Building Hope
Kevin Campbell, Jeff Lorberbaum and Tom Koos are walking lockstep into home-improvement-industry history as they share City of Hope's Spirit of Life Award, to be bestowed during an industry gala Feb. 26 in Las Vegas.
As they share the award, they also share a passion for moving the needle in the scientific battle against cancer and life-threatening diseases.
The names of Campbell, Lorberbaum and Koos join a prestigious list (Marcus, Blank, Menear, Strickland, Ellison, Herring to name a few) of industry giants who have led the annual fundraising efforts for City of Hope, amounting to some $176 million since the industry group began its campaign in 1983.
The 2024 Spirit of Life honorees:
• Kevin Campbell, president, Moen;
• Jeff Lorberbaum, president and CEO, Mohawk Industries; and
• Tom Koos, president and CEO, PrimeSource Brands.
Every dollar raised brings society closer to history-making and groundbreaking advances in disease prevention, and the elusive and long-sought-after cures.
The three honorees also share a strong belief in the power of injecting the goals of community service and philanthropy in the overall corporate missions.
Mohawk's mission
Mohawk CEO Jeff Lorberbaum shared his thoughts on the Spirit of Life:
“Mohawk and City of Hope share a commitment to helping people lead healthier lives, so it’s a special honor to be named as a recipient of this year’s Spirit of Life Award. Each day, City of Hope’s research teams are delivering groundbreaking results that translate into superior treatment and improved patient outcomes.
“My family and I are proud to help City of Hope expand their life-saving work battling cancer, diabetes and other major illnesses.”
PrimeSource’s Tom Koos told HBSDealer that being selected as a Spirit of Life honoree brought feelings of modesty, humility and responsibility.
"When you look at the list of past honorees, It's a list I never thought I'd be on," he said. "So it's humbling. But also, looking at the names, you get a feeling of responsibility, as well. You have to carry the torch, and that's what I'm sure all three of us are trying to do right now."
PrimeSource, Moen and Mohawk have long been generous supporters and advocates of City of Hope over the years. Moen’s Campbell describes support of one of the country's largest cancer research and treatment organizations as a natural fit for his company’s culture—in terms of innovation, excellence and giving back.
“For Moen, nothing defines ’achieving success’ more than giving to people in need and seeing the appreciation and hope that assistance provides," Campbell said. “We’re committed to supporting social causes and non-profit organizations aligned with our corporate values, and we’ll continue to find ways to make a meaningful difference to those we serve.“
The National Hardware/Homebuilding Industry’s 41st annual Spirit of Life Gala is more than just award ceremony. A tee-off party hosted by Building Hope, will bring next generation of philanthropists together at Top Golf in Las Vegas on Sunday Feb. 25. On. Feb. 26, an annual fund-raising golf tournament at Red Rock Country Club will preceded the awards night gala at Palms Resort Las Vegas.
The night of the gala typically includes updates from the ground-breaking work of scientists at City of Hope. And one can also expect moving testimonials from the human impact of research and treatment, shared by those who experienced them.
"This is a special cause," Koos emphasized. "First of all, we're all impacted by this. I don't think you can find a person on the planet who hasn't been impacted in som way by cancer or diabetes. And secondly, City of Hope is doing things differently. They're on the leading edge. They're part entrepreneurial. And the industry is supporting it. And that makes it all the more worthwhile."
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Researchers at City of Hope share updates with members of the National Hardware/Homebuilding Industry fundraising group. -
The Spirit of Life honorees: Campbell, Lorberbaum and Koos. -
City of Hope's facilities are expanding what we know about cancer and diabetes.
