20th Annual Kiss-a-Pig Campaign Ends, Winners Kiss the Pig


Members of the Gray Foxes Team, Chequeta Riles and Janet Lee are pictured with ADA Director Maria Center and 2012 Campaign Chairperson Tammy Mosley Ray
Members of the Gray Foxes Team, Chequeta Riles and Janet Lee are pictured with ADA Director Maria Center and 2012 Campaign Chairperson Tammy Mosley Ray

The largest fundraiser of the year for American Diabetes Association , Kiss-a-Pig, ended on Saturday, May 19 at a gala at the Hyatt Regency Savannah. The campaign raised $326,000.

The 2012 theme, “Sowvivor… Outwit, Outplay, Outlast Diabetes,” was a spoof of the ever-popular Survivor reality show franchise.

The theme was especially appropriate since Joslin Medalist Dave Smith, the Chairman of the American Diabetes Association Board, presented a medal to Deb Merwin, an ADA volunteer from Beaufort, South Carolina. The Joslin Medal is awarded to individuals who have lived successfully with diabetes for 50 years.

ADA also honored sev- eral long time volunteers, including Dr. Sheila Woo, who is retiring from Kiss-a- Pig after 20 years and who was instrumental in leading the Savannah-Chatham County Schools Campaign for all that time. Janet Gnann, a retiring PE teacher from May Howard, was recognized for her efforts in leading the school. May Howard Elementary has raised over $100,000 over the past 10 years for the Kiss-a-Pig Campaign. Danny Creasy, with The Heritage Bank in Hinesville, was recognized for his leadership in Liberty County, 16-year veterans of Kiss-a-Pig. T h e Liberty County Dorchester Clay Shoot has raised over $400,000 for the mission of ADA.

Statesboro leaders Brian Kent, Matthew Gainous and Tim “Bubba” Hunt were recognized for their outstanding leadership efforts in that community. Mr. Hunt kissed the pig in 2011 with $36,000.

ADA Advocacy Chairman, Sonny Googins, was recognized for her leadership in Beaufort, South Carolina. Beaufort has been competing in Kiss-a-Pig for 5 years.

In the Big Pig category, the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools’ Janet Gnann kissed the pig with $74,159. Along with the efforts of the contestants and their supporters, there was a generous anonymous donation made to the campaign which brought the total to $326,000.

For more information, contact Maria Center at mcenter@diabetes.org or 912-353-8110.


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