Tour of Hope: Sharing messages of appreciation and research advances
photo: Justin BrasFrom left, patient speaker Jim Robinson, Norma Morris, Jay O’Neal, Bobbie Stern, Richard Jove and Alan Levey
For City of Hope’s thousands of chapter volunteers, no news is not good news. Staying up to date on campus developments can be invaluable to their fundraising efforts.
That is where the Tour of Hope comes in. Tour of Hope brings the latest information about City of Hope to each chapter in an interactive way.
Conceived among City of Hope staff members and the Ambassador Leadership Council, Tour of Hope educates volunteers about the institution’s scientific discoveries, organizational priorities and strategic goals. The tour also provides an opportunity for City of Hope development and external affairs staff and researchers to thank loyal supporters for their many contributions.
“The tour is primarily intended to help us create closer relationships with our chapter volunteers,” said Alan Levey, senior vice president of development and one of the program’s co-founders. “After all, they are key partners in helping us fulfill City of Hope’s important mission.”
Tour of Hope presenters comprise an alternating group of City of Hope administrative, development and faculty leaders, including Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Alexandra Levine, M.D., chief medical officer, Richard Jove, Ph.D., director of Beckman Research Institute, and Matthew Loscalzo, M.S.W., administrative director of the Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center.
Tour of Hope kicked off in October 2007 in Chicago, where nearly 100 volunteers listened to campus representatives and patient speakers share messages of hope and healing, as well as a marketing overview and a legacy program presentation. Other tour stops have included Philadelphia, San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Seattle and Los Angeles. Future events are scheduled for San Diego and Las Vegas. “The reaction has been quite positive,” Levey said. “I look forward to visiting even more chapters throughout the nation and hearing their ideas and suggestions about City of Hope.”
In coming years, Tour of Hope will move across the country to every city hosting an auxiliary. Leaders will update program components regularly, ensuring attendees receive the latest news from the institution.