Marvin Ellison’s thank-you note

Many of the most prominent leaders of the home improvement and homebuilding industry over the years have dedicated time and effort for the causes championed by City of Hope. Specifically: too fight cancer and other deadly diseases, while providing compassionate care to the afflicted.

This year, it was Marvin Ellison’s time to help boost the fundraising as City of Hope’s Spirit of Life honoree. The chairman and chief executive of Mooresville, North Carolina-based Lowe’s helped bring $8.5 million in donations to the California-based research and treatment center.

Ellison recently shared the following note of appreciation to the industry.

“When I was named the Spirit of Life recipient earlier this year, I vowed to raise a sum that could truly make a difference for City of Hope. It is my hope and prayer that the millions raised in this fundraising effort will help others achieve their dreams and lead healthy, productive lives. Thank you all for donating to this worthy cause.”

In a span of four decades, the City of Hope’s National Hardware/Homebuilding group has raised some $170 million for the research and treatment center. The list of luminaries who carried the Spirit of Life mantle in past years includes Arthur Blank, Bernie Marcus (Home Depot), Paul Hylbert (ProBuild Holdings/Kodiak Building Partners), Ray Griffith (Ace Hardware) and Bill Boltz. (Lowe’s), to name a few.