Industry embraces philanthropy, and City of Hope

The hardware and home building industry gathered in Orlando on the eve of the International Builders' Show to support City of Hope.

"Our goal tonight is to celebrate and inform," said Kevin Courtney, associate VP of Corporate Philanthropy for the California-based disease research and treatment facility as he kicked off the 2017 Spirit of Life reception. 

Special recognition for the night fell on the family ownership of the Atlanta-based Quikrete Cos., including Custom Building Products and Pavestone, collectively the 2017 Spirit of Life honorees. In their acceptance speech, the Winchester brothers Jack, Dennis and Jim shared their vision of good corporate citizenship.

"We are truly humbled to be recognized as the Spirit of Life honorees," said Jim Winchester. "Giving back has been part of the Quikrete DNA since our founding 75 years ago."

Added Jack Winchester: "There's an unquestioned need to find treatments and cures for cancer diabetes and other diseases. We are happy to support City of Hope because it will save the lives of our friends and our loved ones."

Retired Home Depot executive Bruce Merino introduced the three Winchester brothers as one of the premier trios of the home improvement industry. 

"They are number one in the world at putting stuff in a bag and selling it," Merino quipped.

The phrases "accelerating therapies" and "precision medicine" were used to describe the kind of work being done at City of Hope, in fighting cancer as well as diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

"City of Hope is not just a hospital in California," said Courtney. Rather, it's a world-leading institution fighting and treating diseases.

The Spirit of Life Reception, along with a golf outing earlier in the day,  raised just shy of $1 million for City of Hope. In the past 35 years, the industry has raised some $155 million.