MTV President Van Toffler Named as City Of Hope's 2004 Spirit of Life(R) Honoree

    LOS ANGELES, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- City of Hope's Music and
 Entertainment Industry today announced that it has selected Van Toffler,
 president of MTV, MTV2 and MTV Films as its 2004 Spirit of Life(R) honoree.
 Over the years, Toffler has helped raise awareness about social and health
 issues with MTV's innovative programming including "The Osbournes" which
 openly and honestly documented Sharon Osbourne's successful fight against
 cancer and the "Tom Green Cancer Special" which covered Green's surgery and
 treatment for cancer with his own unique sense of humor. Toffler has also
 championed a number of MTV's pro-social initiatives including the Emmy
 Award-winning MTV "Fight for Your Rights" antidiscrimination campaign and,
 more recently, MTV's "Choose or Lose: 20 Million Loud political awareness
 campaign. Toffler will be presented with City of Hope Spirit of Life Award --
 the highest honor bestowed by the world-renowned cancer research and treatment
 center, at a star-studded gala slated for October 2004.   Proceeds will
 benefit City of Hope's research, treatment and education programs.
     The Spirit of Life Award is presented annually to individuals who have
 made a notable contribution to both their community and profession.  The Music
 and Entertainment Industry fund-raising group for City of Hope selects
 honorees for its Spirit of Life Award who have fundamentally influenced the
 direction of the music industries.  Toffler has made groundbreaking
 advancements in the television and film industry, and has received numerous
 awards in addition to The Spirit of Life Award for his contribution to various
 organizations such as Lifebeat, Rock the Vote, and the ACLU.
     "I am honored to be the recipient of this year's Spirit of Life Award and
 to be associated with a world-class institution such as City of Hope," said
 Toffler.  "I have great respect for the technological strides that the
 hospital has made in its groundbreaking cancer research, treatment and
 education programs. Cancer sadly affects everyone either directly or
 indirectly -- if I can help City of Hope's mission and make a difference, it
 means the world to me."
     "Van Toffler embodies the visionary leadership that is central to the
 Spirit of Life Award," said Mary Jo Mennella, senior vice president and
 general manager of Fox Music and president of City of Hope's Music and
 Entertainment Industry group.  "He has been instrumental in MTV's
 cutting-edge, informative programming which has had a measurable impact on
 educating youth about important social and health issues that affect their
 lives such as HIV/AIDS, discrimination and violence.  For this reason, we
 chose to honor him with City of Hope's most prestigious award. Van is not only
 one of the industry's most influential media figures, but he is a true
 champion of City of Hope's mission to save lives."
     For more information about The Spirit of Life Award, please call
 800-544-3541, Ext. 26540 or for more information about City of Hope's Music
 and Entertainment Industry, log onto www.cityofhope.org/music.
     Motivated by its commitment to innovative medical research and quality
 patient care, and inspired by the guiding humanitarian principles of City of
 Hope, a group of key industry executives founded the Music and Entertainment
 Industry. In its 30 years of dedicated efforts, the group has grown to include
 all the major music labels such as Universal Music Group and Warner Bros. and
 their associated concerns and has raised well over $50 million though benefits
 promotions and partnerships to support programs ongoing at City of Hope.
 
     City of Hope is one of the world's leading research and treatment centers
 for cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Named by
 U.S. News & World Report as one of America's best medical centers for cancer
 treatment, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow
 transplantation and genetics. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a Comprehensive
 Cancer Center, the highest designation bestowed by the National Cancer
 Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
 City of Hope's scientific knowledge is shared with medical centers locally and
 globally, helping patients battling life-threatening diseases around the
 corner and around the world.
     For more information, please call 800-260-HOPE or visit the Web site at
 www.cityofhope.org.  City of Hope...Where the Power of Knowledge Saves
 Lives(SM).
 
 

SOURCE  City of Hope