The furniture industry and City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., mark 57 years of philanthropic partnership this year.
Over those years, the two have worked to accelerate cancer research discovery and broaden access to leading-edge care.
“The furniture industry and City of Hope share an ethos of compassion — caring for others and having a sense of family and home, which makes our partnership and advocacy very special,” said Sharon Joyce, vice president of development at City of Hope, who has worked at the nonprofit for 27 years.
One of the flagship fundraising events of the furniture industry is the West Coast Golf & Tennis Tournament, which started in the early ‘90s.
Each year, City of Hope honors an individual or organization from the home furnishings industry who will lead fundraising efforts for the golf tournament. This year’s honoree is Roy Hester, senior vice president and managing director of Planned Furniture Promotions. Hester is a 50-year industry veteran, and no stranger to community activism and philanthropic leadership, having helped furnish several homes for disabled veterans and their families.
Rick Powell, who founded Powell Company with his father, Larry Powell, was honored with City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award in 1992 and has since spearheaded the tournament to become one of City of Hope’s top-grossing annual events.
Over its lifetime, the event has raised more than $18.5 million to advance cures and treatment innovation.
“The tremendous success and impact of the golf tournament is because of the dedication of Rick Powell and his team of volunteers—that’s what has grown this event to what it is today. It’s not uncommon to have 500 people attend the dinner. We have raised as much as $2 million in one year,” says Martin Ploy, president of AICO and past Spirit of Life honoree.
