Another big check for City of Hope

ORLANDO, FLA.—For 39 years, the hardware and homebuilding industry has been raising money to support the research and treatment programs for City of Hope, the increasingly famous Duarte, Calif.-based facility. 

And in 2022 the tradition continued, culminating in the presentation of a $3 million check to City of Hope, and some words of inspiration from the annual Spirit of Life Honoree Bill Lennie, a longtime executive for The Home Depot. 

Lennie took the stage at the gala event with an introduction from Home Depot CEO Craig Menear, himself a 2011 Spirit of Life honoree, who described working side-by-side with Lennie as one of his career highlights. 

Attendees of the Spirit of Life event, held on the eve of the International Builders' Show here, were updated with some of the latest hopeful, cancer-fighting scientific developments happening at the City of Hope. They also learned of the world-famous research hospital's acquisition of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, thus expanding City of Hope to some 11,000 team members focused on fighting and treating diseases together.

"City of Hope is a special place," Lennie said from the podium as he officially launched the fund raising campaign for 2022. "This is night one, and I ask that you stay involved.

"We're going to make a difference and have a phenomenal year," he added. 

Next up for the industry group on its fund-raising calendar is the upcoming Bighorn Golf Outing in Palm Desert, Calif., May 2-3. 

Over the 39 years that the National Hardware/Homebuilding Industry group has been supporting City of Hope, it has raised more than $170 million.