The YACG Cleveland 2020 Holiday Social a Smashing Success

On December 10, 2020, YACG Cleveland hosted their Holiday Social for 30 guests, made up of members of ACG Cleveland, members of other ACG chapters, and non-members alike.

Special Guest Appearance by Fat Head's Brewery

With gift baskets provided to all attendees full of Fat Head's Brewery holiday brews and swag, attendees also got to enjoy a 30 minute open forum and 30 minute guided panel with Bill Wetmore, Sales & Marketing Director for the brewery. Guests learned about Fat Head's roots in fellow chapter city, Pittsburgh, how Ohio really is the king of Christmas brews, and that most of the holiday beer sales start in October, but seem to halt on December 26.

Ugly Sweaters Abound!

To add a little bit of the familiar to an unfamiliar platform of holiday social, YACG hosted and Ugly Sweater Contest. Eleven attendees competed for the glorious title of "Ugliest Sweater of the Social."

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Tarah McCausland was crowned the winner of the Ugly Sweater Competition with her sweater, "Miles of Christmas Sweater." For donning her gay apparel, she wins a gift basket of Fat Head's Swag.

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Honorable mention, however, goes to YACG Cleveland Network Steering Committee Chair. Michael Yee, wearing "Teddy Bear Sweater." This sweater is a multi-contest winner of ugly sweater competitors, having been worn by his mother in the 90s.

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YACG Cleveland and the Season of Giving

Most importantly, all of the proceeds from registration were donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - set aside especially to buy Christmas presents for two families personally affected by the cancer.

From Emily Koudelka, Eastern Great Lakes Region Representative of the Society:

Every year the Young Professionals Board brings light to the darkness of cancer by adopting families currently battling a cancer diagnosis at Christmas and "playing" Santa to them by fulfilling their Christmas wish lists.  This year we hope to adopt 2 families in need of a little light.

The first is a 38-year-old husband and father of five, just diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He has been such a light on the cancer floor and has tried his best to stay positive as he begins chemotherapy treatment.  His kids already said all they want for Christmas is daddy to come home and his caregivers joked all they need is to place a giant bow on him.

The second is a 31-year-old father of two, and also sole family provider recently diagnosed with primary mediastinal b-cell lymphoma. He has been very worried about continuing work so he can provide for his family.

With your generous support LLS will be able to relieve a little stress around the holidays and shine a light in one of the darkest times of these families' lives. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

 YACG Cleveland is honored and privileged to make this gift to friends at LLS, who continue to fight for "a world where cancer is only found in the history books." They would encourage you to do the same this holiday season with a donation of your own, which you can make here.