and
(25:57):
maybe they're new to it, but I have a year
under my belt at that point, and so yes, I
will be doing this again. So to your point being
year round, you know, we're going to finish this event
on March twenty ninth, and we'll probably take a little
break and then we're back up and running.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Are we thinking about the following year?
Speaker 1 (26:14):
And those little breaks are usually like a week or two. Folks,
it's just a lot of work. But it sounds like
you got so many great people. Okay, Katie, We've only
got about three minutes left, and I think this is
a great chance to kind of wrap everything up. Tell
everybody about the whole evening again. We've got time to
do that, and then a couple times I want you
to give the live link for tickets to the event,
(26:36):
dates and times and what can be expected when they
go that evening, and just all the cool things about
the Great Leukemia Ball. The twenty twenty five Leukemia Ball
that's coming up at the convention Center on the twenty ninth.
The floor is yours.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Perfect well, thanks so much, Dennis.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
We would on behalf of the l Last Leukemia Ball
Executive Committee. We would absolutely love to have you as
one of our guests on March twenty nine, as Dennis said,
at the Walter Washington Convention Center, starting at six thirty pm,
an amazing black tie event, you will be surrounded by
over twelve hundred incredible people professionals from all around the
(27:14):
region and frankly beyond. This is the Ball's first national
level event, so our goal is to build on that
national brand for years to come. So while it's based
here in DC, we want companies from Chicago and New
York and San Francisco and Dallas.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
So how can you be a part of this? How
can you contribute?
Speaker 3 (27:33):
First, as Dennis mentioned, we'd love to have you purchase
individual tickets.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
The more the merrier.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
The website for that is www dot Leukemiaball dot org
and up on the type top right hand corner there
is a lovely white button that says purchase tickets. So
we try to make it as easy as possible for
people to come and attend. There are other ways to
support the event. There's a link on that main page
(27:59):
as well. If you have a company who is interested
in buying a table, you can get that information through
the Leukemia ball dot org website as well. It's going
to be an absolutely incredible event, again, great entertainment.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
We have Nick Kroll as our comedian.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
At the end of the evening, we'll have an incredible
after party with an open bar again that goes until
eleven thirty or midnight. Right have a DJ for dancing.
So the goal is just kind of keep the party
going for hours to come. It's just going to be
an educational, inspiring and entertaining evening. And I think you know,
if you haven't been before, once you're there, you're hooked.
(28:37):
You understand the power and the excitement and just the
emotions that are behind this event and how meaningful.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
Every dollar is.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Our goal is the night of at least six hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, a night of through silent auction,
live auction donations when you raise your hand at the table,
and that's all going to go to ards. Our ultimate
goal of trying to reach you at a minimum two
million stretch goal. We would love to get to two
point five million, so would love to have you there.
(29:08):
Would be so grateful for your support and look forward
to seeing everyone on the twenty.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
Ninth standing and once again, if you cannot be there
for whatever reason, remember ls dot org. There's a lot
of ways to donate there, including a lot of community
events and athletic events and d DIY fundraising. It's just
a plethora. And we'll have Riha on again to talk
about that the executive director and get into the nuances
of LLS. But I can't tell you how much I
(29:33):
appreciate your time, Katie, Listen, continue success. You're giving a
lot back to the organization, which I think is cool.
Have a great night, and thank you so much for
joining us on Community DC.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Of course, thanks Dennis, really appreciate you having me.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
A lot like Kilga so much, clean the oceans and
make good world and better.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Say learn more at she Can Stems. A message brought
to you by the AD Council
Good morning, and welcome to another edition of Community DC.
I'm your host, Dennis Glasgow. This morning we get a
chance to talk about a very special event coming up
on Saturday, March twenty ninth, and that's a twenty twenty
five Leukemia Ball with one of its co chairs now
eight years of involvement, Katie Yana Shannis. Over the next
thirty minutes you'll get all the info on the ball,
and yes, there are still tickets available for this outstanding
(00:24):
evening in Washington, d C. Here's my conversation with Katie.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Good morning, Katie.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Good morning, how are you?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Dennis, I'm great, Thanks for doing this. I really appreciate it.
