LaFontaine nets leukemia society honor for her work

An article by Michael Shelton    No Comments

Kelley LaFontaine of the LaFontaine Automotive Group was recently named National Woman of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society after raising over $150,000 for blood cancer research and patient services.

She was also awarded the title of Michigan Woman of the Year. She was nominated by her brother, Ryan, who was the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2010 Man of the Year after he raised more than $225,000.

Kelley LaFontaine said on the Clarkston Chamber of Commerce website that Ryan was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2008 and was spurred into action to raise the funds to create two grants for blood cancer research and to keep the research local at the University of Michigan.

The name of Kelley LaFontaine’s campaign was “Driven to Dream,” to combine the passions for cars and making dreams come true.

Kelley LaFontaine hosted three fund-raising events as part of her campaign, beginning with “A Night of Dreams” at the LaFontaine Manor in Highland on May 6, followed by “Drive FORE Dreams,” at the Mystic Creek Golf Course on June 5 and then the Leukemia Bash 2011 at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel on June 10.

LaFontaine Automotive has stores across southeast Michigan, including one in Highland.

For more information on the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, visit www.lls.org.