NEWS RELEASE
LOS ANGELES (April 13, 2026) — The International Home Furnishings Industry group and City of Hope are issuing a final call for support in the weeks leading up to the 2026 Spirit of Life® gala in Greensboro, North Carolina. Many industry leaders have stepped forward with sponsorships and donations to support the groundbreaking research and treatment for cancer and diabetes at City of Hope.
The prestigious Spirit of Life® Lifetime Achievement award will be presented this year to Kevin O’Connor in recognition of his leadership and longstanding commitment to advancing City of Hope’s mission. The awards gala will be held Friday, April 24 at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons. To date, the 2026 event has raised more than $1 million for City of Hope.
As the event draws closer, the organizing committee encourages additional participation from industry leaders and emphasizes City of Hope’s national and global impact, which has been supported by the International Home Furnishings Industry group with over $100 million since its partnership began in 1965.
Sponsors for the 2026 Spirit of Life® gala represent every segment of the home furnishings industry including retailers of all sizes across the country, furniture and mattress manufacturers, and suppliers and service providers. The committee recognizes this year’s current top sponsors:
• Presenting Sponsor: ($100,000): Rooms To Go
• Honoree Circle Sponsors: ($50,000): Ashley Furniture, LS Direct, Samson Marketing, Surya
• Diamond Sponsors: ($25,000): Baer’s Furniture, Berkshire Hathaway: Jordan’s, Nebraska Furniture Mart, RC Willey and Star Furniture, CITY Furniture, Classic Home, Darvin Furniture, Flexsteel, Haverty’s Furniture, Hooker Furniture, J.B. Hunt, KUKA Home, La-Z-Boy, Liberty Furniture, ManWah, Raymour & Flanigan, Tempur Sealy
• Platinum Sponsor ($15,000): The TJX Companies
• Gold Sponsors: ($10,000): American Furniture Warehouse, ANDMORE, JBS Couros, Jofran, Magnussen Home, Morris Furniture, Serta Simmons Bedding, Skyline Furniture, Wayfair, Womble Bond Dickinson LLP
• Silver Sponsors: ($5,000): AICO, Bernhardt Furniture, BrandSource, Broyhill Family Foundation, Davis Direct, El Dorado Furniture, FMG/Wells Fargo, Forvis Mazars, Glen Raven, Markor International/Vivet Inc., Massood Logistics, Matter Brothers, Norwalk Furniture, Nourison, Designer Group: Otto and Moore, Wheeless Designs & CH Designs, and Vanguard Furniture
• Reception Sponsor: ($10,000): Amazon
• Photo Booth Sponsor: ($10,000): Belfort Furniture
• Champagne Sponsors: ($5,000): Crypton, Linon/Powell
For City of Hope’s past Spirit of Life awards, view the honorees here. To support or register for this event, visit CityofHope.org/IHFI-Gala. For more information, contact Loren Boyko at 626-222-9764, or send an email to [email protected].
To learn more about the West Coast Golf, Tennis & Pickleball Tournament, the industry’s other flagship fundraising event taking place June 8, and to register online, click here. For more information, contact Cathleen Tighe at 323-459-5130, or send an email to [email protected].
City of Hope is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy such as CAR T cell therapy. City of Hope’s translational research and personalized treatment protocols have advanced care for people throughout the world with cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.
