VITAS Healthcare Honors 2015 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Greater Bay Area Boy and Girl of the Year

Above: VITAS Healthcare honors Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) 2015 Bay Area Boy and Girl of the Year with official Lou-Seal-ebrity Ride around the ballpark. Photograph by Shaya Stark Photography.

SAN FRANCISCO— Two local children fighting for their lives were given a special treat on Sunday, June 14, thanks to VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care. Jack R. and Celia H., Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Greater Bay Area Boy and Girl of the Year, were invited to join VITAS’ annual employee recognition celebration at the San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks game at AT&T Park. The Boy of the Year and Girl of the Year awards presented each year honor two local minors who serve as motivation and inspiration to Man & Woman of the Year candidates in their fundraising campaigns. Both honorees are local blood cancer patients and enthusiastic baseball fans.

Lisa Cooper, VITAS Senior General Manager and LLS 2015 Bay Area Woman of the Year

More than 200 VITAS employees and their guests participated in a VITAS tailgate luncheon, kicking off the pre-game festivities. As part of the recognition, VITAS provided the honorees with an official “Lou-Seal-ebrity Ride” with the mascot around the ballpark for an inning.

“At VITAS of San Francisco Bay, our highly skilled hospice professionals provide a much needed service to the community,” said VITAS Senior General Manager Lisa Cooper, who most recently was appointed LLS 2015 Bay Area Woman of the Year for raising the most funds out of the female candidates vying for this year’s title. “This is our way of showing our employees we value their dedication and commitment to serving terminally ill patients and their families. We are also thrilled to partner with LLS, whose community and nation-wide services are a tremendous asset to the blood cancer patients and families it serves.”

An Active Partner with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

VITAS recognizes the importance of supporting organizations like the LLS, whose mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Through its continued partnership with the LLS, both locally and nationally, VITAS has been an active participant and sponsor of many LLS campaigns, including Light the Night, the LLS fundraising campaign which brings communities together to honor blood cancer survivors, those lost to the diseases, and shine a light on the importance of finding a cure and providing access to treatment for patients.

"We are thrilled to partner with an exemplary organization such as VITAS,” said LLS Regional Vice President Phillip Weichel. “We appreciate the important work that VITAS does on behalf of our families, and are proud to announce Lisa Cooper as the 2015 Woman of the Year for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Northern California.""

Caring for Northern California

Since 1995, VITAS Healthcare has helped define and continuously elevate the standards of care for hospice throughout Northern California. With three convenient office locations in Milpitas, San Mateo and San Francisco, VITAS provides care to more than 500 patients daily in the following counties: Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco and San Mateo.

Above: VITAS Healthcare recognizes its employees by hosting an employee appreciation event at the San Francisco Giants game on Sunday, June 14, 2015, where employees were treated to a tailgate luncheon prior to the game. VITAS employees from left to right, Sonny Vukic, Shalawn Pollar, Ingrid Bogdonoff, Krystal Dumlao, Sarina Marquez and Lisa Cooper. Photograph by Shaya Stark Photography.