We have so many friends, including Ria from LS that
have been on and everybody heard that in the open
of our relationship, and I know you have a long
standing one as co chair eighth year doing the twenty
twenty five Leukemia Ball. So we're going to talk a
lot about that that's coming up on March twenty ninth.
So it's just around the corner. And as we have
(00:53):
this interview air on a Sunday morning, you're only six
days away, so I imagine that every year there are nerves.
But I think the first thing we should do before
before talking about the ball, is your involvement in LLS.
I know that everybody has their own origin story about
why they get involved. Tell us why you got involved
in LS.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Sure, I'm happy to do so, Dennis so I was
asked to join the Executive Committee back in twenty seventeen
through a former co chair. His name is Rob Kpedo,
another commercial real estate professional that I know well, and
when he made the ask looking to bolster more people
within commercial real estate within the Executive Committee, it was
(01:30):
a very easy yes for me given my personal connection
to the mission. I have an uncle who passed away
in nineteen eighty six from alll acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He
was twenty four years old, otherwise perfectly healthy, and it
obviously rocked my family's world. I was only six years old.
(01:51):
I still have memories of him. I was his first niece.
We were incredibly close, but obviously a very traumatic experience
for my father, my uncle, and obviously my grandparents. I think,
what is crazy to think about and sit here today
and at a big reason why I am so proud
to be a part of this LLS event.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Is at the time that my uncle John.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Was diagnosed with ALLL, there was a thirty percent success
rate with that form of blood cancer, again for perfectly
healthy young people. You fast forward to today, largely thanks
to so much of the great work that LLS has done,
and that same blood cancer now has a success rate
of over ninety percent.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
So that is absolutely extraordinary. I did not know those numbers.
And you know, you talk about being touched with a
family member, you know mine too. My mom's had leukemia
for as long as I can remember, I think since
nineteen eighty and she's eighty six now. And I've got
RA so you know, I have my own blood disorder.
But I think this disease has touched somebody directly or indirectly,
(02:59):
and it's amazing. I'm sure after eight years of being
a co chair with the Leukemi Ball that you've met
so many people, so many families that have been touched
by it in one way or another, would I be correct?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
That is absolutely correct.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
So the executive Committee meets, i'd say, starting in August
or September, so a good you know, six seven months
in advance of the ball.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Actually happening.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
We meet monthly, and at the beginning of every meeting,
we actually have a mission moment so that each member
of the committee, if they don't already know this many do,
really gets a few minutes to reset and understand why
are we here, what is this mission about, and how
are so many people and families personally affected by blood cancers.
(03:43):
So it's it's always, you know, you never want to
hear that stuff, but it's always a great way to
start the meeting to say, this is why I'm doing
this because there's been so much progress made with funding
an advancement of treatments with blood cancer patients, but there's
still more to go, and we don't want to stop
until we get to a place where there's no more
(04:05):
blood cancer for us to have to fight.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
I think what's also cool, too, Katie, is that this
is a great example about you paying it forward and
giving it back and whatever you want to call it.
And I imagine you've meant other people that have been
affected directly or indirectly by the disease, whether it's a spouse,
it is a sibling, it is a friend, it is
a coworker, or something in the family that you can
do something to give back. And I imagine also when
(04:30):
it comes to the co chair with just the Ball
and just in general, you're meeting a lot of people
that have been affected, but you're coming together because one
of the things I talk about with all these different
nonprofits is the simple acknowledgment that we can relate that
the same thing happened to us might be a little
bit different, but we're all kind of in the same arena,
and that I can share my story with you and
vice versa. You're not alone.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Absolutely, And if you were to take the roughly twelve
hundred people who we expect to come to the Ball
on Saturday, March twenty ninth, and you asked them one
question and you said, could you raise your hand if
you know someone who's been personally affected by blood cancer,
I guarantee you almost everyone in that room would be
raising their hands.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah. Yeah, you're right about that. So I want to
do this. We're going to talk about so many different
things about the ball coming up on the twenty ninth
of where it is, how people can get tickets, all
the cool things that are happening that evening. But I imagine
you've seen different iterations of how the ball has progressed
over the years and when you first started to where
it is now, I imagine that it probably just blows
it out of the water. With that said, when you
(05:33):
started your first one and you were a coacher on there,
what was it like in what did you expect when
you first started out eight years ago?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
You know, LUs is just such an amazing behemoth of
an organization, So you know, it was amazing to be
able to kind of come in and see how they
operate and raise some really significant dollars to advance their mission.
