Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
City of Hope Int'l Spirit of Life Honorees Gift $1M Each at Gala
April 29,
2025 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry 
City of Hope’s International Home Furnishings Industry group and this year’s Spirit of Life® honorees from American Signature/Value City Furniture and Manwah Holdings raised $3.7 million for City of Hope®, as the honorees surprised attendees at the annual gala on April 27 by pledging an additional $1 million each during their speeches.
Industry professionals gathered at the annual Spirit of Life gala held at the Four Seasons Sheraton, to recognize Jay Schottenstein, chairman of American Signature Furniture/Value City Furniture, and Dr. Man Li Wong, chairman of Manwah Holdings. City of Hope is one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S. and a leading research center for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. The International Home Furnishings Industry group has been City of Hope’s philanthropic partner since 1965 and has raised over $100 million.
Highlighting generational bonds and support often found in the furniture industry, both Spirit of Life honorees were introduced by their children who are also leaders of their respective companies. Both families exemplified the values of giving back with a focus on supporting health and education.
Zoe Wong, executive director of Manwah Holdings, introduced her father, Dr. Wong, and described how he built the company from the ground up from his humble beginnings as a factory line worker in Hong Kong to today’s 15 factories around the world and retail stores in Asia.
Accepting the honor, Dr. Wong said he was impressed by all the work City of Hope does and its commitment to bring hope and the best treatments to people worldwide. He then went “off script,” as his translating daughter said, and wowed the audience by donating $1 million on top of Manwah’s underwriting sponsorship and support.
Honoree Schottenstein was introduced by his son, Jonathan, president of American Signature Furniture/Value City Furniture, a fourth-generation family-owned and family-led business founded in the 1930s. The Schottenstein family has made significant contributions to healthcare, including cancer research, cardiovascular research and mental health.
“Before being an honoree, I didn’t realize the national impact of City of Hope. The partnership of IHFI and City of Hope is truly symbiotic, and I am proud to be connected with the City of Hope. Dr. Wong set a high bar, and our family will match his gift,” said Schottenstein, as the audience rose to their feet as they did following Wong’s gift announcement.
Earlier in the program, Dr. Harlan Levine, City of Hope’s president of health innovation and policy, shared patient stories to illustrate the advancements in robotics and genomics, including the remarkable story of industry veteran Michael Burton, who is the first and only recipient of back-to-back stem cell transplant with a time-advanced introduction of CAR T-cell therapy. He could not attend the gala but was represented by his son, Michael Burton, Jr.
The Spirit of Life committee and City of Hope recognizes and thanks the 2025 Spirit of Life top sponsors:
Presenting Sponsors $100,000
American Signature Furniture/Value City Furniture
Rooms To Go
Underwriting Sponsor $70,000
Manwah Holdings
Honoree Circle Sponsors $50,000
Ashley Furniture
LS Direct
Manwah Holdings
Diamond Sponsors $25,000
Amini Innovation Corporation
Baer’s Furniture
Berkshire Hathaway Group (Nebraska Furniture Mart, Jordan’s Furniture, RC Willey and Star
Furniture)
CITY Furniture
Classic Home
Darvin Furniture
Flexsteel
Furniture Mart
Haverty’s
Hooker Furnishings
J.B. Hunt Final Mile
Jofran
KUKA Home
La-Z-Boy
Liberty Furniture
Mattress Firm
Najarian Furniture
Raymour & Flanigan
Samson
Tempur Sealy
To learn more about the industry’s next flagship fundraising event, the West Coast Golf, Tennis & Pickleball Tournament, and to register online, click here or send an email to IHFIevents@coh.org.