SURYA’S JOHN HASTE RECOGNIZED AS CITY OF HOPE’S 2016 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
CALHOUN, Ga. — May 4, 2016 — 
John Haste, Surya’s Senior Vice President of Business Development, was named City of Hope’s Volunteer of the Year for his leadership in creating the inaugural “Furnishing Hope – A Day of Giving.”
The event, which made its debut during the January 2016 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, raised more than $27K to benefit City of Hope’s research facility and 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 completed on the day of giving – to the California-based organization.
“We are proud to bestow the 2016 Volunteer of the Year Award to John Haste,” said Brittany De La Torre, director of corporate philanthropy, City of Hope. “As a board member, John spearheaded the first ever ‘day of giving’, engaging many new supporters from the decor 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. In 2012, Surya President Satya Tiwari launched the annual ‘Miles for Meals’ campaign, which has raised $215K to date to feed 10,000 children in India. He joined the Akshaya Patra USA advisory board in 2015, with a focus on further expanding the reach of the program.
Surya 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,” said John M. Haste, senior vice president of business development, Surya, and 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. on April 17 to honor furniture industry leaders for outstanding personal, professional and philanthropic achievements.
To learn more about Surya’s commitment to social responsibility, visit
www.surya.com/social-responsibility.
About City of Hope
City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 45 comprehensive cancer centers, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the world. City of Hope is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with
community clinics throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of
bone marrow transplantation,
diabetes and
numerous breakthrough cancer drugs based on technology developed at the institution. For more information, visit
www.cityofhope.org.