Hundreds of supporters turned out Jan. 18 in Las Vegas as City of Hope’s Hardware/Homebuilding Industry (HHI) group granted The Spirit of Life® Award to Mark Baker, president and chief operating officer of ScottsMiracle-Gro. The group’s 2009 Spirit of Life effort raised $525,000 for research, treatment and education for cancer and other diseases.
 Bruce Merino, right, presents Mark Baker with The Spirit of Life Award. (Photo courtesy Christie’s Photographic Studio) |
The event featured a golf tournament drawing 110 participants and a reception at Caesar’s Palace for more than 400 guests. Former Home Depot executive and Spirit of Life honoree Pat Farrah donated a Caribbean cruise on his yacht “Hope” for the event’s silent auction.
Baker oversees ScottsMiracle-Gro’s North American and international consumer business units and manages global technologies and operations for the company. Baker serves on the boards of Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., and the ScottsMiracle-Gro Company. He also gave a significant personal gift of $50,000 to City of Hope, citing his strong belief in the institution and its mission to accelerate research into new therapies.
Senior executives from all major hardware and home improvement retailers, including Ace Hardware, True Value, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Orchard Supply Hardware, ProBuild and HD Supply, attended the event.
Since it was founded in 1982, HHI has raised more than $140 million for lifesaving research, treatment and education programs. The group has grown to encompass a nationwide network of high-profile manufacturers, retailers, distributors, manufacturers’ representatives and related members.
