Entertainment · Music · 4 hrs ago
Larry Mestel Honored at City of Hope Gala for Cancer Research
City of Hope held its annual Spirit of Life Gala at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on Tuesday.
Primary Wave CEO Larry Mestel received this year’s Spirit of Life award for his work with the organization.
Stevie Nicks, Jackson Browne and Melissa Etheridge performed at the event, and Paul Anka and Pete Townshend sent video tributes.
The gala’s organizing group has raised more than $180 million for cancer research over the years.
Mestel had aimed to raise $10 million through his campaign this year, but the amount raised so far has not been disclosed.
Mestel said the award was a call to action, after losing his sister and uncle to cancer over the past year.
City of Hope honored Primary Wave founder and CEO Larry Mestel at its annual Spirit of Life gala on Oct. 27.
The gala at the Pacific Design Center featured performances by Stevie Nicks, Jackson Browne and Melissa Etheridge.
Mestel said the deaths of his sister and uncle from cancer had made the cause personal.
City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Group has raised more than $180 million for cancer research to date.
The gala aimed to raise $10 million, with proceeds supporting cancer research and care initiatives.
- Who
- City of Hope honored Larry Mestel, founder and CEO of Primary Wave.
- What
- Mestel received the Spirit of Life award at the organization’s annual gala.
- When
- Oct. 27, 2026.
- Where
- The Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles; the Hollywood Reporter describes it as being in West Hollywood.
- Why
- The award recognized Mestel’s support of City of Hope. The gala raises funds for cancer research and care.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mestel said he lost his sister to breast cancer.
Mestel said he lost his uncle to lymphoma.
City of Hope held its annual Spirit of Life gala and honored Mestel.
- Honoree
- Larry Mestel, Primary Wave founder and CEO
- Award
- Spirit of Life
- Gala date
- Oct. 27, 2026
- Venue
- Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles
- Fundraising aim
- $10 million
- Funds raised to date
- More than $180 million by City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Group
2 sources
What people are saying
I don’t look at this award simply as an honor. I look at it as a call to action. We can be better. We all have to be better.
He cures cancer in children, and I buy music catalogs,
Anybody you ever have, send them to City of Hope; it’s so important, so much more important than anybody you’ll ever know.
As everyone here will attest, you are the kind of guy you want on your side, the guy you want to sit next to on the airplane, the one you want to call when you need something,