Mark Werts Sr., founder and chief executive officer of lifestyle retail company American Rag Cie, recently received The Spirit of Life® Award, City of Hope’s most prestigious philanthropic honor. Werts accepted the award at the institution’s 2008 Award of Hope gala.

City of Hope supporters and luminaries from the world of fashion gathered at the November dinner in Beverly Hills, Calif., to honor Werts for his contributions to his community and his profession.

“I am honored to receive this award from City of Hope, an institution that sets a precedent for improving the quality of treatments for people with life-threatening diseases,” said Werts.

The event raised $385,000 for City of Hope.

Said Werts: “It is gratifying that fashion can play a role in helping to change lives.”

Werts founded American Rag Cie in 1984 as part of a wide-ranging career that includes building the “Salty Dog” chain of vintage clothing and jeans stores in Europe.

City of Hope’s Apparel Industry Group, which staged the event, unites leaders from all facets of the apparel industry and has raised more than $40 million for City of Hope.