New City of Hope event to honor retailer Simon Kaplan

Hudson River cruise set for Sept. 17

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, April 6, 2011

HIGH POINT — The National Home Furnishings Industry chapter of City of Hope will honor industry veteran Simon Kaplan of Crest Furniture during an inaugural dinner cruise event for the Northeast region Sept 17.

Simon Kaplan

Guests will board the Princess Yacht at 6:30 p.m. for a three-hour cruise along the Hudson River and a night of networking and entertainment, said Beth Ida Stern, City of Hope senior director, industries development.

Kaplan is the longtime president of Dayton, N.J.-based Crest, the Top 100 company operating seven Value City Furniture and six Ashley Furniture HomeStores in New Jersey.

"We're honoring Simon for his commitment to City of Hope's mission, the treatment and cure of life-threatening diseases such as cancer and diabetes, as well as for his lifelong role and importance in the furniture industry in the American Northeast region," said Stern.

She said organizers expect to arrange music, dancing and other activities, including an auction, raffle, prize giveaways and possibly casino games. Someone who has been a City of Hope patient will also speak.

The event joins other industry City of Hope benefits including the just-concluded Spirit of Life Award banquet here, a West Coast Golf & Tennis Tournament June 6 in Orange County, Calif., and an event at the Art Institute of Chicago Aug. 15.

Industry members on the organizing committee are Patrick Cory and Chris De Lisa, Cory Home Delivery; Bill Hartman, Furniture First; Russell Bienenstock, Furniture World; Louis Massood, Furniture Transport Group; Eddie Massood, Thomasville Home Furnishings of N.J., Fairfield, N.J.; Brad Pyne, AICO; Abe Feinblum, Julius Feinblum Real Estate, Plainview, N.Y.; Stan Steinreich, Steinreich Communications; Jena Hall, Jena Hall Designs; and Tommy Leflein, Lexington Home Brands.

For information on tickets and sponsorships, contact Stern at bstern@coh.org or (626) 560-9432.