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- Posted Monday March 10, 2014
Seena Magowitz Foundation names Gary Fazio as Honorary Chairman of 2014 'Golf Weekend' fundraiser for TGen pancreatic cancer research
Fazio is CEO of Serta and Simmons Bedding and has a long history of experience in the industry
PHOENIX, Ariz. - March 10, 2014 - The Seena
Magowitz Foundation, which has raised millions of dollars in the
quest for a cure for pancreatic cancer, has announced that Gary
Fazio will serve as Honorary Chairman for the 2014 Seena Magowitz
Golf Weekend.
The 12th annual event, which has previously been held in Phoenix,
will take place May 16-17 at the Omni Resort at ChampionsGate in
Orlando, Florida.
The golf tournament raises needed funds for pancreatic cancer
research at the Phoenix-based, non-profit Translational
Genomics Research Institute (TGen). The most recent event, held
in December at the world-famous Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa,
drew nearly 400 participants, including 200 golfers.
"Our hope is that the move to a new venue will draw even more
support for this most worthy cause, and advance progress even
further against this terrible disease," said Roger E. Magowitz,
President of the Seena Magowitz Foundation, which he founded in
honor of his mother, Seena, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2001.
"We are honored that our great friend Gary Fazio has agreed to help
lead this effort in Florida."
Fazio currently serves as CEO of Serta and Simmons Bedding, having
joined the company in 2010. Prior to that, he was CEO and Chairman
of Mattress Firm. Fazio has more than 40 years of bedding
manufacturing and retail experience, and has assumed the
responsibilities for Serta after the former CEO left the company.
The bedding industry is a primary supporter of pancreatic cancer
research.
"I am really looking forward to this event to help raise money to
fight pancreatic cancer," Fazio said. "This is a great opportunity
for people in the bedding industry to get together in a social
setting and work together to benefit a great cause. Pancreatic
cancer is a very deadly disease and we need to help raise money for
a cure."
Major recent progress by TGen against pancreatic cancer,
includes:
• TGen's continuing discoveries about the
mechanisms of pancreatic cancer through the work of its Stand Up to
Cancer (SU2C) Pancreatic Cancer Dream Team.
• TGen's new clinical trial, begun in September,
on a drug derived from a plant known as "Thunder God vine," a root
used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years.
Preclinical studies showed that a pharmaceutical version of the
active ingredient in Thunder God proved effective against
pancreatic cancer cells.
• And, importantly, on Sept. 6, the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of nab-paclitaxel
(also known as Abraxane) in combination with gemcitabine as a
front-line therapy for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. In
international clinical trials supervised by TGen, this drug
combination produced a 27 percent increase in average survival, a
59 percent increase in patients surviving at least 1 year, and a
125 percent increase in patients surviving at least 2 years.
The Seena Magowitz Foundation helped fund the
nab-paclitaxel/Abraxane clinical trials.
Prospective sponsors and tournament participants may contact:
Roger Magowitz at 602-524-7636 or [email protected];
or Liz McBeth, Tournament Director, at 757-773-3622 or [email protected].
*
About the Seena Magowitz Golf Weekend
The Seena Magowitz Golf Weekend was established 11 years ago in an
effort to raise money to fight pancreatic cancer, one of the
deadliest forms of cancer. Pancreatic cancer annually takes the
lives of more than 38,000 Americans. A staggering 75 percent of
those diagnosed die within the first year, and only 6 percent
survive more than five years.
About the Seena Magowitz Foundation
The Seena Magowitz Foundation was founded in 2001 by Roger E.
Magowitz after the loss of his mother to pancreatic cancer. The
foundation is committed to advancing awareness, early detection,
and the eventual prevention and cure of pancreatic cancer. To
support the cause and raise funds for cancer research, the
foundation holds an annual golf tournament. For more information
about the foundation and tournament, visit www.seenamagowitzfoundation.org.
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]