So when I first started, I came in really just
as a member of the executive committee with a goal
(05:59):
to raise a certain amount of dollars you know, by
company sports sponsorships or personal sponsorships as well.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
And over time, given.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
My involvement, and I've tried to kind of grow that involvement.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Year over year, my goal is every year to.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Be obtaining more dollars through corporate sponsorships and personal fundraising
to put towards this event. So you know, our goal
every year is probably to raise somewhere between two million
and two and a half.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Million dollars solely through this one.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Specific event that LS hosts through the Leukemia ball As
you can imagine, starting in twenty seventeen, you know, things
were i'd say a little bit different than they are
today from kind of an overall economy standpoint. So when
COVID hit, things became a little bit more challenging as
far as the dollars that we could raise. A lot
(06:50):
of people's corporate sponsorship dollars got slashed, right, and that
was just kind of an unfortunate outcome that I think
a lot of nonprofits unfortunately experienced. But i'd say in
the aftermath of that in twenty twenty two, twenty twenty three,
and as we're kind of coming into twenty twenty five,
we are starting to see that number come back up,
which is really the impetus for why we have this
(07:13):
very exciting and hopefully achievable goal of raising two point
five million this year. Our slogan has been two point
five in twenty five, and we're fighting.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Tooth and nail.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Our executive committee is literally doing outreach day and night
on raising dollars. From my perspective, I've been telling our
committee from day one, you know, it's not about the
home runs, It's about hitting singles, right, let's get those
tables in there. Let's you know, if someone wants to
come in and send twenty five dollars to your personal
fundraising page, that's twenty five.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Dollars closer to our goal.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
So whatever we can do to kind of ship away
to get towards our goal, you know, we are eternally grateful.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
For just overall. Tell us about the evening, where is
it located, and then I want to go through all
the things are going to happen that evening.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Sure, so, the Lukema Ball is a phenomenal, phenomenal black
tie event. As I mentioned earlier, we expect to have
i'd say over twelve hundred people at the ball itself.
It's going to be held at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center. The event starts at six thirty pm. What's
so great is you get about an hour of cocktails
(08:23):
and then we have a very robust silent auction where
we're going to have hundreds of items that you can
bid on, again, all in support of raising dollars for LS.
From there, we have a phenomenal evening filled with dinner.
We'll have dancing in the after party. We're going to
have a lot of opportunities to raise additional dollars by
(08:43):
way of an amazing live auction at the event as well.
And then one of the things that's super exciting. I
think the Leukemia Ball has always been known for its
great entertainment. This year, we are incredibly excited that we
have Nick Kroll coming as our comedian.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Well, that's huge. I love him. I mean, he's going
to be great. That's a great kid, by.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
The way, I know, right, Well, what's really great about
Nick is he is our first entertainment or comedian that
we've ever had that actually has a personal connection to
the mission. Ah, so we look at that as even
more impactful that you know, this is a fight that
he has been supporting for many, many years. For those
(09:25):
who know Nick, he actually is the one who spearheaded
an event up in New York City called Stand Up
to Cancer where he brings together a bunch of comedians
including John mulaney, Jim Gaffigan and others and it's all
to support Slomtetterings Cancer Wing. So we're so excited to
have him as our entertainment and as a huge supporter
(09:47):
of LLS.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Well, that is just fantastic. And being a fan of
him and his connection. By the way, just on chance,
do you know his personal story about how he's connected
to LLLS, So.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I don't want to miss quote it.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I believe it's either his sister or his sister in
law okay, and I believe she is currently in remission,
so things are going well thankfully for her. But I
think that really spurred his strong desire just to support
blood cancers.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
So I'd like you to get into the weeds a
little bit because I think you gave a really nice
thirty thousand foot view of the things that are happening.
