City of Hope honors Wesley with Spirit of Life award

Office World News, Nov 1999

CHICAGO-More than 1,200 industry members and guests gathered at the Chicago Hilton and Towers on September 14 to honor one of their distinguished leaders, Norm Wesley, president and COO, Fortune Brands. The National Office Products Council for City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute presented Wesley with City of Hope's highest honor, "The Spirit of Life" award. The Council raised more than $4.3 million this year for the construction and maintenance of the Center for Biomedicine and Genetics, a state-of-the-art gene therapy center at City of Hope's campus.

Wesley (second from left) is shown here with, from left, Randy Larrimore, dinner chairman, United Stationers; Jack Miller, chairman of the National Office Products Council, president, Quill Corp.; and Jack Suzar, chairman of the board, City of Hope.

"The true meaning of 'The Spirit of Life' award is the opportunity to support the bettering of our lives," Wesley said upon receiving City of Hope's highest honor. "I believe that because of hope, the City of Hope, and our 'building hope,' there will be a better life. That wouldn't be possible without the generous support of the leaders in our industry and their companies. I am extremely proud to be a part of an industry that can come together as a community to wage war on cancer and life-threatening diseases."

The office products industry has embraced the City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute as its leading charitable cause since 1983. Millions of dollars have been raised since then through the annual "Spirit of Life" award campaign, making the industry one of City of Hope's premier support groups. Year after year, office products industry members have helped City of Hope as it seeks cures for life-threatening diseases such as cancer and AIDS. For more information, Contact the Chicago National Office at 847-583-8600 or visit www.cityofhope.org.