City of Hope West Coast Event Exceeded Expectations with Short Fundraising Window
Furniture World News Desk on
6/30/2022
Pictured left to right: Caitlin Herron, Cancer survivor, Mickey and Alex Justice of Coaster, Peggy Hester, Rick Powell, Roy Hester and Doctor Edward Kim.
City of Hope’s International Home Furnishings Industry group exceeded the expectations of City of Hope and the West Coast Golf & Tennis Tournament Committee. The 30th annual event concluded earlier this month with nearly $800,000 raised for cancer and diabetes research and care at City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States and a leading research center for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses.
The International Home Furnishings Industry Group, one of City of Hope’s oldest and most successful chapters, honored industry veteran Roy Hester, executive vice president of Planned Furniture Promotions (PFP). He and the PFP team mobilized to raise awareness and support for the annual event in six months, a shorter-than-usual window due to COVID-19 delaying the prior year’s event.
“There are many heroes in the 2022 success story, but we know that the real heroes are the ones that we come together for, the patients and families across the country who come to City of Hope in their greatest time of need,” said Rick Powell, committee co-chair for more than two decades.
Caitlin Herron is one of those real-life heroes. The 18-year-old cancer survivor addressed attendees of the dinner that concluded the June 13 event. Diagnosed at age 12 with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia, Herron sought treatment from City of Hope, which has experience with this type of cancer. Herron has been cancer-free for five years, and she shares her story to put a face on the disease and the lifesaving results of City of Hope’s world-class research, treatment and care.
“It’s not just adding years to life, but life to years. That’s the reason we’re all here,” said Edward Kim, M.D., M.P.H., who also spoke at the culminating dinner. Kim is senior vice president and physician-in-chief, City of Hope Orange County, and professor and vice physician-in-chief, City of Hope National Medical Center.
He updated sponsors and attendees on City of Hope’s recent accomplishments and initiatives, which include acquisition of Cancer Treatment Centers of America and its network of care centers in Georgia, Arizona, Illinois and California; Hope Village, an on-site hotel for patients and their families who are receiving treatment or transitioning out of hospital care; outpatient facility expansion, including the addition of more than 26 national experts in oncology and endocrinology to City of Hope faculty for a new $1 billion Irvine campus and network of care in Orange County; and continued advancements in drug development and manufacturing to find new therapies and cures for cancer and diabetes.
“One in three people are going to be diagnosed with cancer. It’s unfortunately a fact. Cherish each other tonight as you think about that. It’s your time and donations that make a difference,” Kim said.
“In addition to all the sponsors, more than 50 volunteers made the event come together as smoothly as possible, and we could not have done it without them,” said Irene Crowell, committee co-chair for 20 years. Crowell coordinates every detail of the annual event with City of Hope.
About the West Coast Golf & Tennis Tournament
The West Coast Golf & Tennis Tournament is one of two flagship events hosted by the International Home Furnishings Industry Group in support of City of Hope’s fight against cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Formed in 1965 by a group of dedicated industry and community leaders, the International Home Furnishings Industry group is one of City of Hope’s oldest and most successful industry-based chapters, raising nearly $100 million to advance leading-edge research and treatment innovation for the benefit of patients and families everywhere.
About City of Hope
City of Hope's mission is to deliver the cures of tomorrow to the people who need them today. Founded in 1913, City of Hope has grown into one the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S. and one of the leading research centers for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. As an independent, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, City of Hope brings a uniquely integrated model to patients spanning cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and innovation initiatives. Research and technology developed at City of Hope has been the basis for numerous breakthrough cancer medicines, as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. A leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy, such as CAR T cell therapy, City of Hope’s personalized treatment protocols help advance cancer care throughout the world.
With a goal of expanding access to the latest discoveries and leading-edge care to more patients, families and communities, City of Hope’s growing national system includes its main Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, scheduled to open in 2022, and Cancer Treatment Centers of America. City of Hope’s affiliated family of organizations includes Translational Genomics Research Institute and AccessHopeTM. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.