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- Posted Monday June 26, 2017
15th annual Seena Magowitz Golf Classic energizes support for new breakthroughs against pancreatic cancer
Mattress and home furnishings industries band together in pursuit of a cure through research led by TGen’s Dr. Daniel Von Hoff
BOSTON - June 26, 2017 - The Seena Magowitz Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research will hold its 15th annual Seena Magowitz Golf Classic in Boston from Aug. 26-28, 2017. The Golf Classic has earned the distinction of being one of the most well-known and influential charity fundraising events that exclusively benefits pancreatic cancer research at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
Much more than a golf tournament, the annual Seena Magowitz Golf Classic is three days of fun-filled events that will draw several hundred people from across the country to Boston this year. During the events, participants from all walks of life - including medical experts, patients, sponsors, donors and guests - come together with one goal in mind: to quicken the pace of medical research that will ultimately conquer pancreatic cancer. This brutal disease has the worst survival rate of all tumor-type cancers, and has now surpassed breast cancer to become the third leading cause of cancer deaths.
Mattress industry veteran Roger E. Magowitz founded the Seena Magowitz Foundation in honor of his mother, Seena, who lost her battle to pancreatic cancer in 2001. Thanks to sizable donations from both individuals and companies who support the Seena Magowitz Foundation, TGen has been able to make pancreatic cancer research advancements that have shown great promise for tripling the five-year survival rate.>
"The greatest gift we can give to warriors who lost a battle to pancreatic cancer is to find a cure for this terrible disease," said Roger E. Magowitz, founder of the Seena Magowitz Foundation. "Until our ultimate mission is attained, we're bringing an unbridled energy to advancing earlier diagnosis and extending quality of life through improved treatments."
"The greatest gift we can give to warriors who lost a battle to pancreatic cancer is to find a cure for this terrible disease," Magowitz said. "Until our ultimate mission is attained, we're bringing an unbridled energy to advancing earlier diagnosis and extending quality of life through improved treatments."
Recently, Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, TGen Distinguished Professor and Physician-In-Chief, teamed up with clinical trials partner HonorHealth in a pilot clinical trial study called the TGen Triple. They've announced a nearly 70 percent positive response of tumor shrinkage for patients with advanced late-stage pancreatic cancer. In
fact two participants showed no evidence of a tumor. That pilot clinical trial study was funded in part by The Seena Magowitz Foundation and Mattress Firm.
"I am excited to report that there has been much progress towards our shared mission of curing pancreatic cancer," said Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, TGen Distinguished Professor and Physician-In-Chief.
"I am excited to report that there has been much progress towards our shared mission of curing pancreatic cancer. Not too long ago, one-year survivorship for pancreatic cancer ranged between 9 and 18 percent. I am pleased to say that today, with the regimen developed with your support, one-year survivorship stands at 65 percent, which also means patients surviving one year, now have a better chance of surviving two, three, four, or even five years - thanks to you," said Dr. Von Hoff, who also is a Senior Consultant-Clinical Investigations for City of Hope.
Building upon the groundswell of enthusiasm for TGen's biomedical breakthroughs, Ken Murphy, President and CEO of Mattress Firm and Honorary Chair of this year's Seena Magowitz Golf Classic, has recruited three home furnishings industry leaders to the event's fundraising network. They include:
¥ Derek Miller, Senior Vice President Sales for Serta Simmons Bedding;
¥ Joe Lyon, Group Vice President of National Accounts for Leggett & Platt; and
¥ Davis Whitworth, Vice President for Merchandising Operations at Mattress Firm.
Momentum is building as new pancreatic cancer donors commit to the cause, and past donors increase their unwavering support for this summer's Seena Magowitz Golf Classic. Karl Glassman, President and CEO of Leggett & Platt - who previously served as the Golf Classic's honorary chair and is a member of TGen's National Advisory Council for Pancreatic Cancer Research - has not only pledged to double his company's donation, but he also plans to double the personal contribution that he and his wife, Cathi, will make this year.
"With TGen's Dr. Von Hoff putting the pedal to the metal, we are witnessing some amazing progress against this dreaded disease," Glassman said. "Now that we are advancing at a more rapid pace toward the light at the end of the tunnel, we are all more incentivized to contribute more funding to help find methods of early diagnosis, extending quality of life, and ultimately a cure."
This 15th Annual Seena Magowitz Golf Classic promises a broad array of fun-filled events:
Honorary Chair: Ken Murphy, President and CEO of Mattress Firm
Master of Ceremonies: Derrick Hall, President and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, Distinguished Professor and Physician-in-Chief, TGen
• Headquartered at the famous Boston Harbor Hotel with incredible views and amenities
• Boston Red Sox Game and Backyard BBQ at Fenway Park on Saturday, Aug. 26
• Clambake and Lobster Feast on Thompson Island in the Boston Harbor on Sunday, Aug. 27
• Gala Discovery Dinner celebrating progress against pancreatic cancer and honoring patients on Sunday, Aug. 27
• Golf tournament at the historic Wellesley Country Club, one of the most cherished in America, on Monday, Aug. 28
• Cocktail hours, raffles, live auctions and endless camaraderie and networking
Explore event details and sponsorship opportunities at: www.seenamagowitzfoundation.org/annual-seena-magowitz-golf-classic. Prospective sponsors, participants and dinner attendees may contact: Roger E. Magowitz at 602-524-7636 or [email protected]; or Liz McBeth, event director, at 757-773-3622 or [email protected].
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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, and is committed to early diagnosis and advancing life-extending treatment options, with the ultimate goal of eradicating this deadly killer. For more information, 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 neurological disorders, cancer, diabetes, and infectious diseases, 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. TGen is allied with City of Hope, a world-renowned independent research and cancer and diabetes treatment center. This precision medicine alliance enables both institutes to complement each other in research and patient care, with City of Hope providing a significant clinical setting to advance scientific discoveries made by TGen. For more information, visit: www.tgen.org. Follow TGen on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @TGen.
Media Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
