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- Posted Friday August 22, 2014
Mattress Firm donates $100,000 to TGen cancer research
Bedding giant opens 1,500th and largest nationwide store in Scottsdale; leads TGen's stepNout fundraising to find cure for pancreatic cancer
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Aug. 22, 2014 - Mattress Firm, the nations leading bedding retailer, announced today a $100,000 donation for pancreatic cancer research to the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). The presentation was part of the opening ceremonies for Mattress Firm's 1,500thstore, located in Scottsdale's Sonora Village Shopping Center.
The donation also establishes Mattress Firm as the presenting sponsor of TGen's 9th annualstepNout Run, Walk Dash, a major fundraiser for TGen pancreatic cancer research.
"When Mattress Firm chose TGen as its Charitable Partner, we vowed to help create a world free of pancreatic cancer. Mattress Firm has since led and supported several major TGen fundraising initiatives, and we are proud to make a significant contribution to stepNout," said Steve Stagner, Mattress Firm President and CEO.
This year, stepNout takes place on Nov. 2 at the Scottsdale Sports Complex, northeast of Bell and Hayden roads. More than 1,000 people are expected to participate in stepNout, which features fun, competitive races for all ages and abilities, including the event's signature 5K run. Participants may register at the event, or register online by Oct. 28 by visitingwww.tgenfoundation.org/step.
"The people of Mattress Firm are truly committed to bringing hope and answers to patients and families facing pancreatic cancer," said TGen Foundation President Michael Bassoff. "Mattress Firm's sponsorship of stepNout will enable thousands of others to join in TGen's fight against this awful disease."
In addition to the $100,000 donation to stepNout, Mattress Firm will donate 8 percent of all purchases throughout this grand-opening weekend to TGen, a non-profit organization dedicated to groundbreaking genomic research to accelerate breakthroughs in healthcare.
Vowing to "fight pancreatic cancer, one step at a time,"stepNoutaims to surpass the $1 million mark in fundraising. Participants have donated more than $750,000 since the event started in 2006 at Kiwanis Park in Tempe. Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall is Honorary Chairman of this year's stepNout.
TGen's pancreatic cancer research is led by Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff, TGen's Distinguished Professor and Physician-In-Chief, and Chief Scientific Officer for the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale Healthcare, a partnership with TGen. Dr. Von Hoff is one of the world's leading authorities on pancreatic cancer.
One of Dr. Von Hoff's goals is to develop a method of early detection for pancreatic cancer. Currently, there are no tests to catch this disease in its early stages. As a result, it often is not diagnosed until its late stages, making it more difficult to treat. Pancreatic cancer this year will take the lives of nearly 40,000 Americans, the nation's fourth-leading cause of cancer-related death.
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AboutMattress Firm
With more than 1,500 company-operated and franchised stores across 36 states, Mattress Firm (NASDAQ:MFRM) has the largest geographic footprint in the United States among multi-brand mattress retailers. Founded in 1986, Houston-based Mattress Firm is the nation's leading bedding retailer with more than $1.2 billion in sales for 2013. The company offers a broad selection of both traditional and specialty mattresses, bedding accessories and other related products from leading manufacturers, including Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, Serta, Simmons, Stearns & Foster, Hampton & Rhodes and Atmos. Mattress Firm guarantees price, comfort and service with the ultimate goal of ensuring customers Save Money. Sleep Happy™. More information is available atmattressfirm.com.
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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]
