Mumbai: Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Akon, Maroon 5, Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Michael McDonald, Keyshia Cole, Robin Thicke, Lee Ann Womack, Luis Fonsi & David Bisbal, Duffy, Jamie Cullum, Erykah Badu and The Clique Girlz, among others, helped City of Hope celebrate Doug Morris (Universal Music Group chairman & CEO) by raising nearly $10 million for cancer research during their annual Spirit of Life gala in Santa Monica. The event, which honored Morris for his outstanding contributions to the community and music industry, shattered fundraising records to make it one of the single largest one-night charity events in California state history.
The event also featured nearly two thousand attendees from the media, entertainment and technology industries, including Apple chairman Steve Jobs, Universal Music Group president & COO Zach Horowitz, Motown founder Berry Gordy, David Geffen, MySpace co-founders Chris DeWolfe and Tom Anderson, Activision chairman & CEO Bobby Kotick, CBS, Inc president & CEO Leslie Moonves, Viacom chairman & CEO Sumner Redstone, AEG pesident Tim Leiweke, Michael Tatelman, Dell Inc., and recording artists Jay-Z, the Jonas Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Josh Groban, Smokey Robinson, Lil Jon and Nelly, among many others.
"City of Hope is so deeply honored to have the support of a remarkable industry leader like Morris," said City of Hope M.D., president and chief executive officer Michael A. Friedman. "His tireless dedication as an executive and mentor is also mirrored in his philanthropic commitment. Under his leadership and through the efforts of so many outstandingly talented stars, this successful industry campaign is testament to the generosity of the Music and Entertainment industry and their belief in City of Hope’s lifesaving cancer research, treatment and education programs."
Dell was the night’s leading sponsor. They donated laptops to be auctioned as part of a larger fund-raising program.
"Dell is proud to be part of the 2008 Spirit of Life Award and applauds City of Hope’s continued dedication to finding a cure for cancer," said vice president consumer sales & marketing Michael Tatelman. "We hope that Dell’s contribution can help the ongoing innovative research in this critical area."
City of Hope is one of the 41 Comprehensive Cancer Centers, the highest designation bestowed by the National Cancer Institute and recognition of excellence in cancer treatment, research, prevention and education. City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of top cancer centers that defines and sets standards for cancer care nationally.
As chairman and CEO of UMG, Morris is responsible for guiding the overall global activities of the world’s largest music company. UMG encompasses the development, marketing, sales and distribution of recorded music through a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures and licensees in 77 countries around the world. UMG’s businesses also include the industry’s largest global music publishing operation, Universal Music Publishing Group. Throughout his career, Morris has worked with some of the most popular and influential artists of the past four decades including Bette Midler, Erykah Badu, INXS, Led Zeppelin, Mariah Carey, Pete Townshend, Phil Collins, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Nicks and Tori Amos. Morris serves on the Board of Directors of The Robin Hood Foundation and The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, as well as a Director of The Rock -N- Roll Hall of Fame. In 2003, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) awarded Morris with the President’s Merit Award, honoring his consistent creative comm
itment to artistic and entrepreneurial excellence and longstanding support for the music and world communities. Morris also serves on the Vivendi Management Board, and is a member of the Board of Directors of CBS Corporation and leading gamer Activision Blizzard, the latter formed after Vivendi’s acquisition of Activision.
