Golf & Tennis Tournament Raises Over $960K for City of Hope

June 11, 2024  by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Industry   

The West Coast Golf & Tennis Tournament held June 10, in Coto de Caza, California, honored David Binke, CEO of King Koil Mattress Co., and Catherine and Richard Frinier, co-founders band principals of the Richard Frinier Design Studio, with the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Following a full day of friendly competition on the golf course and tennis courts, more than 500 attendees representing virtually every segment of the industry convened for a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, dinner, and awards presentation.

Special guest and City of Hope patient speaker Krissy Kobata shared her journey as a bone marrow cancer survivor. At age 25, Kobata was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a rare type of blood cancer in which the body’s bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells. She needed a bone marrow transplant.

As a mixed-race individual, with a Japanese father and Caucasian mother, her chances of finding a matching donor were nearly impossible. It took a worldwide search and 10 years to find her donor match, which was only the beginning of a two-year post-transplant experience that was the most physically and emotionally challenging time of her life.

At the event, Kobata met for the first time Michael Amini, a long-time supporter of City of Hope and whose contributions made possible the Michael Amini Transfusion Medicine Center, where Kobata received outpatient chemotherapy prior to her transplant.

Today, 16 years after her diagnosis, Kobata credits her life to the expertise and dedication of her care team at City of Hope. She now works to raise awareness for mixed-race bone marrow donors.

“On behalf of City of Hope and long-time co-chairs of this incredible event, Debra Tous, Neil Friedman, Irene Crowell, Larry Furiani, Jaclyn Jimenez, Ryan Mahoney, and Chuck Reilly, I would like to thank all the sponsors, donors, supporters and volunteers for their continued support to make this annual fundraiser a success,” said Rick Powell, who has spearheaded the west coast event since 1992 when he was honored with City of Hope’s Spirit of Life^® Award.

This year’s top sponsors received special recognition:

·       Diamond Sponsor: King Koil, Richard Frinier Design Studio

·       Emerald Sponsors: David, Kathy, Hannah and Jessica Binke

·       Platinum Sponsors: Ashjer, GigaCloud Technology, J.B. Hunt Final Mile, Living Spaces, Sit ‘n Sleep

·       Premier Media Sponsor: Furniture Today

The 2025 West Coast Golf & Tennis Tournament will honor Jeff Child, president of RC Willey, John Moungian, president of Qualex Inc., and Harold Hudson, vice president of business development at Summer Classics ICFA with the event scheduled for Monday, June 9, 2025. For more information on how to support and get involved please email IHFIevents@coh.org.