WAYNE, NJ — The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of New Jersey’s Visionaries of the Year philanthropic competition raised $626,636 this year. A Wayne woman was responsible for a large portion of that fundraising, and she was named “Visionary of the Year” for her work supporting crucial blood cancer research, the organization said.
Joanie Walsh raised more than $130,000 during the 10-week campaign, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of New Jersey. The campaign’s Visionaries of the Year Grand Finale was June 15 in Somerset.
Walsh is a corporate account representative at Fedway Associates and has been there since 1999, according to LLS New Jersey.
Here is what the organization said in their announcement of the Visionary of the Year winner:
Working in a field that is predominantly male (90 percent), Joanie has held the title as the number one salesperson in her division for seven years running, the only female to do so. She loves spending time with her “better half,” Mike, her daughter Jillian and son-in-law, Nick, her sons Troy and Brett and her two grandsons, Ty and Chase.
In her spare time Joanie volunteers with many animal rescue organizations and has helped many candidates with their political campaigns. Joanie has also participated in The LLS campaign twice before as a team member.
Recently she had a cancer scare of her own and for a split second she imagined what it must be like to walk in the shoes of someone diagnosed with this horrible disease, let alone a child or a parent of that child. After that scary experience she knew she had to get more involved and be a small part of an organization with the potential to develop cures and hopefully save precious lives. Joanie says it’s a great feeling to be part of such a caring and giving community and to support such a wonderful organization.
Click here to see a photo of Walsh in her celebratory sash.
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