For Lyor Cohen, Metropolis of Hope Honor Is a Privilege: We’re within the Giving Enterprise

On a visit to go to his mom in Israel final yr, Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s international head of music, requested her a type of large life questions that’s not possible to reply with something however an enormous reply.

“She has 16 grandchildren and four sons, she’s 92 years old, and she is moving around this world by herself and still enjoying her grandchildren, healthy,” stated Cohen. “And I stated to her, ‘You’re a really, very fortunate individual.’ And he or she stated, ‘Yes, I know that.’ And I stated, ‘So, why are you so lucky?’

With out hesitation, she replied, “The more you give, the more you receive.”

At 63, with three children and an illustrious profession in music, Cohen stated it’s this giving spirit that impressed him to just accept this yr’s Spirit of Life award from Metropolis of Hope, one of many nation’s main most cancers remedy and analysis facilities.

“We’re in the giving business and so we’re grateful to be here and to have the privilege,” stated Cohen. “It’s a privilege to do it, but you have to get out of your normal grind to recognize that.”

The consideration, bestowed by Metropolis of Hope’s music, movie and leisure business (MFEI) fundraising group, is reserved for leisure business titans and has helped the MFEI group elevate $150 million since launching in 1973. Now in its fiftieth yr, latest recipients in music embody Republic Data founders/chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman (2022), Epic Data chairperson/CEO Sylvia Rhone (2019) and Sony Music Publishing chairman/CEO Jon Platt (2018). As such, the occasions round them are frequently a who’s-who of business heavyweights and well-wishers main as much as the gala dinner the place the award is introduced, which this yr will happen Oct. 18 on the Pacific Design Heart in Los Angeles.

In April, earlier than the monthslong rollout of occasions together with the All In For Hope Poker Match in Could and the Music Trivia Bowl in July started, Cohen and 7 of his workers members awakened early to drive over 100 miles from the Coachella Valley in rush hour visitors for a tour of the Metropolis of Hope campus in Duarte, Calif., simply outdoors Los Angeles. It was the morning after the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Competition’s first weekend, the place Cohen’s group oversaw what was seemingly the most important competition livestream occasion ever, broadcasting to greater than 45 million folks worldwide, in accordance with the corporate. A lot of them famous they hadn’t even had a cup of espresso but.

Cohen, the tallest of the bunch, wearing all black with a shawl round his neck, led the group, which additionally included Common Music Publishing Group, North America president Evan Lamberg, leisure lawyer Dina LaPolt, Tradition Collective founder/CEO Jonathan Azu and Spirit Music Group chairman David Renzer — all of whom are on the Metropolis of Hope MFEI Board — as they adopted Metropolis of Hope workers across the expansive 100-plus acre grounds.

There, they spoke with medical doctors and scientists to raised perceive the group’s analysis efforts and care providers. One of many key benefits Metropolis of Hope has within the area, a number of workers members defined, is that the proximity of scientists, remedy workers and manufacturing amenities, all of that are on-site, permits cross-collaboration that brings their analysis — searching for cures for most cancers, HIV/AIDS and different life-threatening illnesses — on to sufferers at once. All through, Cohen listened carefully and expressed an intent to concentrate on handle well being disparities for Black folks in the US to create extra equitable entry to healthcare and set up larger belief within the system.

“I’ve made a living on Black music,” he stated, “and what I’m particularly interested in is figuring out how the Black community could demystify getting early treatment and understanding about cancer and how they get the opportunity to help educate and eradicate cancer in these communities.”

Cohen launched his profession within the Eighties New York hip-hop scene as a street supervisor for Russell Simmons‘ Rush Productions earlier than occurring to handle the label. He later headed up Def Jam after which Warner Music Group earlier than co-launching 300 Leisure and, in 2016, becoming a member of YouTube. He had a hand within the careers of Public Enemy, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Contemporary Prince, De La Soul, Eric B. & Rakim, A Tribe Referred to as Quest, Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule and Ludacris. He acknowledges this is a chance to help the folks and tradition that constructed his success.

Supporting economically deprived and racially various communities going through limitations that restrict their capacity to search out and maintain specialised care was the main target of Metropolis of Hope’s Closing the Care Hole occasion on Aug. 29 and has been on the heart of the group’s MFEI fundraising since 2018. Based on Metropolis of Hope, solely 20% of most cancers sufferers in the US are handled at Nationwide Most cancers Institute-designated most cancers facilities, which may typically imply the distinction between life and demise. It’s one thing the Metropolis of Hope remedy and analysis heart is addressing via neighborhood partnerships, authorities coverage, enlargement and diversifying its personal workforce.

“My big takeaway is that there are so many people that have committed a lifetime to helping others that are selfless, that are so enthusiastic about solving some of these big problems,” Cohen stated after the tour. “I saw and met many of the doctors here that loved the fact that they were in an organization that’s biased to speed of getting things done, and breaking the code and making things happen. I felt like this is a joyful place to work and a joyful place to solve these problems.”