COTO DE CAZA, Calif. – More than $960,000 was raised to support the City of Hope at this year’s West Coast golf and tennis tournament held here Monday.
The 32nd annual event, coordinated by the International Home Furnishings Industry group in support of City of Hope, hosted more than 520 people for golf, tennis and a celebratory dinner. During the dinner, the group honored David Binke, chief executive officer of King Koil Mattress Co., and Catherine and Richard Frinier, co-founders and principal designers of Richard Frinier Design Studio with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The day’s festivities also included silent and live auctions to boost fundraising.
Krissy Kobata, a bone marrow cancer survivor treated at the City of Hope, shared her journey after being diagnosed at 25 with myelodysplasia, a rare blood cancer in which the body’s bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells.
In need of a bone marrow transplant, her chances of finding a matching donor seemed impossible because of her mixed race. It took a worldwide search and 10 years to find a match for the daughter of a Japanese father and a Caucasian mother.
During the event, Kobata met Michael Amini, a long-time supporter of City of Hope whose contributions made possible the Michael Amini Transfusion Medicine Center. Kobata received outpatient chemotherapy at the center prior to her transplant.
“On behalf of City of Hope and long-time co-chairs of this incredible event, Debra Tous, Neil Friedman, Irene Crowell, Larry Furiani, Jaclyn Jimenez, Ryan Mahoney, and Chuck Reilly, I would like to thank all the sponsors, donors, supporters and volunteers for their continued support make this annual fundraiser a success,” said Rick Powell, who has spearheaded the West Coast event since 1992 when he was honored with City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award.
Plans are underway for next year’s tournament during which Jeff Child, president of RC Willey, John Moungian, president of Qualex Inc., and Harold Hudson, vice president of business development at Summer Classics will be honored. The event is scheduled for Monday, June 9. For more information on how to support and get involved email [email protected].