The 51st annual campaign brings together artists and leaders in the music, film and entertainment industries in support of City of Hope’s lifesaving mission to conquer cancer and diabetes
CONTACTS
CITY OF HOPE
Bridget Livengood
626-232-2498
blivengood@coh.org
AEG PRESENTS
Dennis Dennehy
ddennehy@aegpresents.com
SLATE PR
Ida Bo Frazier
323-868-2020
ida@slate-pr.com
LOS ANGELES — City of Hope®, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, announced today that its Music, Film and Entertainment Industry (MFEI) fundraising group will present its most esteemed and prestigious honor — The Spirit of Life® Award — to Jay Marciano, chairman and CEO of AEG Presents. The award, which honors leaders for their notable contributions to their community and profession, will be presented at a gala dinner this fall in Los Angeles.
“City of Hope is proud to honor the notable contributions of Jay Marciano and celebrate our continued philanthropic partnership with the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry group,” said Kristin Bertell, chief philanthropy officer at City of Hope. “Jay is recognized as an industry leader who is eager to accelerate City of Hope’s mission and focus on making breakthrough discoveries that move us closer to putting an end to cancer. We look forward to partnering with him and the larger music community to develop new cures, save patient lives and ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to secure their highest level of health.”
“It’s deeply meaningful to be honored for this recognition,” Marciano said. “Our industry’s work contributes to bringing the brightest minds in the world to make breakthrough medical discoveries — discoveries that give back the gift of time to people. I am honored to join this admirable group of Spirit of Life recipients and look forward to continuing the tradition of leaning on music, film and the arts to raise awareness of and funding for City of Hope’s important work against cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.”
One of the most respected executives in the entertainment industry, Marciano began his remarkable career as a concert promoter in his late 20s — presenting shows from such legendary artists as Madonna and Tina Turner – before moving on to senior leadership roles at Universal Concerts, AEG Europe and Madison Square Garden Entertainment, before returning to AEG in 2011. Under Marciano’s oversight, AEG Presents has promoted tours from many of the music industry’s biggest artists, including stadium titans such as Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. Marciano has been a crucial figure in the growth of the festivals business, overseeing a festival portfolio of over 30 festivals that include such iconic names as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Stagecoach, Electric Forest, British Summertime Hyde Park, C2C: Country To Country, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, among many others. Marciano has also prioritized the company’s global growth with the opening of several international offices and an expansion into Australia, Singapore, Japan and France. Read more about Jay Marciano here.
“City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry division and its board are so thrilled that Jay has accepted our invitation for him to lead the Spirit of Life campaign to benefit City of Hope,” said Alissa Pollack, executive vice president of global music marketing for iHeartMedia and MFEI board president. “In addition to being a top business leader in our industry, he leads by example through bringing together his professional community for the greater good.”
Over the past 50 years, MFEI has brought together entertainment industry powerhouses, such as Lyor Cohen, Sir Lucian Grainge, Monte and Avery Lipman, Jon Platt and Sylvia Rhone, to name a few, and has generated more than $150 million to improve outcomes for people with cancer and diabetes. Through the group’s support, City of Hope has made tremendous strides in raising awareness for its mission and continues to increase access to leading-edge, lifesaving cancer care for people across the country. Most recently, the MFEI group along with other community philanthropists and elected officials, collaborated to bring a first-of-its-kind mobile cancer prevention screening program to Southern California so that residents in underserved communities can access state-of-the-art cancer screenings and resources in more public spaces throughout their neighborhoods.
This announcement kicks off a year-long fundraising initiative for City of Hope that includes marquee events, such as the Taste of Hope in NYC in April, Future Hope Poker Tournament and Songs of Hope later this calendar year.
For updates and sponsorship information, please email mfei@coh.org.
Discover unique MFEI auction experiences that benefit City of Hope or contribute to the cause at https://jaymarcianospiritoflife.com/.
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About City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Group
Inspired by the guiding humanitarian principles of City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States and a leading research center for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses, and motivated by the institution's commitment to innovative medical research and compassionate patient care, a group of key industry executives founded City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry group in 1973.
In its 50-plus-year history, the group has raised over $150 million for City of Hope and has honored some of the most important figures in the music and entertainment industry.
The Spirit of Life Award is City of Hope’s most prestigious honor and is presented to an esteemed community of industry leaders around the world who have made a significant commitment to improving the lives of others through the advancement of research and clinical innovation and the delivery of personalized, compassionate care.
Past honorees include Lyor Cohen, Shelli and Irving Azoff, Edgar Bronfman Jr., Coran Capshaw, Eddy Cue, Clive Davis, Sir Lucian Grainge, Allen Grubman, Quincy Jones, Rob Light, Monte and Avery Lipman, Doug Morris, Mo Ostin, Bob Pittman, Jon Platt and Sylvia Rhone to name a few.
About City of Hope
City of Hope's mission is to make hope a reality for all touched by cancer and diabetes. Founded in 1913, City of Hope has grown into one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S. and one of the leading research centers for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope research has been the basis for numerous breakthrough cancer medicines, as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With an independent, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center at its core, City of Hope brings a uniquely integrated model to patients spanning cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and innovation initiatives. City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and cancer treatment centers and outpatient facilities in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix areas. City of Hope’s affiliated group of organizations includes Translational Genomics Research Institute and AccessHopeTM. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.