But when somebody is attending and once again folks will
give you a ticket, to ticket links and all the
things you need to be a part of this. Because I imagine, Katie,
there are still some spots left open. I don't want
to assume that, but are there spots left open for
people to purchase tickets?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Well, you know the benefit of being at the convention
center is to some degree it feels like the sky's
the limits.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
The room that we have.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
We can host up to two thousand people, so that's
cut eight hundred listeners who would like to join a comedy.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Yeah, I do love that that's wonderful, and it's a
great location too, So maybe if you could just get
a little bit more into the weeds about when somebody
comes in the doors, about all the things that they
can expect.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
So first and foremost what we try to promote to
people is the Convention Center does not have parking associated
with it.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Yes, there are parking garages.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Nearby, but we would prefer and love for people to
take some type of ride share or public transport, also
because we're going to be having great cocktails and wine
at dinner.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Just for everybody to stay safe. So i'd say, when.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Your uber or your lyft or your cab pulls up,
you come into like the main lobby of the Washington
Convention Center, which is a really incredible kind of grand space.
You will immediately be greeted by LLLS volunteers to tell
you exactly where to go. We'll have a coach check
on the first level for those who will be bring
(11:44):
a coat with them. You'll then take the escalators up
one level and immediately you will come into the area
where you can again go and look at and then
hopefully bid.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
On hundreds of sig on auction items.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
I think when I talk to Julie Hansen, who's been
our main using kind of event coordinator for day of.
I think we have twelve bars open bars for when
you kind of agreed in and come into the silent
auction area. One of the things that we're doing this
year is we are working hard to get people's information
your name, your email, your cell phone number in advance
(12:19):
so that you can do all of the registration upfronts
when you get there at six point thirty, you don't
have to spend five minutes in line to get yourself
registered and set up and ready to go. You can
go right in, grab a cocktail and go look at
these amazing gifts.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
So spend you.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Know, the first forty five minutes one hour in the
silent auction area, socialize with other professionals. We have a
host of incredible companies who are supporting us, including KPMG,
who is our event sponsor, Bdo, Truest Bank, my company TMG.
So we're super excited about all of the great corporate
sponsors we have.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
So you'll have, you know, again, over.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
One thousand people to rub elbows with and socialize, get
to meet new people, and then from there the doors
will open at around seven fifteen, seven thirty, we will
have our seated dinner.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Our MC's for the evening are actually.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Going to be lindsay' Zarniak, who has been a great
supporter of this event.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
I love Lindsay, of course, I watched her on WRCNNBC
four for many years and then she went to ESPN
and she's she's wonderful. I'm glad you got her.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
She's super she is, she is amazing.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
I think you know what we love is that this
is just an event that she loves to be a
part of. So when we make the ask year over year,
it's it's always an easy yes for her, and that
just makes our lives a lot easier because she's a
well known name locally, but she's also obviously the prominent
national name as well.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
This year, she's actually going.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
To partner with Alex okafor NFL veteran Super Bowl champion
with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also has a personal
connection to the mission. I believe it's his mother who
was diagnosed with blood cancer and again it is in
remission and is doing well. So super excited to have them.
They're kind of like the sports powerhouse MC's of the evening,
(14:08):
which I think will be a great fit. And we
haven't had Alex in this role with her previously, but
I think he's just a very magnanimous person and a
great just kind of athlete and person who is very
supportive of LLLS given his personal connection.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
And I'd be remiss as my own Washington, DC residency
in the northwest that, folks, when Katie talked about, you know,
finding a way to get there to the contingent Center,
the easiest way is metro because I think I'm correct
about this gallery place is only a couple of blocks
away from the convention Center. Am I correct about that?
Speaker 3 (14:40):
That is correct? Just about two blocks south?
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Perfect, So that's the way to go, folks. That's an
easy one. I did want to talk about once again
acknowledgment and relating to people. You know, you have a
lot of people that are going to have a great time,
and you talked about Nick and Lindsay and Okrafer and
all the cool people they are going to be there.
I want to talk a little bit more about the
things that people can do while they're they're again, but
(15:04):
I imagine for you, besides just making sure that everything goes off,
you know really well, and you have just an ex
sale because I know what it's like to put on events.
It doesn't matter if it's radio, TV or an event
like you do. It's a year round. There's a lot
of stress and then hopefully that night you'll be able
to relax because everybody's got it handled and there's nothing
(15:25):
you can do at that point. Let's run a play, right.
