Retired White Plains Detective Up for 'Man of the Year'

Vinny Finnegan—a White Plains resident and retired 23-year veteran of the city’s police force—is in the running to be named Man of the Year.  

The accolade is awarded by the Hudson Valley chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a non-profit dedicated to battling blood cancers and aiding sufferers and survivors.  

Finnegan’s fundraising efforts over past months have earned him a spot in the  society’s Man and Woman of the Year Awards, where a slate of other Westchester do-gooders compete to raise money.  

Finnegan, 51, says he’s fundraising with his family in mind.  

“My father died from cancer 30 years ago,” he said. “And my sister is a 22-year survivor. I’m doing it in their honor.”  

This is Finnegan’s first year working directly alongside the society, but has helped friends with their campaigns in the past, he said. This time around, he is firing out missives, urging friends and family to donate.  

“Over the last 50 years, the cure rates for blood cancer effecting children has risen from 4% to nearly 87%,” he pens in his letter. “However, blood cancer still remains the number one cause of death among those under 20.”  

(To read his full letter, click here.)   

Erika Dimson, a development director and spokeswoman with the society, said this is the Hudson Valley chapter’s fourth year staging the awards.  

“Some of the nominees are local volunteers, and others are new to our organization,” she explained. But all have been touched by cancer in one way or another, she added.  

Over a ten-week period of time, from early March to late May, folks like Vinny Finnegan work to bring in funds for research, patient aid, educational programs and cancer care advocacy. 

“Over the past three years, we’ve raised about $875,000,” Dimson said. “This year, we think we’re going to raise half that.”  

The winner will be selected at a gala in Tarrytown this Friday, Dimson noted.