Surya’s John Haste Named Volunteer of the Year by City of Hope
Calhoun, Ga.-based Surya’s Senior VP/Business Development John Haste received City of Hope’s Volunteer of the Year Award for his leadership in creating the inaugural “Furnishing Hope – A Day of Giving.”
The event debuted earlier this year during the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and raised more than $27,000 to benefit City of Hope’s research facility, hospital, and its work to treat and cure cancer and diabetes. A number of home furnishing vendors – identified by “We Are a Proud Supporter of Furnishing Hope” signage – made a donation or pledged to donate a portion of market sales to the California-based charity.
“We are proud to bestow the 2016 Volunteer of the Year Award to John Haste,” says Brittany De La Torre, Director/Corporate Philanthropy at City of Hope. “As a board member, John spearheaded the first ever ‘day of giving,’ engaging many new supporters from the décor and accessories segment of the industry, and raising critical funds and awareness for City of Hope’s cancer and diabetes research.”
Surya has a longstanding history of supporting organizations in the communities in which it operates, including Akshaya Patra, an award-winning school lunch program that provides daily, hot nutritious meals to children in rural northern India where Surya’s large artisan community resides. The manufacturer also supports U.S.-based organizations such as Pain-Free Patriots (an initiative that provides military veterans with treatment for their chronic pain), the March of Dimes, and several community-based organizations, including Habitat for Humanity.
“I am very humbled to have been selected as City of Hope’s Volunteer of the Year,” comments Haste, who is a member of the International Home Furnishings Industry Board of Directors for City of Hope. “The work that I do for City of Hope pales in comparison to the incredible breakthroughs taking place within the organization’s research group to find cures for life-threatening conditions such as cancer and diabetes. I am honored to be a part of this important cause, and to work for a company like Surya that is truly committed to giving back.”
Haste was recognized at City of Hope’s annual Spirit of Life® Award dinner, which was held in Greensboro, N.C. during the Spring High Point Market to honor furniture industry leaders for outstanding personal, professional, and philanthropic achievements.
