Wayfair Co-Founders And Klaussner Home Furnishings CEO To Be Honored With City Of Hope's 2016 Spirit Of Life Award

Furniture World News Desk on 10/20/2016

City of Hope, a world leader in cancer and diabetes research and treatment, announced recently that its International Home Furnishing’s Industry group will honor Wayfair Company co-founders Niraj Shah and Steve Conine and Klaussner Home Furnishings president and CEO Bill Wittenberg with the 2017 Spirit of Life® Award. The award is City of Hope’s highest honor, and each year recognizes a leader whose work has fundamentally impacted the home furnishing industry.

Shah, Conine and Wittenberg will be presented with The Spirit of Life Award at a dinner at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina on April 23, 2017, which follows a multi-month-long fundraising campaign that supports City of Hope’s ability to quickly speed new therapies and scientific breakthroughs to patients who need them.

"City of Hope is very grateful to Niraj, Steve and Bill for the countless ways they support our critical mission,” said Robert W. Stone, president and chief executive officer of City of Hope. “With their support for our Spirit of Life campaign we fuel the momentum driving our innovative research and treatments that outsmart deadly diseases — one patient at a time."

“Wayfair is delighted to support City of Hope, one of the furniture industry’s largest charity organizations, in their efforts to fight cancer and diabetes,” said Conine. “Niraj and I are truly honored to receive this year’s Spirit of Life Award and are committed to elevating the visibility of this important work.”

“I am honored to receive this year’s Spirit of Life along with Niraj Shah and Steve Conine,” said Wittenberg.   I am tremendously appreciative of the involvement, compassion, and generosity of everyone in the furniture industry that continues to support the City of Hope organization and their tireless efforts.” 

City of Hope is dedicated to speeding new research ideas to medical treatments in order to quickly bring cures to patients. Its breakthrough research has led to therapies now used by millions of people worldwide.

The International Home Furnishings Industry has been a longtime supporter of City of Hope's mission and has partnered on many innovative fundraising campaigns.

For more information on the 2017 Spirit of Life campaign, visit www.cityofhope.org/ihfi-gala

More about International Home Furnishings Industry Group: The International Home Furnishings Industry (IHFI) chapter was formed in 1965 as one of City of Hope’s first industry-based chapters. Led by dedicated industry and community leaders, this group encompasses every related industry segment: retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives, suppliers and associated service providers. Each year, IHFI begins a new fundraising campaign led by its two flagship events, The Spirit of Life® Award Dinner held during April Market in High Point, North Carolina and the West Coast Golf and Tennis Tournament held each June in Coto de Caza, California. These events spearhead the annual fundraising efforts, however many industry companies partner with City of Hope to raise additional funds with amazing success. IHFI is one of City of Hope’s premier fundraising groups, having raised over $54 million to fund innovative medical research and quality patient care at City of Hope.

More about City of Hope: City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 45 comprehensive cancer center, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with community clinics throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation, diabetes and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs based on technology developed at the institution.