— Furniture Today,
Talent will shine at the City of Hope awards dinner during the fall market

HIGH POINT — Event organizers have released the lineup of performers for this year’s fourth annual American Furniture Idol talent contest, set to take place Wednesday evening, Oct. 3, at the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award dinner during the fall market.


The dinner will honor John Disa of retailer Wickes Furniture and Kevin O’Connor of manufacturer Samson Marketing on behalf of the City of Hope’s National Home Furnishings Industry Chapter. It will be held in the Showplace tent.

This year’s contestants will include Kimberly Wray of the High Point Market Authority, Luca Ricci of DeCoro Furniture, Vanessa Rodiguez of City Furniture, Kelly Peterson of Hearst Publications, Larry Stein of Furniture World Magazine, Ray Allegrezza of Furniture/Today, Heath Combs of Furniture/Today and Greg Haptor of Huntington Furniture and Elite Leather.

“We’re really excited to have some very gifted industry people share their hidden and not-so-hidden talents with us,” said Jena Hall of Aspenhome, who is City of Hope’s National Home Furnishings Industry Chapter board co-president. “This year’s judges will have a tough job as they vote for the 2014 American Furniture Idol. The audience will also have an opportunity to vote for their favorite performer.”

Last year, the American Furniture Idol Judges’ Award went to make-up artist Terri Christian, and the Audience’s Award went to Paul Adorno of Taylor King & Elite Leather.

For more information about City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award dinner, contact Michael Sandler at (800) 272- 2310 or by e-mail at msandler@coh.org. Information about City of Hope, a research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases, is online at www.cityofhope.org.