Hundreds of volunteers from Las Vegas to San Diego descended on City of Hope in Duarte, Calif., in June for the most expansive event in this year’s Tour of Hope.

The Tour of Hope is a national program held in seven cities across the country each year, from Seattle to Florida. These events bring together City of Hope faculty, administrators, donors, Walk for Hope team captains and members of local chapters.

Organized with the help of the Ambassador Leadership Council, the Tour of Hope updates volunteers about City of Hope’s progress against disease and recognizes volunteers’ longtime loyalty.

The largest event, held on the City of Hope campus on June 26, united nearly 700 major gift donors, chapter members and grateful patients for a day of learning and inspiration. It featured talks by physicians and scientists, as well as sessions with City of Hope leaders.

After Kathleen Kane, executive vice president of development and external affairs, welcomed guests, Alexandra Levine, M.D., M.A.C.P., chief medical officer, addressed the audience.

The visitors then separated into groups for the five-stop tour of City of Hope. At the Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center, Matthew Loscalzo, L.C.S.W., the Liliane Elkins Professor in Supportive Care Programs and executive director of the Department of Supportive Care Medicine, described the center’s interdisciplinary care.

Attendees also watched urologic surgeon David Josephson, M.D., demonstrate a surgical robot and stopped at the rose garden for a lecture on complementary medicine by surgical oncologist Lily Lai, M.D.

James Bolen, facilities and emergency planner for basic research operations, and Amy Cook, graduate student at the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, shared updates on ongoing research at Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, while Richard Thompson, vice president of facilities, provided insight on City of Hope’s campus plans.

After the tour, attendees mingled with City of Hope faculty and staff at a reception.

The event ended with a dinner at which Michael A. Friedman, M.D., the Irell & Manella Cancer Center Director’s Distinguished Chair, president and chief executive officer, talked about the importance of the Power of Hope campaign and thanked volunteers for their commitment and support.

Each chapter in attendance was recognized at the dinner. In addition, several groups received awards for accomplishments: The Board of Governors raised the most money of all chapters since the last Convention in 2008; the Sportsmen’s Club raised the most money — $72 million — since its inception; and the Esperanza Chapter had the most attendees at the Tour of Hope event.

“We’d like to thank all the chapter members who attended the Tour of Hope,” said Alan Levey, senior vice president of development. “We appreciate their past and ongoing support as they have been the foundation from which City of Hope has been built — a true grassroots movement.”

Outgoing board chair Terry Peets also spoke about City of Hope’s accomplishments and growth during his three-year tenure, and Sheri Biller told attendees she looked forward to becoming City of Hope’s new board chair and leading the Power of Hope campaign. Friedman also acknowledged outgoing board member Ernie So.

In addition to the Duarte Tour of Hope, stops included Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Philadelphia.

Learn more about the Power of Hope campaign, watch the campaign video, read why friends and supporters believe in City of Hope or donate online at www.powerofhopecampaign.org.

Robert Marx, chair of the Board of Governors Chapter, which raised the most money of all chapters since the last Convention in 2008.



Outgoing board member Ernie So, center, receives well-wishes from Terry Peets, left, and Michael Friedman.



Urologic surgeon David Josephson gives an overview of robotic surgery.



Sheri Biller, new board of directors chair, speaks about the Power of Hope campaign.

(Photos by amycantrell.com)