Bethlehem Woman Honored by Leukemia Society

Eileen Budd of Bethlehem was named The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) of Eastern Pennsylvania’s Woman of the Year at the Grand Finale on Thursday at .

Agreeing to utilize her leadership abilities, Budd conducted her own fundraising campaign for LLS for the last 10 weeks. Every dollar she raised counted as one vote. The male and female candidates with the most votes were then named the chapter’s Man & Woman of the Year. Their totals are then considered in naming national titles.

The nine candidates collectively raised $157,000 in the course of 10 weeks. Budd raised $23,396 for the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter. Dan Dortic of Hellertown earned the title of Man of the Year.

Money raised will benefit LLS’ mission to cure blood cancers and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. This year’s fundraising was in honor of two local patient heroes, the 2012 Boy & Girl of the Year were Braden Sell of Quakertown and Coca Lazaridis of Bethlehem.

“We are so grateful for the commitment and generosity of Eileen Budd and the rest of the candidates, who took a 10-week journey with us to challenge themselves to raise money for lifesaving cancer research,” said Maida R. Milone, the Executive Director of the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter.

In 2011, 4 candidates collectively raised $65,000. Jay Charlie of Whitehall earned the title of Man of the Year and Julie Knight of Bethlehem claimed the title of Eastern Pennsylvania’s Woman of the Year.

Budd is Vice President of Budd Agency, Inc. She is the second generation involved in the independent insurance and real estate firm located in Phillipsburg, New Jersey and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Budd is also active in the community and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.