YOUNGSTOWN — The American Cancer Society held its 15th annual Cattle Baron’s Ball on Friday at the Lake Club in Poland.

The ball raises tens of thousands of dollars to fund the fight against cancer. This year’s honorees, chairs, event sponsor, and special guests included:

• Honorary chairs: Lauren Lindvig, Ron Flaviano and Fred Housel, all of Bliss 360 Marketing;

• Medical honorees: Dr. Kene Ugokwe and Dr. Jennifer Baird, both cancer survivors;

• Cancer survivor honoree: Jennifer Sayavich, owner of Sweet Arrangements Florist, who has breast cancer;

• Pediatric cancer survivors: Brett Wilcox and Ava Timko, who were both honored at the 2012 and 2013 events and are still survivors;

• Event sponsor: Mercy Health

• Event chairs: Carole Weimer and Annette Camacci

Bliss 360 Marketing enabled the Cattle Baron’s Ball event to take place in 2020 during the pandemic when in-person events were on hold. Through their local Sunday Valley Spotlight show, they helped the American Cancer Society create and air a 2020 livestreamed virtual event that raised more money than in any year of this event’s history.

Also at Friday’s event, the 2020 honorees were recognized since no live event took place. The 2020 Honorary Chairs were Patricia and Doug Sweeney. She is the former health commissioner for the Mahoning County Health District and he is the former president of the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC. The medical honoree of 2020 was Dr. Thomas Chirichella, a Mercy Health physician and surgeon. The Survivor Honoree of 2020 was Robin Daprile, who lost her battle to cancer several months after the Cattle Baron’s Ball aired in August 2020.

The Cattle Baron’s Ball theme was “Denim and Diamonds” and attendees wore denim and western attire.

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