Valley Relay for Life volunteers receive honors

Staff report

CANFIELD

American Cancer Society Relay for Life volunteers in Trumbull and Mahoning County received national, state and regional recognition at ACS’ Ohio Relay For Life Summit for their outstanding contributions in 2010.

Bob Antenucci of Warren was presented the national St. George Award from Garry Pincock, chief executive officer of ACS’ East Central Division. The award is for distinguished service in helping the society achieve strategic goals.

Antenucci provided vision and leadership to the Ohio Relay Task Force, the Warren Relay, the Ohio Market Leadership Task Force, Celebration on the Hill, the National Relay Advisory Training Team and the Division Finance Committee.

Also, under Antenucci’s leadership, fundraising for the society’s Trumbull County Unit increased nearly $1 million in seven years, said Jo-Ann Crank, vice president of the Northeast Ohio Region American Cancer Society.

Trumbull County garnered the Power of Purple Award, a national award that recognizes the most cancer survivors participating in Relays for Life its population group in the nation.

In 2010, more than 1,800 cancer survivors took part in one of the five Trumbull County Relays in Cortland, Liberty, Newton Falls- Lordstown, Niles and Warren.

Dr. Robert Brodell’s Relay team in Warren, Brodell Medical, received the Team of Excellence Award for being one of four teams in Ohio that raised $50,000. In 2010, Brodell Medical raised $61,389, helping the Warren Relay maintain first place in money raised in Ohio this year with $380,422. Dr. Brodell is a member of ACS’ National Relay For Life Hall of Fame.

Individuals recognized as Relay Stars from the Northeast Ohio Region for helping Relay for Life grow in their counties, Ohio, the nation and some internationally, include Antenucci, Dr. Brodell, Mark Luke of Boardman, Ron Scirocco of Girard and Carole Weimer of Liberty.

Relays in the Northeast Ohio Region that exceeded their income goal by 10 percent or more included Austintown, and those that exceeded their income goals up to 9 percent included Buckeye Local, East Liverpool and Salem.

The Northeast Ohio Region, which includes 13 counties, including Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull, was the highest of Ohio’s five regions for per-capita income (revenue from the relay) at $2.03.

Trumbull County’s five relays had the highest such per-capita income of $3.60 in the 200,000-399,999 population group.

Buffalo Wild Wings and Bob Evans were recognized for their support. Buffalo Wild Wings donated a penny for every wing sold during May raising $16,534, and Bob Evans had community fun nights at many of its restaurants across Northeast Ohio, raising $57,010.

In 2010, the society’s Northeast Ohio Region raised more than $4.4 million from its 48 relays. Overall, 217 relays in the five regions of Ohio raised $15,981,985.

“There are so many outstanding volunteers who deserve to be recognized for their effort over the past year,” Crank said.

“The success of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life events begins and ends with the many extraordinary volunteers who are involved. It’s because of them that we are able to continue to raise income so we can save lives and celebrate more birthdays,” Crank said.