Irving and Shelli Azoff are the 2011 Spirit of Life Award honorees, the City of Hope’s Music and Entertainment Industry Group announced today.
The Spirit of Life Award is presented to those who exemplify the ideals and values that guide City of Hope, a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.
The Azoffs are the first couple ever to receive the Spirit of Life Award and will be honored at the Spirit of Life gala on Saturday, May 7, at Gibson Amphitheatre and Universal Studios in Hollywood, Calif. Proceeds will benefit City of Hope.
“We are grateful and privileged to receive this year’s Spirit of Life Award, and are proud to help recognize the incredible work being done by researchers at City of Hope,” the Azoffs said. “The institution’s level of advanced research into finding cures for life-threatening diseases is unparalleled, and we’re pleased to support its vision.”
Irving Azoff is executive chairman of Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s largest entertainment company, and chairman and chief executive officer of the Front Line Management Group. The Azoffs reside in Beverly Hills, Calif., and have four children.
“We are pleased to bestow our highest philanthropic honor to Shelli and Irving Azoff,” said Gary Stiffelman, President, City of Hope’s Music and Entertainment Industry Group. “They are a model of philanthropic commitment and an inspiration to everyone who seeks to make cancer a curable and ultimately preventable disease.”
Inspired by the guiding humanitarian principles of City of Hope and motivated by the institution’s commitment to innovative medical research and compassionate patient care, a group of key industry executives founded the Music and Entertainment Industry group in 1973.
In its 37-year history, the group has raised over $89 million for City of Hope and has honored some of the most important figures in the music and entertainment industry. Recent past honorees include Tim Leiweke, President and CEO, AEG, Doug Morris, Chairman and CEO of UMG, and Bob Cavallo, Chairman, Disney Music Group.
“Irving is the first person in the 37 year history of the Music and Entertainment Industry Group to be honored twice with its Spirit of Life Award. It’s a real testament to his remarkable creativity and talent that he is even more important to the industry today than when we first honored him 27 years ago. And now with Shelli as his co-honoree, with her own amazing network of contacts and influence, this stands to be one of the most successful events in the history of our industry group,” said Zach Horowitz, Major Gifts Chair, City of Hope’s Music and Entertainment Industry group.
To register for City of Hope’s Music and Entertainment Industry Group Spirit of Life gala, click HERE.