Important City of Hope Update from National Business Products Industry Council Chair Scott Light and 2020 Spirit of Life Honoree Stephanie Dismore 

Dear City of Hope Supporters from the National Business Products Industry,

We hope this message finds you, your loved ones and your employees safe and healthy.

As we all continue to manage through a challenging and disruptive time, we wanted to provide you with an update on the 2020 “Reinvent Hope” campaign supporting City of Hope, and how we will approach our continued fundraising efforts over the summer in light of the evolving realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As previously communicated, we have been closely monitoring the situation to assess the viability of upcoming City of Hope fundraising events in partnership with our event hosts. And today, given the current governmental and health agency guidelines, and ongoing corporate travel restrictions, we regret to inform you that we will be unable to conduct in-person events as we know and enjoy them this year, including our annual culmination celebration, the Spirit of Life Gala.

When many of us gathered in Pasadena in February for the NBPI City of Hope Tour and Hall of Fame Dinner, we left with great pride and aspirational goals for what we could achieve in support of City of Hope this year, just as we have over the last 37 years. And while the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed the shape and format of this year’s fundraising campaign, it hasn’t changed the need or opportunity for your continued support.

More than half of the NBPI’s annual City of Hope fundraising efforts are comprised of non-event related activities, including Direct Mail Matching Programs, Employee Giving, Product Sales Promotions, Personal and Foundation Giving, Crowd Funding and so on. Those efforts continue today and are on track to raise $10M this year.

The remaining portion of our fundraising efforts stem from our many industry-sponsored business summits, golf outings and the Spirit of Life Gala, and this is where we need your help. We have put forth an ambitious goal to raise $3M over the summer, in an effort to achieve the net fundraising typically realized from our in-person events.

The following are some of the ways we will look to achieve that goal via direct donation appeals and a handful of virtual events.

• Corporate Donations: For companies that have allotted an annual donation budget for event participation and sponsorships in support of City of Hope, we ask that those companies continue to provide their budgeted support this year if possible.

• Support Opportunities and Activations: There will be a handful of support opportunities and activities this summer where you can direct your annual budgeted City of Hope and/or COVID-19-related donations, as well as activate employee participation and support. This includes:

• Virtual Walk for Hope, sponsored by Staples, with Staples $100K Match
  • Ideal for individual participation and company teams as a way for employees, families and friends to come together for a great cause.

• Virtual Bike for Hope, sponsored by HP and Supplies Network, with HP $50K Match
  • Ideal for individual participation and company teams as a way for employees, families and friends to come together for a great cause.

• Office Products Women in Leadership Virtual Kentucky “Thurby”* Happy Hour, Presented by HP with HP $25K Match, (Confirmed for Thursday, September 3, 2020) *”Thurby” is a traditional celebration held the Thursday prior to the Kentucky Derby!
  • Ideal for sponsorships and individual participation, dressing up Derby style, learning to make craft cocktails and watching the Kentucky Derby.

• Virtual Spirit of Life Gala, Golf Outing & Wine Tasting, honoring HP’s Stephanie Dismore, in celebration of the NBPI’s annual fundraising year (Confirmed for Thursday, September 17, 2020).  Donations will benefit the NBPI Critical Research Fund at City of Hope, supporting cancer, diabetes and Covid-19.
  • Ideal for sponsorship packages, tables, individual tickets, journal ads and general donations that includes a variety of company recognition on the event platform & program, journal, OPI ads and on the City of Hope campus. HP will be matching Spirit of Life donations dollar for dollar up to $100,000!

If you’re interested in participating in any of the above activities, please watch for additional information and details, which will be forthcoming throughout the summer.

In the meantime, on behalf of the National Business Products Industry Council, the talented City of Hope researchers, physicians, nurses, essential workers, and most importantly, the patients around the world who benefit from their lifesaving work, we extend our sincere and heartfelt thank you for your continued and longstanding support of City of Hope. We are eternally grateful for your generosity.

We wish you and your families, employees and business associates continued health and safety, and we look forward to seeing you virtually at the Spirit of Life Gala, if not sooner.

Scott Light                                                                              Stephanie Dismore
EVP – Georgia Pacific                                                           SVP and Managing Director, HP North America
NBPI Council Chair                                                                2020 Spirit of Life Honoree

(Letter sent June 30, 2020)