George Schaeffer, president and CEO of OPI Products and Aloxxi International, was selected by City of Hope’s National Professional Salon Industry council to receive the City of Hope’s 2012 Spirit of Life Award.

The Spirit of Life Award is the hospital and research center’s most prestigious award, and is given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to his or her industry and community through dedication and generosity.

Schaeffer’s mantra is “giving back is beautiful,” and, in that spirit, he has formed the George W. Schaeffer Endowment for Innovation in Diabetes Research, which will fund research for new and improved treatments for diabetes.

“I have been blessed with success in my lifetime,” says Schaeffer, “but I consider my biggest achievement is having the ability to give back to others in need. I have been a supporter of City of Hope and its humanitarian efforts for many years.”

Schaeffer added, “While I am extremely honored to receive this award, I am even more excited about the opportunity to raise money for a cause dear to my heart: diabetes research.”

Schaeffer has stated that his personal goal is to raise and donate more than $5 million to City of Hope and that he will personally match up to $2.5 million raised for his diabetes research endowment.

Schaeffer is also personally paying for the cost of the Spirit of Life dinner gala to ensure that every dollar donated goes directly to City of Hope. The event will feature entertainment by Grammy Award-winning music icons Donna Summer and Al Green, dinner created by a world renowned chef and, Schaeffer promises, many more surprises.

“If there is one thing I’ve learned in my life, it is that every time I give, I get a feeling of satisfaction that I have made a difference. I recommend repeating this exercise often—it just feels great.”

The Spirit of Life Award dinner gala will be held July 21, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas in conjunction with the 2012 Cosmoprof North America/Professional Beauty Association Beauty Week. Visit probeauty.com or cityofhope.org.