Every year, the National Business Products Council hosts the annual City of Hope Tour and Hall of Fame Dinner. And every year senior executives from across the industry come together in Pasadena (CA) for two days to learn about City of Hope, its achievements, ongoing research and most pressing challenges.
The event is also the unofficial start to the annual business supplies sector’s fundraising campaign, which this year honours SP Richards (SPR) CEO Rick Toppin under his Generations for Hope banner. Over the past 35 years, industry support has raised over $175 million for research, treatment and educational programmes for cancer and diabetes carried out at City of Hope.
The 2018 campaign got off to a great start, having already raised $5 million towards its $15 million goal. This is partially a result of almost all fundraising events of last year – the campaign honoured GOJO’s Steve Schultz – being repeated in 2018 (for a calendar of events, see page 41 or visit www.cityofhope.org/nbpi). But there are also a handful of new and updated activities, all related to Toppin’s desire to open fundraising to a wider audience and get a broader group of people engaged – late February’s Ski for Hope event was one example of this.
Strategy and learning
The City of Hope Tour and Hall of Fame Dinner is about much more than crunching fundraising numbers, however. Strategy and learning are just as high on the agenda. The two-day event began with the National Business Products Industry’s (NBPI) technology, industrial & jan/san and independent dealer committees coming together for their campaign updates. The committees’ charter is to grow awareness, support and generate new corporate relationships from companies in those various sectors.
On the second day, before the members of the National Business Products Council conducted their bi-annual meeting and strategy session, it was time for a very hands-on City of Hope experience – the tour, campus walk and luncheon. Some of the best-known physicians and researchers in the US were on hand to provide presentations and updates on what’s at the forefront of City of Hope’s activities and priorities right now. To say that listening to these experts in their field is a humbling – and inspiring – experience, would be an understatement indeed.
The event concluded at the end of the second day with the NBPI City of Hope Hall of Fame Dinner where industry stalwarts and long-time City of Hope ambassadors Jerry Dittmer from HON, Sam Richardson from Fellowes and Paul Ventimiglia from PM Company were all named to the 2018 Hall of Fame class. The cocktail reception, dinner and programme emceed by Scott Light featured award presentations and contributions from long-standing supporters and patient speaker Erin Sweeney as well as a campaign update from SPR’s Toppin.
One of the highlights of the festivities included LDI owner and CEO Mike Fiterman making an impassioned speech which concluded with the announcement of his family’s donation of $200,000 to City of Hope. This prompted a round of pledges for the NBPI personal giving programme in support of the Chemical GMP Facility which raised over $350,000 during the evening, bringing the current programme total raised to $2.5 million and ever closer towards the $3 million five-year goal (2016-2020).
Bob Parker Memorial Golf Outing: 14-15 May
The annual Bob Parker Memorial Golf Outing is one of the premier events on the City of Hope National Business Products Industry calendar.
This year hosted by 3M, the event changes venue to the splendour of Sea Island (GA). Not only is this five-star resort graced with a golf course that is recognised as one of the top 100 courses in the US, the location change in 2018 to the fabulous Sea Island is also in line with Spirit of Life Honouree Rick Toppin’s quest to make this year’s campaign family-friendly and generation-spanning, structuring it to appeal to a broad range of interests.
Amid the majesty of this amazing backdrop, the Bob Parker Memorial Golf Outing commemorates one of the industry’s most beloved icons, Robert Stewart Parker. Parker was a 25-year industry veteran who worked as President of Sanford, COO of Newell and President of O’Sullivan Industries during his career. He also served as chair of the (then called) National Office Products Council for City of Hope during which the annual fundraising initiative enjoyed unsurpassed growth, raising over $21 million from 2003 to 2006. Parker himself was presented with The Spirit of Life Award in 2002.
Honouree Golf Outing: 30-31 July
The National Business Products Industry’s annual Honouree Golf Outing serves as the Spirit of Life Honouree’s signature event.
This year hosted by SP Richards and specifically CEO Rick Toppin, the event will be held at the magnificent Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee resort in Greensboro (GA. Surrounded by the still waters of Lake Oconee and towering oaks, Reynolds Lake Oconee will deliver an unforgettable golf experience while supporting life-saving cancer and diabetes research at City of Hope.
Guests are encouraged to bring family to the event as there will be plenty of children-friendly activities and support services.
Bike for Hope: date tbc
Now in its fourth year, Bike for Hope – sponsored by Supplies Network, HP and HSM – sees 20+ superhuman supporters bike 500 miles in five days in support of life-saving cancer and diabetes research and treatment at City of Hope. Endurance athletes and road bikers alike are sure to have the experience of a lifetime!
Traditionally, the ride has begun in Palo Alto (CA) where HP is headquartered. It then continues for five consecutive days down the California coastline to Los Angeles.
Details of the 2018 event route will be announced soon. However, there’s no time like the present to get yourself ready to join in this adrenaline-filled adventure!
Calendar of events 2018
8-11 April: Bud Mundt Charity Fishing Tournament
14-15 May: Bob Parker Memorial Golf Outing
9 June: Nashville Celebrity Softball Game
10-13 June: AFFLINK Summit
20-21 June: HON Golf Outing & President’s Roundtable
24-25 June: The Office City and Vanguard Sales Group Outing
12-15 July: 3M Wonewok Event
30-31 July: Honouree Golf Outing
6 August: ACCO Brands Golf Outing
8-9 August: Frey Gaede Golf Outing
13 August: Smead Golf Outing
18-21 August: SP Richards ABC
20 August: Fellowes Golf Outing
27 August: GOJO Golf Outing & Vendor Summit
4-6 September: 2nd Annual City of Hope Cross Industry Golf Challenge
10 September: Georgia Pacific Golf Outing & Vendor Summit
12 September: Howard Wolf Golf Classic
13 September: Spirit of Life Gala
