City of Hope’s signature east coast event took place on
June 4 at The Plaza
CONTACT
City of Hope
Bridget Livengood
626-232-2498
[email protected]
Maury Rogoff PR & Marketing
Maury Rogoff
917-865-7530
[email protected]
NEW YORK — City of Hope’s East End Chapter/Jeanne Kaye League of New York City (EEC) volunteer and fundraising group honored daytime TV legend Susan Lucci and one of New York’s top luxury real estate brokers Kathy Murray with the cancer and research center’s Spirit of Life® Award at a luncheon today, June 4, 2024, at The Plaza. The event raised awareness and support for 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.

"We are thrilled beyond measure to be celebrating Susan Lucci and Kathy Murray with City of Hope's Spirit of Life Award," said Lisa Kaye Fuld, EEC’s president. "Our EEC chapter has long admired Susan for the way she uses her personal story and platform to raise awareness among women about the importance of being their own health advocate. As a survivor, Kathy’s personal journey with breast cancer is also a powerful example of how being in tune with your body and getting early detection screenings can lead to lifesaving results. Both of their stories are an inspiring call to all of us to be proactive and schedule those heart scans and cancer screenings today.”
The Spirit of Life Award is City of Hope's most prestigious honor and is presented each year to an esteemed community of leaders from around the world who have made a significant commitment to improving the lives of others through the advancement of cancer research and clinical innovation and the delivery of personalized, compassionate care. Recipients of this prestigious award include a broad range of leaders from the world of business, entertainment, science and philanthropy. What connects them is a shared commitment to elevating the human condition and a profound belief in the power of everyone to impact positive change.
Murray, a breast cancer survivor and single mother of two, accepted the honor from Howard Lorber, CEO of Douglas Elliman, who said of her, “She turns everything into something beautiful and inspiring; she has been nothing less than fearless in business and when faced with cancer.”
“Time is our most precious resource, and the research happening at City of Hope has given me – like so many others – hope and a future,” Murray said.
During the event, Nicole Schulz, a City of Hope patient, spoke about her personal cancer journey, inspiring the room. Diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at age 14, Schulz endured aggressive chemotherapy, blood and platelet transfusions and radiation before ultimately receiving two bone marrow transplants — she is cancer free today and living life to the fullest.
“My todays now are something I never imagined would happen,” Schulz said. “I’m so grateful for every day.”
Afterward, Letitia Frye, emcee and self-described auctiontainer, encouraged attendees to give back to the organization that saved Schulz’s life, along with so many others, during a paddle-raise fundraising moment for City of Hope.
Then, Rosanna Scotto, co-host of "Good Day New York", presented Lucci with The Spirit of Life Award.
“We are in this together,” said Lucci during her acceptance remarks. “As women, we need to listen to our bodies and put ourselves on our to-do lists. I’m grateful to City of Hope for the work they’re doing and the opportunity they’ve given me to shine a light on helping women save their own lives.”
“City of Hope is honored to pay tribute to this year’s Spirit of Life recipients — two remarkable women whose impact extends far beyond their roles in entertainment and real estate,” said Kristin Bertell, chief philanthropy officer at City of Hope. “Susan and Kathy’s philanthropic partnership and commitment to accelerate, not slow down, the groundbreaking cancer research at City of Hope is giving back the gift of time to patients like Nicole.”
City of Hope’s East End Chapter/Jeanne Kaye League comprises 500 New York women who represent all facets of the city's business, philanthropic and cultural communities. The volunteer and fundraising chapter has been raising money to accelerate cures and novel therapies at City of Hope for more than 40 years. In that time, the chapter has raised more than $14 million in support of new medical innovations for cancer patients and their families.
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.