City of Hope Announces Spirit of Life Honoree Kevin O’Connor for Spring Gala

March 15, 2026  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

Hosted by City of Hope’s International Home Furnishings Industry Group (IHFI), the gala will take place April 24, at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons. The 2026 Spirit of Life® Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to O’Connor, a respected industry executive whose leadership and longstanding dedication to City of Hope have helped to advance the organization’s lifesaving mission.

City of Hope is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a global

leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy, including CAR T cell therapy.

Through its integrated model of research, treatment and education, City of Hope continues to advance therapies for patients facing cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases worldwide.

“Now is the time for our industry to unite, show its leadership, and help drive the progress that makes cures possible,” said O’Connor.

Spirit of Life® represents one of the home furnishings industry’s most unified philanthropic efforts, bringing together retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, sales representatives and service providers in support of innovative cancer research and patient care. As momentum builds toward the annual spring event, sponsors from across the retail, manufacturing and supplier sectors have pledged their support.

2026 Spirit of Life® top sponsors include:

Presenting Sponsor ($100,000): Rooms To Go

Honorees Circle ($50,000): Ashley Furniture, LS Direct, Samson Marketing, Surya

Diamond Sponsors ($25,000): Baer’s Furniture, Berkshire Hathaway: Nebraska Furniture Mart, Star, RC Willey, & Jordan’s, CITY Furniture, Classic Home, Darvin Furniture, Flexsteel, Haverty’s Furniture, Hooker Furniture, J.B. Hunt, KUKA Home, La-Z-boy, Liberty Furniture, ManWah, Raymour & Flanigan, Tempur Sealy
Gold Sponsors ($10,000): ANDMORE, JBS Couros, Magnussen Home, Skyline Furniture, Wayfair
Silver Sponsors ($6,000): Brandsource, Broyhill Foundation, Designers: Otto and Moore, Wheeless Designs, Charles Harris, El Dorado Furniture, Markor International, Massood Logistics, Matter Brothers, Norwalk Furniture

Founded in 1965, the International Home Furnishings Industry group is one of City of Hope’s first industry-based fundraising chapters. For decades, IHFI has demonstrated how industry leadership and philanthropy can work hand in hand to drive meaningful impact beyond the marketplace.

For a look at past Spirit of Life Award honorees, click here. Industry members interested in supporting the 2026 Spirit of Life® campaign or attending the gala may visit the official event page or contact Loren Boyko at 626-222-9764 or IHFIevents@coh.org for more information. To learn more about the West Coast Golf, Tennis & Pickleball Tournament taking place June 8, and to register online, click here.