Centric Chicago Lights Up the Night, and a Chandelier Award, in Fight Against Blood Cancers

Of all the diseases most of us encounter in our lifetimes, few feel as personal as cancer. This fall, several Centric Chicago employees again took to the streets to raise awareness and funds for blood cancers — and earned an award for their commitment.

On October 4, 2025, about a dozen Centric Chicago employees participated in Blood Cancer United’s Light the Night event for the North Shore Community of Glenview. 

To date, the team has raised more than $7,400 and earned Blood Cancer United’s Chandelier award along the way — making Centric the third highest corporate donor to the North Shore walk. 

“This year’s walk marks the 20th anniversary of losing my brother-in-law to leukemia,” said Chicago Practice Vice President Bill Chamberlain. “It’s sad to say, but many of our team members have similar stories, not only of leukemia but of lesser-known forms of blood cancer.” 

Chicago Senior Architect Melanie Ruiz helped Chamberlain organize the event. She remembers losing her best friend to cancer when she was only seven years old, and she lost her mother-in-law to liver cancer only two months after her diagnosis. 

“Though blood cancer hasn’t affected me directly, I walk in Light the Night to honor their memory and to stand with others in the fight to end cancer,” she said. 

The Chandelier award recognized the Centric team for the most “Bright Light” fundraisers — participants who raised more than $1,000 each. Chicago Business Unit Lead Eddie Francl and Business Developer Jim McCarthy joined Chamberlain in that elite circle. 

McCarthy is a blood cancer survivor himself, having spent nine months in chemotherapy to fight lymphoma and several years to recover from the treatment.  

“Our goal in raising money for Blood Cancer United is to not only put an end to cancer but to make treatments less intensive, more effective, and with a greater survival rate,” McCarthy posted on his fundraising page. “As someone who has been given a second chance at life, I believe my survival is a direct result of the funding and research of Blood Cancer United.” 

Francl has also been personally affected by cancer. 

“I lost my mother to this terrible disease as a child, and my brother is a survivor,” Francl said.  

For Caroline Ryan, Blood Cancer United’s Campaign Development Manager, the North Shore walk is just another step on an annual journey of fundraising for blood cancer awareness and treatment. 

“The North Shore walk is one of three events in the Chicagoland area,” she explained. “We have another walk in the Western Suburbs, and the main event is held at Soldiers Field.”  

Outside of Chicago, Blood Cancer United holds walks and other events in every U.S. state and parts of Canada, with an ambitious goal to raise $2.5 million in Chicagoland this year alone. 

The Centric team is proud to do their part in Chicago, and to make connections that help Ryan expand the organization’s reach. 

“Bill helped us launch the Centric team at our North Shore walk and grow the North Shore corporate influence, and Jim helps spread the word about the walk and Blood Cancer United by giving us a platform at his networking group, L.E.G.G. Chicago. That allows me to speak to business leaders that I wouldn’t have access to otherwise.”  

L.E.G.G. stands for “League of Extraordinary Guys and Gals,” and Ryan sees the Centric North Shore walkers as nothing short of extraordinary.  

“Centric was one of the first companies to support this walk when I started working for the organization just over two years ago, and their support is inspiring,” she said. “Every year they turn the pain of their personal blood cancer connections into hope for others. I would definitely call that an ‘unmatched experience.’” 

It’s not too late to have an impact! Just visit Centric Chicago’s Light the Night fundraising page to add your support.