SAN FRANCISCO–Ron Zeff, chief executive officer of Carmel Partners, was awarded the 2015 Spirit of Life award last week from City of Hope's Northern California real estate and construction council. The award is City of Hope's most prestigious philanthropic honor, presented annually to an industry leader who has demonstrated outstanding business and altruistic achievement. Zeff received the award with more than 1,100 real estate and construction professionals in attendance. The $1 million goal for the night was surpassed with a total raised of $1.3 million.
Zeff tells GlobeSt.com: “When I visited City of Hope, I was impressed with the facilities and that they were committed to taking action and trying to cure cancer. What I think is valuable and unique about the City of Hope compared to other comprehensive cancer centers is that they have their own drug-making manufacturing facilities on site that are on par with some of the top pharmaceutical companies. The faculty is impassioned about actually creating drugs to cure cancer. They believe in it and I believe in it as well, and I'm really proud to be a part of that."
Zeff founded San Francisco-based Carmel Partners, a real estate investment management firm in 1996. Carmel Partners is focused exclusively on US multifamily investment strategies including development, renovations and debt. Operating throughout the United States, Carmel Partners has bought and renovated 20,979 apartment units with a total market value of $4.7 billion and has developed or is in the process of developing 12,343 apartment units with a total market value of $5.1 billion.
“It was a privilege to recognize Ron Zeff with the Spirit of Life award, City of Hope's highest honor,” said Drew Gordon, senior vice president of Hudson Pacific Properties, and council president. “Not only is Ron a great visionary in our industry, but he is a close friend for whom I have tremendous admiration and respect. It is fitting that he received this award which recognizes an honoree's outstanding leadership and contributions to the community, and to the real estate industry.”
The council is comprised of developers, brokers, contractors, building owners, engineers, architects and consultants who advocate on behalf of a single philanthropic goal which is to support the lifesaving treatment and compassionate care of City of Hope. To date, the council has raised more than $6 million for City of Hope, making this industry alliance one of the premier fundraising groups in the region.
Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics, and is a research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. The group's history began in 1986, when a banquet was arranged by a group of real estate and construction industry leaders in honor of Dan Costello, Bank of America's former executive vice president, corporate real estate division. That event raised more than $100,000 for City of Hope, and inspired a tradition of philanthropic excellence among members of the real estate and construction community. Previous honorees include Craig Allison, Andy Ball, Carol Bartz, Kofi Bonner, Michael Covarrubias, Oz Erickson, Rick Holliday, Sean Jeffries, Rik Kunnath, Chris Meany, Hamid Moghadam, Connie Moore and Larry Pace.
The City of Hope Northern California council is also now launching plans for its fourth annual Bike to Hope on October 16 in Petaluma, CA, which has been an annual sell out. For more information, contact Anne Campanella.
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Lisa Brown
Lisa Brown is an editor for the south and west regions of GlobeSt.com. She has 25-plus years of real estate experience, with a regional PR role at Grubb & Ellis and a national communications position at MMI. Brown also spent 10 years as executive director at NAIOP San Francisco Bay Area chapter, where she led the organization to achieving its first national award honors and recognition on Capitol Hill. She has written extensively on commercial real estate topics and edited numerous pieces on the subject.
