The industry celebrates City of Hope

Orlando, Fla. -- It started with a virtual tour of a California cancer-treatment facility, continued with a former patient’s medical success story and concluded with the handing over of an oversized $700,000 check.

Those were some of the highlights of the Hardware/Homebuilding Industry’s Spirit of Life fundraising gala for City of Hope. The night’s special spotlight fell on Behr Process Corp. President Jeff Filley, the 2018 City of Hope Spirit of Life honoree.

The hardware/homebuilding industry during its 35 years of existence has raised about $150 million in its 35 years of partnership with the Duarte, Calif.-based disease treatment and research facility.

In his remarks, Filley described how the employees of Southern California-based Behr have been able to witness the operation of the world-famous City of Hope with their own eyes. “They do amazing work and they save lives,” he said. “Nothing is more important than that.” Among the lives saved was Filley’s own mother, who received cancer treatment at City of Hope.

“We’re very humbled to be the Spirit of Life recipient,” he said.

The ceremony also looked ahead to 2019’s Spirit of Life event, and announced the selection of Giles Bowman as 2019 honoree. Bowman is the senior VP of merchandising, building materials, for The Home Depot.

Along with an update on the medical advances, there was also a patient’s story, told by 26-year-old cancer survivor Nicole Schultz. She was diagnosed with a difficult-to-treat cancer as a freshman in high school. In an emotional speech, she thanked the industry for its fundraising and generosity. “I am standing here today because of the work being done at City of Hope,” she said.