The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) will honor NFL Hall of Fame member and longtime volunteer Bobby Mitchell with The James L. Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his dedication to the mission of LLS and overall support of the Washington, D.C. community.
PhRMA will formally present Mitchell with the award at the 2014 Leukemia Ball on March 22 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The black-tie formal event will kick off at 6:30 p.m. and will feature musical entertainment by Huey Lewis & The News.
“For more than 22 years, Bobby Mitchell and his wife Gwen dedicated themselves to creating one of the premier golf tournaments in the area and raising almost $8 million for LLS’s mission,” said Beth Gorman, executive director of the National Capital Area Chapter. “Their tireless efforts and relentless motivation, helped advance lifesaving research and provided hope to so many patients facing a difficult diagnosis. LLS is eternally thankful for their commitment and the caring support they showed to our patients and their families.”
The James L. Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2011 in memory of Jim Eichberg, a longtime volunteer and supporter of LLS. The award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of an individual who has demonstrated dedication and commitment to the mission of LLS, thereby making a significant impact on the lives of patients and families. Past recipients are Kevin Fay (2012) and Tamara Darvish (2013).
“The opportunity to help people in need is one that I have always felt is important to act upon,” said Mitchell. “The children we’ve met throughout our time volunteering with LLS have touched Gwen and I, and we felt we should do whatever we could to raise money for the research that would save their lives. I am honored to receive The James L. Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award from an organization whose mission I feel so strongly about.”
From 1988 through 2012, Mitchell hosted The Bobby Mitchell Hall of Fame Golf Classic, bringing together NFL and NBA Hall of Famers in the fight against blood cancer. At the tournament’s peak, more than 50 Hall of Famers gathered each year to support Mitchell and LLS.
The LLS is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
Mitchell was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1983. His NFL career includes 11 seasons —seven of them spent with the Washington Redskins, four Pro Bowl appearances and 34 years spent in the Redskins front office.
Over the years, Mitchell has been affiliated with the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of Washington D.C., the United Negro College Fund Drive and the White House Task Force on Drugs, among other causes. Mitchell has also been a charter member of Heroes, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to aid families of law enforcement officers and fire fighters who have died in the line of duty in Washington, D.C. And after 40 years, Mitchell continues to be an active member of the Shaw Community Food Drive.
For more information on sponsorship or tickets to the Leukemia Ball, click here.