So with that said, when it comes to maybe doctors
and researchers and families that have been affected by leukemia
and lymphoma and all the different kind of blood cancers
out there, it must be just calming to be around
other people that are sharing the same thing that you are.
Because I go back to this, you know, and my
(15:46):
listening audience knows this, Katie. You know I got Ari
Beck in nineteen eighty seven when I was coming on
to college, and this is pre internet, pre social media,
zero education. I thought, plainly, I was the only person
on the planet that had this bizarre disease called rheumatward arthritis,
and I was just being dispense medication and I was
pretty sick for a couple of years. But I don't
(16:07):
want to digress about that. But my point to saying
that is because of the Internet, social media, education, and
now the way nonprofits like LLLS are run, there is
the opportunity of like minded people that have the experiences
that you do, that can just relate with each other.
So I imagine when you get in that big room,
everybody's having a great time. The food is great, the
entertainment's great, but also that shared kinship that you know what,
(16:30):
the same hell that I'm going through you are too,
Let's talk about it. That must be just very heartwarming
to watch that unfold that evening.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
It is, it's very inspiring. It can be very emotional.
We'll have some type of mission moment at the event
as well. Again, so people who may not be familiar
with LS can really understand why are we doing this?
Why are we trying to raise meaningful dollars in support
of this organization.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
So I completely agree with you.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
We're all kind of rowing the boat in the same direction, right,
we all have the same goal.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Some people there have personally fought the fight.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Some people have a relative or a friend or a
coworker who has. But it's inspiring and it's energizing to
be in a room and say, you know, for this
one night. We might have different political affiliations, we might
have different sports teams that we support, but at the
end of the day, we're all here tonight for the
same reason.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
And it's to raise dollars for blood cancer.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Speaking of which, and I don't want to hold you this,
but I know people when it comes to the tickets
and donations and stuff like that, and we'll give the
regular website at the end of the interview too beside this,
But when people are buying tickets to this and you're
hoping to raise about two million dollars, and did I
get that number correct? Is that what you're trying for?
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Ye?
Speaker 3 (17:42):
I think goal our stretch goal is two point five okay, but.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I think anything over two million we're going to call
a huge win.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Yeah. Well, that's an extraordinary number. Do you get to
know where the money goes? Will it go locally? Is
it a national thing or do people get followed up
with when it comes to that. I don't know, I'm
just asking.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Yeah, No, that's a really great question.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
So I think for certain sponsorships, especially if they are
some of our larger sponsorships, LLLS can actually work to
direct your dollars where you would like them to be.
So as an example, we have certain companies who say,
you know, we try to focus on local sponsorships within
each of our regions. So if we're based in DC,
(18:25):
we want to ensure that we're supporting organizations that are
more DC based. Yes, LLS is a very robust, robust
national organization, but LLLS does have the ability to direct
those dollars towards local initiatives, programs, patient advocacy specific.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
To the DC region.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
So that's I think the great thing about the power
of LLS is that they really can influence where your
dollars go. And I think along those lines, I would
be remiss if I didn't say this, because I think
it's such an impactful data point for people to know
that LLS eighty cents of every dollar goes back to
(19:04):
the mission and that is a tremendous kind of ratio
compared to other nonprofits. And that's not to discount other nonprofits.
Everyone's doing the best they can, but I think LLS
has found a way to kind of be very lean
and smart on their overhead in a way that allows
you know, almost all of your dollars to go directly
(19:27):
towards the mission of LLS. Yeah, and that is very
hard for a lot of other organizations to say. I'd say,
you know, typically you're looking more at like forty fifty percent.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
So it's a meaningful difference.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Yeah, true, which ls IT sure is. I'm glad. I'm
glad you mentioned that because that's tremendous and I think
people need transparency, especially today because there's so much chaos
going on the world on fire. I think people would
really appreciate that that much is going towards that. And
I should mention that the main website, and we talked
about this and what rhon again, the executive director talk
about this, but simply it's ls dot org and there
(20:03):
is a donate button on the top right hand corner,
and there is an eight hundred number of eight hundred
and nine five five four five seven two, and there
is live chat and email. And near the end of
our interview, if you're already having Google it, Katie is
going to give you how you can get tickets, and
we'll kind of recap the event to make sure that
everybody knows what they're up against. And there are tickets
available folks, once again at the Convention Center in downtown DC.
