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- Posted Tuesday September 24, 2013
Simmons emerges as major sponsor of Atlanta charity golf tournament
Announcement follows major TGen success in treating pancreatic cancer
ATLANTA - Sept. 24, 2013 - Following on the
heels of a major scientific success for the Translational Genomics
Research Institute (TGen), Simmons Bedding Company (Simmons), one of
the nation's leading mattress companies, announced today they will
be a major sponsor of Howard Young's 2013 Atlanta Golf Classic,
supporting pancreatic cancer research at TGen.
Atlanta-based Simmons will co-sponsor the charity golf tournament,
which expects to attract 120 golfers Oct. 7 just north of Atlanta
at the Capital City Crabapple Golf Club in Alpharetta, Ga.
The 4th annual tournament, which each year has raised more than
$100,000 for TGen's pancreatic cancer research, will be co-hosted
by the Seena Magowitz Foundation, John Morley, Tom Vitale and
Howard Young, a pancreatic cancer survivor who chairs the TGen
Foundation's National Pancreatic Cancer Committee.
"The addition of Simmons as a major sponsor is a significant
milestone in the brief history of this highly successful
fundraising tournament," said Young, an Atlanta businessman who has
survived this most aggressive of all cancers for more than a
decade. Only 1 in 4 pancreatic cancer patients survive more than a
year, and fewer than 6 percent survive more than 5 years. "I owe my
life to TGen, and especially to TGen Physician-In-Chief Dr. Daniel
Von Hoff, one of the nation's leading experts on this
disease."
Simmons President Tony Smith said his company, devoted to
innovation and cutting-edge technology, is honored to contribute to
TGen's groundbreaking research.
"As an Atlanta-based company, Simmons is happy to partner with
fellow Atlantan Howard Young in this most worthwhile cause, which
can help bring hope and, perhaps someday a cure, to tens of
thousands of cancer patients stricken each year with this deadly
disease," Smith said.
Pancreatic cancer is the nation's fourth leading cause of
cancer-related death, responsible this year for an estimated 45,000
new cases, and more than 38,000 deaths. There is no method of early
detection, so pancreatic cancer patients often are not diagnosed
until their cancer is in its advanced stages.
On Sept. 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved
Abraxane for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, following 7
years of rigorous clinical trials overseen by a partnership of
Scottsdale Healthcare and TGen. Part of this research, called the
Seena Trials, was funded by the Seena Magowitz
Foundation.
Abraxane, the brand name for nab-paclitaxel, was
approved for use in combination with gemcitabine, the previous
standard drug therapy, following a large scale international
clinical trial headed by TGen's Dr. Von Hoff, who also serves as
Chief Scientific Officer at Scottsdale Healthcare's Virginia G.
Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials, a partnership of Scottsdale
Healthcare and TGen.
"The FDA's approval of Abraxane for treatment of pancreatic cancer
is a huge step forward in our efforts to help conquer this disease
that affects so many thousands of patients across the country,"
said Roger Magowitz, Presidentof the Seena Magowitz
Foundation, which he founded in honor of his mother, Seena,
whodied of pancreatic cancer in 2001.
"The addition of Simmons as a lead sponsor of the Atlanta Golf
Classic positions the tournament for a significant expansion in the
future," Magowitz said.
The Atlanta Golf Classic kicks off the fall fundraising drive of
the Seena Magowitz Foundation, which supports innovative pancreatic
cancer research and clinical trials conducted by TGen, a
Phoenix-based world-class non-profit biomedical research
center.
On Dec. 7, the Magowitz Foundation will host its 11th
annual Seena Magowitz Golf Classic, returning for the third year to
the storied Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix. Net
proceeds from last year's Phoenix and Atlanta tournaments
collectively raised more than $500,000 for TGen's international
initiative to eradicate pancreatic cancer.
The Capital City Crabapple Golf Club is located at 13802 New
Providence Road in Alpharetta, Ga. The Atlanta Golf Classic is Oct.
7, with registration starting at 8 a.m., a shotgun start at 9:30
a.m., followed by an awards luncheon at 2:30 p.m., including a
raffle and live auction.
Donations are still being accepted, and non-golfers are invited to
attend the awards luncheon. Please contact Tournament Director Liz
McBeth at [email protected]
or (757) 773-3622.
For more information, visit: www.seenamagowitzfoundation.org.
Or contact Roger E. Magowitz at [email protected]
or 602-524-7636.
# # #
About the Seena Magowitz Foundation
The Seena Magowitz Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization committed to advancing the awareness and eventual
prevention and cure of pancreatic cancer. The Foundation is
dedicated to funding top medical institutions on the leading edge
of translational pancreatic cancer research committed to diagnosis,
the advancement of life-extending treatment options and the
ultimate goal of eradicating this deadly killer. For more
information, visit: www.seenamagowitzfoundation.org.
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About Simmons Bedding Company
Atlanta-based Simmons Bedding Company is one of the world's
largest mattress producers and the maker of Beautyrest®. Simmons
manufactures and markets a broad range of products including
Beautyrest®, Beautyrest TruEnergy™, Beautyrest Black®, ComforPedic®
from Beautyrest®, and BeautySleep®. Simmons Bedding operates 19
conventional bedding manufacturing facilities across the United
States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Simmons Bedding also serves as a
key supplier of beds to many of the world's leading hotel groups
and resort properties. Simmons Bedding is committed to developing
superior mattresses and promoting a higher-quality sleep, helping
ensure consumers around the world are Living Life Fully Charged™.
For more information, visit: www.beautyrest.com,
or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Press Contact:
Christina Schrempp
three
(404) 835-4521
[email protected]
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About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused
on helping patients with cancer, neurological disorders and
diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process
of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen
physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of
both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children.
Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical
communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial
contribution to help our patients through efficiency and
effectiveness of the translational process. For more information,
visit:www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
