Doug Staebler, Beth Gorman, Matt Ackland
ALUMNAE SPIRIT OF SERVICE 2017 LLS Patient Ambassadors
Volunteers
Volunteers
2017 Alumnae Spirit of Service Award
Beth Rather Gorman ’90
D
uring a visit to Nashville in 2012, Beth Rather Gorman ’90 had a full circle moment. Beth met with Dr. John Greer from Vanderbilt Medical Center who had been the lead physician for her brother, Hal, exactly 20 years ago. Hal had an extremely rare form of leukemia, and despite sending his case around the country to top experts, a treatment course was not available for his condition. Hal lost his fight in the summer of 1992, marking the starting point for Beth’s devotion to finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood related cancers. During this recent visit with Hal’s oncologist, Dr. Greer revealed that there was now a treatment course for the rare type of leukemia Hal battled, and they were seeing exciting results. The medications now in use were directly funded by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), where Beth has worked tirelessly for the past 16 years. Her work has had a direct effect on finding a cure for the disease that claimed her brother’s life. Beth joined the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in 2000 after moving from Nashville to Washington, DC. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds research, patient services, advocacy, public awareness, and education. Beth started on the ground floor at the LLS and worked her way up through the ranks. In 2013, she was promoted to Executive Director of the Washington, D.C. chapter. With over $14.5 million in gross revenue through events including Team in Training, the Leukemia Ball, the Man and Woman of the Year, Regatta, School and Youth campaigns, and more, Beth has spearheaded the events and fundraising that have brought the chapter to the number one chapter in the nation, out of 56, each year since she became Executive Director. Beth’s devotion to the mission is not isolated to her career work. In addition to her paid position as Executive Director, she also devotes her free time to raising additional funds for the cause. She personally,
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HALLWAYS
“Essentially, Harpeth Hall provided me with the necessary tools and a strong foundation to succeed, and for that, I will always be grateful.” outside of her position, has raised over $200,000. She has participated in Team and Training marathon and half marathon events five times. In 2013, she put together a team of 31 women who trained together and participated in the Nike Half Marathon D.C. and raised $125,000 as a group—the second highest fundraising team in the country for that event. In October 2014, she formed a team for the Light the Night Walk with family and friends and raised an additional $14,000, involving children in the event. This isn’t just a job for Beth; she devotes her time and talents to this cause 24/7. Beth attributes much of her success to her foundation she received as a 7-year student of Harpeth Hall. “Harpeth Hall is a wonderful learning environment that gave me the opportunity to explore my interests, to be a leader, to challenge me to always do my best, and to build long lasting relationships. Essentially, Harpeth Hall provided me with the necessary tools and a strong foundation to succeed, and for that, I will always be grateful.”
Beth at Light The Night Walk DC with her family
Team 40 Runs 13.1 Miles for LLS TNT
Beth preps to run Nike DC with her sisters in law
Hard work isn’t the only key ingredient in Beth’s success. Any member of the class of 1990 would recognize that Beth’s positive attitude, integrity, selflessness, joyful sprit, and kind heart all contribute to her results. Beth has never met a stranger, and puts people at ease immediately upon meeting them. Beth’s former boss and previous LLS director says of Beth: “Beth is one of the most compassionate individuals I have ever met. She is always positive and upbeat no matter what the situation. In addition, she is such a strong team player. She is always willing to roll up her sleeves to make sure the best possible job is accomplished. The one characteristic than stands out above all others is her leadership. Beth is a natural born leader. Above all, she leads by example—hard work, honesty, compassion, and dedication to finding a cure.”
Donna McKelvey sums up Beth’s incredible success perfectly: “Her wonderful compassion, coupled with her outstanding business sense, is a winning combination. She is the master at building and nurturing relationships, the cornerstone for success in fundraising.” Beth feels fortunate that she has found the perfect balance in the marriage of her work and her passion for finding a cure for LLS in memory of her brother, which has fueled her success in her career. She uses her own experiences with a family member with leukemia to relate to the families she serves. She uses each day to make a lasting impact in the lives of others, and she does it with a cheerful disposition and a compassionate heart. For all of these reasons, we are proud to honor Beth Rather Gorman ’90 as our 2017 Alumnae Spirit of Service honoree. SPRING 2017 29