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From Home Furnishing Business

IHFI Group of City of Hope Announces Javier Sanchez to be Honored at Tournament

November 15, 2025  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

The West Coast Golf, Tennis & Pickleball Tournament is one of the IHFI’s flagship fundraising events, uniting home furnishings industry leaders and partners in support of City of Hope’s groundbreaking research and compassionate patient care. A National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer center, City of Hope is a world leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapies such as CAR T cell therapy. Its pioneering research and personalized treatment protocols have advanced care for people worldwide with cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases.

Sanchez’s career in the home furnishings industry reflects a lifelong dedication to hard work, innovation and leadership. Born in Mexico in 1970, Sanchez moved with his family to Los Angeles at age two and was raised in South Central Los Angeles. As a teenager, he began working weekends at Jonathan Louis, the company founded by David Harrow, Juan Valle, and Lou Feola. Starting in custodial and plant support roles, Sanchez learned the business from the ground up.

While pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing at the University of Southern California, Sanchez continued to work part-time at Jonathan Louis during the school year and full-time during summer breaks, gaining experience across multiple departments.

At the advice of company founder David Harrow, Sanchez briefly stepped into retail, joining Robinson’s Department Store in Los Angeles to gain firsthand experience in mattress and rug buying. Returning to Jonathan Louis a year later, he transitioned into accounting and sales support, managing the Macy’s account and later overseeing product development and department store business.

Following Harrow’s passing in 2004, Sanchez and Juan Valle acquired the company and guided its evolution from a regional supplier to a national home furnishing brand serving major retail chains across the U.S. Today, as president and CEO, Sanchez is recognized for his strategic vision and deep commitment to the company’s long-term growth and success.

In addition to his leadership at Jonathan Louis, Sanchez serves on the boards of American Business Bank and The Fremont High School Alumni Foundation, reflecting his ongoing commitment to business excellence and community empowerment.

“The home furnishings industry is a close-knit community that thrives on relationships and shared purpose,” said Katie Doyle, associate vice president of corporate philanthropy for City of Hope. “Javier’s story of perseverance and leadership embodies the spirit of hope that drives our mission at City of Hope. We’re proud to honor him at the next West Coast Tournament.”

Since its founding in 1965, the International Home Furnishings Industry group has raised nearly $110 million to fuel City of Hope’s research and patient care initiatives. Funds raised from the West Coast Golf & Tennis Tournament directly support those efforts, bringing lifesaving treatments to patients across the nation.

To learn more about the West Coast Golf, Tennis & Pickleball Tournament and to register online, click here. For more information, contact Loren Boyko at 626-222-9764 or send an email to IHFIevents@coh.org.