Several events Oct. 3 will raise money for charity
HIGH POINT — City of Hope will have its evening at the High Point Market with several events revolving around the industry’s efforts to support the medical research and treatment center.

Wednesday, Oct. 3, will be designated City of Hope Night in High Point. For the first time, the City of Hope’s annual Spirit of Life gala will take place downtown under the Showplace Tent, and other events benefiting the charity also happen around market that evening.

On the bill for City of Hope Night:

• City of Hope’s National Home Furnishings Industry’s Spirit of Life Award dinner featuring the fourth annual American Furniture Idol competition will start in the Showplace tent at 6:30 p.m. The dinner honors John Disa of Wickes Furniture and Kevin O’Connor of Samson Marketing. Tickets are required. For more information, contact City of Hope’s Michael Sandler at (800) 272- 2310 or at msandler@coh.org.
• The International Home Furnishings Center will treat market guests to cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the InterHall area. A collection site for pledges and donations will be there.
• The Centers of High Point — Center Point, Center Point on Manning, Center Point on Centennial and Center Point on Russell — will support City of Hope Night with free food and beverages and will have collection points in all four buildings.
• Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. will display City of Hope signage and encourage donations at all four bar locations during its Market Square reception from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will also be a donation collection site in the Courtyard at Market Square from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the ART Tent Party Oktoberfest.
•  The Commerce & Design Building has designated its Wednesday event to benefit City of Hope. It will serve hors d’oeuvres, beverages and gourmet cupcakes from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will have a collection site for contributions.
•  The Hamilton-Wrenn District will have a donation collection site in the 200 N. Hamilton courtyard, with special events and donation sites in the showrooms of Harden Furniture (200 N. Hamilton, South Court 110), Platt Collections (200 N. Hamilton, South Court 218) and Francesco Molon (502 N. Hamilton).
• 220 Elm will celebrate with “Travel the Floor, Taste the World,” with third-floor showrooms serving global cuisine reflecting each exhibitor’s country of origin and the diversity of international exhibitors at 220 Elm. There will be donation sites for City of Hope on the floor.

In a ceremony Monday, High Point Mayor Becky Smothers will present the Key to the City to the City of Hope.

“We are pleased to support the industry’s chosen charity and the City of Hope’s renowned research and treatment work in cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases,” said Brian Casey, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority.