The TJ Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research has announced legendary music icon Yoko Ono Lennon as the presenter for the Spirit of Excellence Award which will be awarded to Hamish Dodds, CEO of Hard Rock International on behalf of Hard Rockers worldwide at the 39th T.J. Martell Foundation New York Honors Gala to be held at Cipriani in New York on Tuesday, October 21, 2014.
Yoko Ono Lennon has collaborated with Hard Rock and is the charity partner of WhyHunger for the “IMAGINE THERE’S NO HUNGER” campaign, now in its seventh year. “IMAGINE” funding has supported 33 local partners in 20 countries to provide 9.7 million nutritious meals to children since 2008, and continues to raise funds globally to fight childhood hunger and poverty through the support of sustainable agriculture education and nutritional feeding programs.
Hamish Dodds, CEO of Hard Rock International will accept the Spirit of Excellence Award which recognizes the organization’s influence in the music industry and outstanding charitable efforts worldwide. Hard Rock International brings together music and entertainment through its extraordinary experiences with memorabilia, events and consumer products. This is recognized the world over and is consistent with The T.J. Martell Foundations mission to stand out as “Music’s Promise for the Cure.” This award represents the work of an outstanding network of truly passionate, joyful and irreverent philanthropic rockers.
Also being honored at this year’s T.J. Martell Foundation’s 39th New York Honors Gala are John Paul DeJoria, Co-Founder of Paul Mitchell Hair Products and Patron Spirits Company, Will Botwin, President and CEO of Red Light Management, Afo Verde, Chairman and CEO Sony Latin Music and Marsha Vlasic, Senior VP of Concerts-Head of Contemporary Rock, ICM.
