The City of Hope East End League/Jeanne Kaye Chapter volunteer and fundraising group honored NBC Today Show’s Lifestyle Correspondent Jill Martin with its coveted Spirit of Life Award at a luncheon held at The Plaza Hotel in New York City.
Presented to her by longtime friend and TV personality and author Kathie Lee Gifford, the event raised just shy of $800,000, with 380 guests in attendance. 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. These funds will directly benefit breast cancer research, furthering City of Hope’s commitment to advancing innovative treatments and compassionate care for those impacted by the disease.
The Spirit of Life Award is City of Hope’s most prestigious honor, presented annually 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, clinical innovation, and the delivery of personalized, compassionate care.
With what she hopes was her last surgery just last week, Martin spoke about her own journey, which she chronicled on “The Today Show,” and expressed her gratitude to her family and friends, and encouraged everyone to get checked.
Letitia Frye, emcee and self-described auctioneer, encouraged attendees to support research at City of Hope during what is now a signature part of this event — the live auction, creating a paddle-raise fundraising moment for City of Hope.
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.
