by LOS ANGELES — The home furnishings industry deepens its commitment to City of Hope as sponsorship and donations grow for the 2026 Spirit of Life gala and honoree Kevin O’Connor, culminating in the annual gala during Spring High Point Market.
Hosted by City of Hope’s International Home Furnishings Industry Group (IHFI), the gala will take place Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons. The 2026 Spirit of Life Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to O’Connor, a respected industry executive whose leadership and longstanding dedication to City of Hope have helped to advance the organization’s lifesaving mission.
City of Hope is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a global leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy, including CAR T cell therapy. Through its integrated model of research, treatment and education, City of Hope continues to advance therapies for patients facing cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases worldwide.
“Now is the time for our industry to unite, show its leadership, and help drive the progress that makes cures possible,” said O’Connor.
Spirit of Life® represents one of the home furnishings industry’s most unified philanthropic efforts, bringing together retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, sales representatives and service providers in support of innovative cancer research and patient care. As momentum builds toward the annual spring event, sponsors from across the retail, manufacturing and supplier sectors have pledged their support.
2026 top sponsors include:
• Presenting Sponsor ($100,000): Rooms To Go
• Honorees Circle ($50,000): Ashley Furniture, LS Direct, Samson Marketing, Surya
• Diamond Sponsors ($25,000): Baer’s Furniture, Berkshire Hathaway: Nebraska Furniture Mart, Star, RC Willey, & Jordan’s, 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
• Gold Sponsors ($10,000): ANDMORE, JBS Couros, Magnussen Home, Skyline Furniture, Wayfair
• Silver Sponsors ($6,000): Brandsource, Broyhill Foundation, Designers: Otto and Moore, Wheeless Designs, Charles Harris, El Dorado Furniture, Markor International, Massood Logistics, Matter Brothers, Norwalk Furniture
