Hundreds of furniture industry supporters spent the evening at Grandover Resort on Sunday, April 17, for the 2016 City of Hope Spirit of Life awards dinner.

The primary fundraiser for the organization, the annual April dinner is also when the International Home Furnishings Industry chapter recognizes its key City of Hope supporters and honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the effort. Monies raised are used for medical research and patient care in the diabetes and cancer arenas.

For 2016, Farooq Kathwari, chairman, president and CEO of Ethan Allen Interiors, and Richard Feng, founder, chairman and CEO of Markor Group, were the honorees. Kathwari and Feng made significant financial contributions to the City of Hope and were lauded for their philanthropy, leadership and commitment to research support.

Chuck Reilly, IHFI national chair, said that 2016 fundraising effort for City of Hope was a record breaker with more than $1.8 million in contributions from IHFI members and events. In addition to the Spirit of Life dinner, IHFI hosts the West Coast Golf and Tennis Tournament in Coto de Caza, Calif.

The IHFI chapter was formed in 1965 as one of the City of Hope's first industry-based chapters. Since its inception, the group has raised more than $54 million. The IHFI chapter includes retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives, suppliers and associated service providers.

"This year we are proud to honor two incredible industry leaders, Farooq Kathwari and Richard Feng, for their dedication and leadership in the global fight against cancer and diabetes," said Reilly along with Kevin O'Connor, Spirit of Life dinner chair. "As a global industry, we have a unique and tremendous opportunity to pool our resources and make a profound impact on restoring hope and life to those facing these devastating diseases."

(Source: Furniture Today)