City of Hope announced that close to 700 hundred industry executives attended City of Hope’s National Home Furnishings Industry’s Spirit of Life® gala, capping off a year-long fundraising effort. Held in conjunction with High Point Market, the Berkshire Hathaway furniture family was honored along with aspenhome. Representing Berkshire Hathaway were: Irvin Blumkin, Nebraska Furniture Mart; Jeffrey Child, RC Willey; William Kimbrell, Star Furniture; and Eliot Tatelman, Jordan’s Furniture. The manufacturer honoree, aspenhome, was represented by Bill Colegrove and the executive team credited with aspenhome’s great success: David Blum, Jena Hall, David Heard, Andy Nielsen, Bill Reece and Kim Whitlock.
“On behalf of the home furnishings industry, I’m proud to support City of Hope,” said Irvin Blumkin. “My colleagues and I believe that City of Hope’s work is critical to the future of research by turning hope into a reality and ensuring that patients receive innovative and more effective treatments for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”
“We were honored to be the Spirit of Life manufacturer honoree this year and plan for our efforts to continue benefiting City of Hope for many years to come through a very special program that marries our day-to-day furniture business with philanthropy,” said Bill Colegrove.
Colegrove described the launch of the new fundraising initiative, “Imagine.” “This new program between aspenhome, our partners and retailers, will be the first fundraising initiative of its kind, and what we hope will become a new model for other retailers and manufacturers alike, tying our business to City of Hope and its quest to find a cure for cancer.”
The highlight of the event was the release of a special video called “Faces of Hope,” created by Gefen Productions and featuring prominent industry members describing their experience with cancer and City of Hope. The special guest speaker, Michael Jensen, M.D., director, Pediatric Cancer Program at City of Hope, shared medical breakthroughs in the immunotherapy research program. Immunotherapy seeks to reprogram the body’s immune response system to attack cancer cells in the same way it attacks the common cold. Immunotherapy research holds great promise for reducing the side effects of traditional cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation.
Notable sponsors of the gala included Spirit of Life sponsors aspenhome, its associates and executives, Berkshire Hathaway Retail Group, Ashley Furniture, Simmons Bedding Company, Casana Furniture, Furniture Brands International, IHFC, Leggett & Platt, Lexington Home Brands, Natuzzi Americas, Sealy Mattress Company and Serta.
“During these very difficult economic conditions, we are grateful to all those who have contributed and volunteered throughout our 2008-2009 campaign and helped raise over $1.1 million for City of Hope” said Roger Friesen, co-president, City of Hope’s National Home Furnishings Industry. ”Through the combined effort of the various regional and national events including the 2008 Hike for Hope, West Coast Golf and Tennis Tournament, and Midwest Dinner Cruise, we continue our industry’s 44-year history of support to City of Hope. We are proud of this outstanding effort.”
“The national home furnishings industry and our honorees are truly part of the cure for cancer. We are tremendously grateful for their ongoing support of our lifesaving mission,” said Michael Sandler, director of development, City of Hope.
For more information on City of Hope’s National Home Furnishings Industry, visit www.cityofhope.org/nhfi.
About City of Hope: City of Hope is a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope's research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer and urology by U.S.News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org.
Above Irvin Blumkin, Bill Colegrove & Roger Friesen
Above: Jeff Child
Above: William Kimbrell & Bill Colegrove