Did you know City of Hope’s rich volunteer tradition goes back more than a century?
Our very first volunteers came together in 1913. They were compassionate citizens who used their connections and resources to buy 10 acres of land in the California desert — land that would one day become City of Hope’s founding campus in Los Angeles. Those volunteers made it their mission to provide comfort and care to the most sick and vulnerable members of their community.
Over the years, City of Hope® has changed, but one thing remains constant: the incredible generosity of spirit demonstrated by our volunteers.
For National Volunteer Week, we’re sharing just a few of many stories that inspire us.
Our volunteers are cancer survivors, athletes, elementary school students, entrepreneurs, business executives and even furry friends. They walk the halls of our hospitals, offering a warm smile and a kind word to patients. They gather their friends and bike 600+ miles across two states to raise funds for cancer research. They sell cookies, lemonade and hot cocoa to support our patients.
One of our volunteers, Chuck O’Shea, has one of the most incredible journeys with City of Hope. He credits City of Hope with saving his life when he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although he has been in remission since 2010, he has remained an integral part of our family for all these years. He has been a “blue shirt” campus volunteer, a member of our Patient & Family Advisory Council and a generous philanthropic supporter. He even presented at a scientific conference at our request. I hope you will watch his inspiring video here.
People like Chuck make City of Hope who we are today. Volunteers are truly the heart and soul of our organization. Please know that the impact of your efforts is deeply felt by our patients and our entire community.
Thank you so much for all the ways you give your time, talent, heart and hope. We could not do what we do without you.
See more ways to give and support City of Hope.
With gratitude,
Kristin J. Bertell
Chief Philanthropy Officer