Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
City of Hope to Resume Limited In-person Events
July 27,
2021 by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry 
City of Hope, longtime charity of choice for the International Home Furnishings Industry focused on cancer and diabetes research, has announced that they have begun approving a limited number of in-person events.
“We are thrilled to announce City of Hope has begun having a limited number of approved in-person meetings and events and the International Home Furnishings Industry’s Spirit of Life Award Dinner as well as our West Coast Golf and Tennis outing are among the first,” said Loren Boyko, director of corporate philanthropy.
The Spirit of Life event is set to honor Rick Anderson, Tempur Sealy; Patrick Cory, Cory Companies/JB Hunt; and Rob Spilman, Bassett Furniture; is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Grandover Hotel.
The Golf and Tennis event will honor the late Michael Genrich as well as Jose Palacios and the entire Furniture of America Family will be held on the West Coast Monday, December 13, at Coto de Caza Country Club.
“Philanthropy was put on hold during Covid while cancer and diabetes continued to attack our friends and families,” said Chuck Reilly, IHFI’s City of Hope Chairman and EVP of AICO. “Our being able to celebrate the honorees that have worked tirelessly and thank them as a group at such a beautiful venue, starting with an outdoor cocktail reception on the grounds of the Grandover resort followed by a sit-down dinner will be the first time our industry can gather, and for such a great cause.”
“And in December our West Coast Golf outing will have special meaning as long time City of Hope advocate, Mike Genrich, will be honored in Memoriam along with Jose Palacios and the team at Furniture of America,” added Reilly.
In addition to its research on finding cures for cancer and diabetes, City of Hope has dedicated a team researching treatment of COVID 19 related effects as well as a series of trials targeting vaccines for cancer patients and other with immune system related issues.
“We as an industry are fortunate to have such close ties to City of Hope. As a research institution, the world has benefited from City of Hope’s research in cancer and diabetes. And today, City of Hope is making inroads on the long-term effects and treatment of Covid 19 patients. On behalf of Spirit of Life Dinner Chair, Kevin O’Conner and West Coast Golf’s co-chair, Rick Powell, I can’t tell you how excited we are to get face to face with our industry to spread the word of Hope that the City of Hope continues its quest to treat and cure these incredible diseases,” concluded Reilly.