(20:25):
Lots of room there, so that's wonderful. I did want
to ask you about doctors research and all that stuff.
Is that going to be featured about, because you know,
you mentioned that incredible stat from the thirty to eighty percent,
which or I think a ninety percent in you okay,
eighty percent, thanks for correcting me. So that's extraordinary. Do
(20:46):
you get to hear from doctors or researchers that evening
about you know what the latest and greatest is, what's
happening with some of the research out there.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Yes, you will hear from not just the head of
LS nationally, but you will also hear from one of
the doctors affiliated with LS who has been critical in
kind of research and advocacy for LLS. So yes, that
is a component of the evening and the program that
we have. Once you sit down at your table and did.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
You mention is there a live auction or is there
a silent auction?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (21:18):
There is a live auction.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Yes, and we have some great live auction packages as well,
which are super exciting, everything from a private dinner at
your house for six people hosted by Matt Baker, who
is Michelin rated chef bravatas we have a private dinner
on site at Mini Bar and Bar Mini, which is
(21:41):
a Jose Andres restaurant.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
I know that it's you know, everyone loves Jose Andres.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
I personally love him and his restaurants and all that
he's doing for communities around the world, and I take
a lot of pride that you know, he started here
in this region, so that's super exciting. We'll have some
amazing trips, including one that I believe was on the
Healthy Coast. So a lot of really exciting live auction
items that we're hoping will help to drive dollars raise
(22:07):
the night of.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
That's huge, And I'm going to give a little behind
the scenes because I've worked for sports teams before, when
I work in radio and TV, when you reach out
to people who are very generous by the way, when
it comes to live or silent auctions, and I'm sure
Katie's going to agree with me. The people that chase
down these people so they can donate their time to
whatever it is. It's not easy, folks. So if you
(22:29):
do go and you've bid on these, just appreciate that
how hard it was to get that person to donate
their time. Or the trip or the money for it,
or whatever it is you're bidding on. But Katie, I'm
sure you can agree it's hard to organize those items
when it comes to a live or silent auction, isn't.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
It It is? It's a labor of love.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Yes, Katie Stegman with LS has really led the charge
on all things auctions. She has an incredible auction committee
that works with her, and anyone on the committee who's
not an LS employee excuse me, is volunteering their time
to do this right and at times it's a lot
of hours that you're committed towards this, and I see
(23:11):
what it takes to be thoughtful about how do you
package these silent auction packages to maximize the amount that
we'll be able to raise the night of Okay, we
have this great live auction item, but I think to
really make it spectacular, we're going to need to figure
out how to get you know, private car service to
take you to the restaurant and back. So there's a
(23:32):
lot of logistics, it's a lot of asks. Right to
your point, it's going to people and saying would you
be willing to donate this to a very important cause?
Speaker 2 (23:41):
And you know, you're not always going to get a guess.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
But you know, I think we've been very thankful and
grateful that we've built a lot of great relationships over
the years that we do have a lot of return
donors and sponsors who will come back and donate an
auction item again or they're there to be a corporate
sponsor again. And you know, they are the lifeblood of
what we're trying to do here with the Leukemia Ball.
(24:04):
So we're very grateful for all those people who have
been with us, you know.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Time and time again, and especially for our new sponsors who.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Are also coming in during to your point, us a
very tumultuous time, yeah, right now, you know, And so
we're very grateful for the people who have have committed
both items and corporate sponsorships.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention when it
comes to Katie, she's got a full time job, folks,
and this is something that she does on the side,
which I think is cool for eight years now. And
I imagine, as you said, with the other co chairs
and you talk with Rhea and Katie and all the
good people at LLLS that you mentioned a couple of times,
the labor of love and the connection that you have
to LLLS, and I imagine that other co chairs on
(24:45):
there and people that you work with. You know, everybody's
got a full time life, some have families, got a
busy life, but you know that labor love that we
talked about. I imagine that you also share that with
people as you're organizing all this to keep everybody powered
up because this is and people don't know it is
a whole year of planning plus to put on Agala.
