Hundreds of City of Hope supporters recently converged on the campus for a day of celebration and education.
The gathering, which took place during National Volunteer Week, was the latest in an ongoing series of City of Hope educational events in cities nationwide. Called the Tour of Hope, these forums bring together City of Hope faculty, administrators, donors, Walk for Hope team captains and members of local chapters.
 City of Hope chapter members pass by Golter Gate while visiting campus for the Tour of Hope on April 21. (Photo by Thomas Brown) |
Organized with the help of the Ambassador Leadership Council, the Tour of Hope updates volunteers about City of Hope’s progress against disease — made possible, in part, through the volunteers’ support — and recognizes their longtime loyalty to the organization.
More than 350 volunteers, representing about two dozen chapters from Southern California and as far away as Las Vegas, attended the April 21 event. The Tour of Hope is a national program held in eight cities across the country each year.
Alan Levey, senior vice president of development, praised supporters for serving as City of Hope’s “legacy and our foundation.”
“We thank you for making City of Hope your charity of choice and for all that you do,” Levey said.
The day began with a campus tour that highlighted City of Hope Helford Clinical Research Hospital, the Japanese Garden and other locations.
Later, attendees united in Cooper Auditorium for a program that touched on City of Hope’s research, treatment and fundraising activities.
City of Hope speakers included Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Kathleen Kane, executive vice president for development and external affairs, Alexandra Levine, M.D., chief medical officer, and Richard Jove, Ph.D., Beckman Research Institute director.
“I think the future is very bright at City of Hope,” Kane told the assembled chapter members, “and that is because of your commitment and support.”
In one event highlight, patient speaker Kommah McDowell told supporters how she overcame inflammatory breast cancer in 2005 with the help of City of Hope physicians.
Inflammatory breast cancer is rare but aggressive, and only 40 percent of patients survive for five years after diagnosis.
McDowell, who is cancer-free, introduced her husband and baby son to the audience.
“Because of your investment in City of Hope,” she told attendees, “I was given the opportunity of a lifetime — life.”
