Chart-topping music superstars helped City of Hope celebrate Doug Morris — chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Universal Music Group — during a Spirit of Life® gala in Santa Monica, Calif., on Oct. 15. The event, along with other music industry activities during the year, raised nearly $10 million for City of Hope.
Artists Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Akon, Maroon 5, Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Michael McDonald, Keyshia Cole, Robin Thicke, Lee Ann Womack, Luis Fonsi and David Bisbal, Duffy, Jamie Cullum, Erykah Badu and The Clique Girls, among others, appeared at the event. The dinner, which honored Morris for his outstanding contributions to the community and music industry, shattered fundraising records to make it one of the single largest one-night charity events ever in California.
 Musical acts including Maroon 5 take the stage to honor Universal Music Group’s Doug Morris at the Music and Entertainment Industry group gala. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Wire Image) |
The event also featured nearly 2,000 attendees from the media, entertainment and technology industries, including Apple Chairman Steve Jobs, Universal Music Group (UMG) President and Chief Operating Officer Zach Horowitz, Motown founder Berry Gordy, David Geffen, MySpace co-founders Chris DeWolfe and Tom Anderson, Activision Chairman and CEO Bobby Kotick, Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Inc., Viacom Chairman and CEO Sumner Redstone, AEG President Tim Leiweke, Michael Tatelman of Dell Inc., and recording artists Jay-Z, the Jonas Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Josh Groban, Smokey Robinson, Lil Jon and Nelly, among many others.
“City of Hope is so deeply honored to have the support of a remarkable industry leader like Doug Morris,” said Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer. “His tireless dedication as an executive and mentor is also mirrored in his philanthropic commitment. Under his leadership, and through the efforts of so many outstandingly talented stars, this successful industry campaign is testament to the generosity of the Music and Entertainment Industry and its belief in City of Hope’s lifesaving cancer research, treatment and education programs.”
Dell was the night’s leading sponsor in support of City of Hope’s cancer research. As part of its generous donation, the company provided laptops to be auctioned as part of a larger fundraising program.
“Dell is proud to be part of the 2008 Spirit of Life Award and applauds City of Hope’s continued dedication to finding a cure for cancer,” said Tatelman, vice president of consumer sales and marketing at Dell. “We hope that Dell’s contribution can help the ongoing innovative research in this critical area.”
As chairman and CEO of UMG, Morris is responsible for guiding the overall global activities of the world’s largest music company. UMG encompasses the development, marketing, sales and distribution of recorded music through a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures and licensees in 77 countries around the world. UMG’s businesses also include the industry’s largest global music publishing operation, Universal Music Publishing Group.
Throughout his career, Morris has worked with some of the most popular and influential artists of the past four decades, including Bette Midler, Erykah Badu, INXS, Led Zeppelin, Mariah Carey, Pete Townshend, Phil Collins, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Nicks and Tori Amos.
Morris also serves on the board of directors of the Robin Hood Foundation and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, as well as a director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
In 2003, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences awarded Morris the President’s Merit Award, honoring his consistent creative commitment to artistic and entrepreneurial excellence and longstanding support for the music and world communities.
In its 35 years of dedicated efforts, City of Hope’s Music and Entertainment Industry Group has grown to include all segments of the industry. The group has raised more than $70 million to support ongoing programs at City of Hope.
