Wednesday, December 5, 2007

McKinney’s Relay For Life recognized for philanthropic achievements

By Pegasus News wire

McKinney Relay For Life co-chairs B.J. Ray and Sharon Laird accept awards.

MCKINNEY — McKinney’s largest philanthropic event, Relay For Life (RFL), was honored with four awards at the High Plains Leadership Summit held at the Adams Mark Hotel in Dallas.

Relay For Life’s High Plains division consists of 700 Relays held in Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Hawaii and the Pacific area. More than 1,600 RFL volunteers attended the Summit.

McKinney RFL received the first place High Plains Relay Award, recognizing it as the division’s top Relay. Collin County took the first place High Plains Per Capita Relay Award for Relays held in McKinney, Allen, Frisco and Plano.

McKinney RFL also received the fourth place High Plains Overall Dollars Raised Award for raising $434,311 last year. The Krings Team, McKinney RFL participants, received the second place High Plains Top Team Award for raising $52,000 for last year’s Relay.

“The dedication of Relay volunteers and teams are what make this event so successful year after year,” said Shannon Swarbrick, Community Manager for the American Cancer Society and McKinney RFL. “It was wonderful to have them recognized for all their hard work.”

In addition, McKinney RFL recently recognized McKinney ISD for its ongoing dedication to Relay. McKinney High School students raised $5,200 for McKinney’s 2008 Relay through their 2007 homecoming activities. McKinney ISD Superintendent Tom Crowe also encouraged staff to participate in department fundraisers, and Central Office Team members who contribute at least $100 can wear jeans each Friday until the 2008 Relay on April 25.

“McKinney ISD is one of our largest supporters, both in fundraising and number of teams entered,” continued Swarbrick. “We thank them for their continued commitment to fighting cancer in our community.”

Source: City of McKinney

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