08/04/2023
Supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Thanks to the leadership of Winston-Salem office manager Maureen Olsen, the Deuterman Law Group has raised more than $65,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
This cause is very important to the DLG family because we have loved ones who have been affected by blood cancers. Several of our employees have lost family members to leukemia.
The law firm first became involved with the organization in 2013 when our friend Ty Walters was diagnosed with the disease. Every year, we participate in the Society’s Light the Night fundraiser in memory of Ty and in honor of others with blood cancers. This year, we are also participating in support of a Light the Night fundraising team member who lost her father to acute myeloid leukemia.
Normally, the Light the Night fundraiser culminates in a charity walk. Because of COVID-19, the event was held virtually this year.
But the challenges of fundraising during a pandemic did not deter Maureen and fellow team members Leah Hatfield, Carly Presnell, Whitney Sides, Tara Cool, Julia Lane, Vanessa Ramos and Casey Spence.
The DLG team raised nearly $16,000 for Light the Night this year. DLG was among the top corporate fundraisers. Maureen was among the top 10 list of individual fundraisers in the Triad, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society honored her as its top emerging leader.
To reach their big fundraising goals, Maureen and her team organize a silent auction each year. They ask friends, family members, local businesses, and even celebrities to donate items for bid.
“While I may not get to see our impact directly, I hear the stories of survivors and family members who are directly affected by the funds we raise,” she said. “It is pretty amazing to know that we can take something that is so much fun, like the silent auction, and turn it into something that can change someone’s life.”
This year, Maureen reached out to her favorite band, The Avett Brothers, and asked if they would donate. The band contributed signed artwork from its “True Sadness” album.
Other popular silent auction items included travel packages to Durham and Asheville, a private cocktail class for 10 at Gia in Greensboro, and several bottles of rare bourbon.
A weeklong Hilton Head beach rental raised the most money in the auction.
“I absolutely love working with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I love gearing up for the auction,” Maureen said. “It is so exciting when you secure a big donation that you know will be popular.”
