City of Hope’s National Professional Salon Industry honored George W. Schaeffer, president and CEO of OPI Products Inc. and newly formed haircolor company, Aloxxi International, at the 2012 Spirit of Life Dinner. The Spirit of Life Award is City of Hope’s most prestigious philanthropic honor, presented annually to a salon industry leader who has demonstrated outstanding business and altruistic leadership. More than 1700 people showed up to celebrate Schaeffer and help raise more than $5 million for City of Hope, a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and other life-threatening diseases. Schaeffer formed the George W. Schaeffer Endowment for Innovation in Diabetes Research to help find new treatments and, possibly one day, a cure for diabetes. Schaeffer exceeded his personal goal to raise and donate more than $5 million to help City of Hope continue to advance their mission with attendees raising more than $2.7 million and Schaeffer personally matching up to $2.5 million. In addition, Schaeffer covered the cost of the dinner, enabling 100 percent of every dollar donated to go directly to City of Hope. “I have been blessed with success in my life and there is nothing I would rather do than share it with those in need," says Schaeffer. "I am so grateful to all those who joined me in contributing their time, money, effort and love to this very important cause. And while I am extremely honored to receive this award, I am even more excited about the money that we were able to raise for City of Hope.”