It just is because there's so many moving parts. But
(25:07):
I imagine the camaraderie that you have with the other
co chairs and the people at LS is pretty special,
would I be correct.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Katie, Oh yeah, we become a family. Well, we're going
through all of this. I mean, I'm communicating with Riha
and Katie and obviously Melissa Foster, who's really been the
head of this event this year, you know, daily, and
that will just continue as we're leading up to the
day of on the twenty ninth. It'll probably be three
(25:35):
times a day as we're doing run of show and
making sure that everything is operating as it should be.
So it's just been an absolutely incredible experience, and as
part of my co chair role, you know, our goal
is that if you come in for your first year
as a coachair, you will commit to a second year
as well, so that there is a nice succession plan
so that I can bring someone in next year and
(25:57):
maybe they're new to it, but I have a year
under my belt at that point, and so yes, I
will be doing this again. So to your point being
year round, you know, we're going to finish this event
on March twenty ninth, and we'll probably take a little
break and then we're back up and running.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Are we thinking about the following year?
Speaker 1 (26:14):
And those little breaks are usually like a week or two. Folks,
it's just a lot of work. But it sounds like
you got so many great people. Okay, Katie, We've only
got about three minutes left, and I think this is
a great chance to kind of wrap everything up. Tell
everybody about the whole evening again. We've got time to
do that, and then a couple times I want you
to give the live link for tickets to the event,
(26:36):
dates and times and what can be expected when they
go that evening, and just all the cool things about
the Great Leukemia Ball. The twenty twenty five Leukemia Ball
that's coming up at the convention Center on the twenty ninth.
The floor is yours.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Perfect well, thanks so much, Dennis.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
We would on behalf of the l Last Leukemia Ball
Executive Committee. We would absolutely love to have you as
one of our guests on March twenty nine, as Dennis said,
at the Walter Washington Convention Center, starting at six thirty pm,
an amazing black tie event, you will be surrounded by
over twelve hundred incredible people professionals from all around the
(27:14):
region and frankly beyond. This is the Ball's first national
level event, so our goal is to build on that
national brand for years to come. So while it's based
here in DC, we want companies from Chicago and New
York and San Francisco and Dallas.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
So how can you be a part of this? How
can you contribute?
Speaker 3 (27:33):
First, as Dennis mentioned, we'd love to have you purchase
individual tickets.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
The more the merrier.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
The website for that is www dot Leukemiaball dot org
and up on the type top right hand corner there
is a lovely white button that says purchase tickets. So
we try to make it as easy as possible for
people to come and attend. There are other ways to
support the event. There's a link on that main page
(27:59):
as well. If you have a company who is interested
in buying a table, you can get that information through
the Leukemia ball dot org website as well. It's going
to be an absolutely incredible event, again, great entertainment.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
We have Nick Kroll as our comedian.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
At the end of the evening, we'll have an incredible
after party with an open bar again that goes until
eleven thirty or midnight. Right have a DJ for dancing.
So the goal is just kind of keep the party
going for hours to come. It's just going to be
an educational, inspiring and entertaining evening. And I think you know,
if you haven't been before, once you're there, you're hooked.
(28:37):
You understand the power and the excitement and just the
emotions that are behind this event and how meaningful.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
Every dollar is.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Our goal is the night of at least six hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, a night of through silent auction,
live auction donations when you raise your hand at the table,
and that's all going to go to ards. Our ultimate
goal of trying to reach you at a minimum two
million stretch goal. We would love to get to two
point five million, so would love to have you there.
(29:08):
Would be so grateful for your support and look forward
to seeing everyone on the twenty.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
Ninth standing and once again, if you cannot be there
for whatever reason, remember ls dot org. There's a lot
of ways to donate there, including a lot of community
events and athletic events and d DIY fundraising. It's just
a plethora. And we'll have Riha on again to talk
about that the executive director and get into the nuances
of LLS. But I can't tell you how much I
(29:33):
appreciate your time, Katie, Listen, continue success. You're giving a
lot back to the organization, which I think is cool.
Have a great night, and thank you so much for
joining us on Community DC.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Of course, thanks Dennis, really appreciate you having me.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
A lot like Kilga so much, clean the oceans and
make good world and better.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Say learn more at she Can Stems. A message brought
to you by the AD Council
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