The Chicago Construction and Real Estate Council raised $500,000 for City of Hope’s cancer research and treatment programs in 2007.

Al Gorman, chair of the board of Power Construction, received City of Hope’s Spirit of Life® Award at the group’s November gala in recognition for building one of the most highly respected and successful privately held construction companies in the industry.

The Spirit of Life Award is City of Hope’s most prestigious honor and recognizes the honoree for outstanding professional work and philanthropic commitment to the community.

”Last spring, I had the opportunity to visit City of Hope with a group of my industry peers,” said Gorman. “Many know that I am familiar with the health-care sector, and to say that I was impressed by my tour of City of Hope’s campus would be an understatement.

“I saw firsthand the compassion and the total commitment the staff at City of Hope give to every patient, and the innovative research being done that impacts patients everywhere. City of Hope is a place where dreams come true through scientific research. Together, as an industry, we are helping make many of those dreams come true.”

Created in 1992 by a group of construction and real estate professionals to help fund the search for a cure for cancer, the Chicago Construction and Real Estate Council has grown to include representatives from all levels of the industry including development, finance, architecture, law and brokerage. To date, the group has raised more than $3.5 million for City of Hope’s research, treatment and education programs.