High Point Market Designates City of Hope Night

Furniture World Magazine

The High Point Market is celebrating the work of City of Hope this Market by designating Wednesday, October 3, 2007 as City of Hope Night in High Point, the heart of the home furnishings industry. The occasion will mark the first time that the City of Hope’s annual Spirit of Life® gala will take place downtown under the SHOWPLACE Tent, with a number of events benefiting City of Hope taking place simultaneously around the Market that evening. The Wednesday night Spirit of Life gala under the SHOWPLACE Tent in downtown High Point is the culmination of City of Hope’s 2007 national fundraising campaign which encompassed a series of regional events, including the West Coast Golf and Tennis Tournament, the Hike for Hope in High Point last Market and the Midwest Dinner Cruise. To kick off this year’s celebration in High Point, the Mayor of High Point, Rebecca Smothers, will present the City of Hope with the Key to the City on Monday, October 1, opening day of Market. “We are pleased to support the industry’s chosen charity and the City of Hope’s renowned research and treatment work in cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases,” says Brian D. Casey, president and chief executive of the High Point Market Authority. “I am also proud of the way a number of Market’s exhibitors are stepping up to acknowledge Wednesday night October 3 as City of Hope night in High Point, with events around the Market dedicated to raising money for City of Hope.” Sharon White, associate vice president, Development for City of Hope says, “We are really excited about this collaboration with the High Point Market and we applaud City of Hope executive board member Keith Koenig of City Furniture for the idea to move the annual celebration to downtown High Point in order to raise awareness of the cause and to facilitate participation by many more Market attendees.” High Point Market events set for City of Hope Night include: City of Hope’s National Home Furnishings Industry’s Spirit of Life Award dinner featuring the fourth annual American Furniture Idol competition. The dinner, honoring John Disa of Wickes Furniture and Kevin O’Connor of Samson Marketing, will be held in High Point at the SHOWPLACE Tent beginning at 6:30 pm. For more information about City of Hope’s Spirit of Life® Award dinner, contact: Michael Sandler, 800-272- 2310 or msandler@coh.org. IHFC has designated Wednesday evening as City of Hope Night at the International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC). Market guests will be treated to cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in InterHall from 4 to 7 p.m. A collection site for pledges and donations will be located there. The Centers of High Point--Center Point, Center Point on Manning, Center Point on Centennial, and Center Point on Russell--plan to celebrate and support City of Hope Night with free food and beverage for Market guests and collection points in all four buildings for those who wish to make contributions. Additionally, guests can take advantage of Centerpoint's free shuttles for quick and easy transportation to and from The Centers of High Point event. Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI) will show its support by displaying City of Hope signage and encouraging voluntary donations for City of Hope at all four bar locations during its Market Square reception from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will also be a donation collection site in the Courtyard at Market Square from 6 to 8 p.m. during the ART Tent Party Oktoberfest. The Commerce & Design Building (C&D) has also designated its Wednesday night event to benefit City of Hope, with hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer, champagne and plenty of gourmet cupcakes from 4 to 6 p.m., and a collection site for contributions. Hamilton Wrenn District will have a donation collection site set up in the 200 North Hamilton courtyard, with special events and donation sites in the Harden Furniture (200 N. Hamilton South Court 110), Platt Collections (200 North Hamilton South Court 218) and Francesco Molon showrooms (502 North Hamilton). 220 Elm will celebrate City of Hope night with “Travel the Floor, Taste the World,” a collection of third floor showrooms serving global cuisine reflecting each exhibitor’s country of origin and the overall diversity of international exhibitors at 220 Elm. Donation sites for City of Hope will be positioned throughout the floor. 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 the pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org.