Stefanie Lucas & Mike Huber
City of Hope’s National Home Furnishings Industry group announced that it will present Mike Huber, chief executive officer, Belfort Furniture, and Stefanie Lucas, president and chief executive officer, Rowe Fine Furniture Inc., with The Spirit of Life® Award, City of Hope’s most prestigious honor, at the annual Spirit of Life gala on April 3, 2011. The event, which benefits lifesaving cancer research, education and treatment at City of Hope, will be held at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, NC.
Belfort Furniture, a family-owned business, opened its doors in 1987 in an industrial park in Herndon, Va. with one employee. The company now employs more than 200 associates with 100,000 square feet of showrooms and more than 100,000 square feet of warehouse space in Dulles, Va. Belfort’s success can be attributed to Huber’s passion for the furniture business and his entrepreneurial vision to build and grow the Washington, D.C., area’s largest furniture store. Today, Belfort has earned the rank of a "Top 100 Retailer."
“It’s a privilege to receive this award from an institution that is on the cutting edge of cancer research,” Huber said. “Together, the home furnishings industry and City of Hope will continue to work toward advancing innovative science and turning it into new treatments for patients battling life-threatening diseases.”
Lucas joined Rowe in 2003 as senior vice president and became president and CEO in 2007. She has successfully helped the company grow, including the acquisition of the Clayton Marcus Brand into the Rowe portfolio. She has also helped increase the number of retailers for both the Rowe and Robin Bruce brands to include major national department stores, key national chains and coveted independents. Today all of the Rowe Furniture brands are distributed globally. Prior to joining Rowe, Lucas was vice president of Global Marketing for Reebok International’s Rockport division and prior to that she was with Chico’s Casual Clothing.
“It is an honor to be recognized by City of Hope, a research institution that is a great asset for patients everywhere who face a life-threatening disease,” said Lucas. “Sadly, each of us knows someone who has been devastated by cancer. It is my hope that through our fundraising efforts, we can help City of Hope accelerate research so that cures may be found.“
“We are pleased to recognize Mike Huber and Stefanie Lucas for their steadfast commitment to the fight against cancer,” said Shannon Sullivan, director of development, City of Hope. “They recognize the critical role of research in making cancer a manageable and ultimately curable disease. City of Hope is fortunate to have their support and commitment to our mission.”
Created more than 40 years ago by a group of industry leaders who wanted to help fund the search for a cure for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, the National Home Furnishings Industry Chapter has grown to include representatives from all facets of the industry including retail, manufacturing and publishing.
To purchase tickets for the Spirit of Life event, contact Sullivan at ssullivan@coh.org. To register online, or 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, treatment and education 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.