Heart of industry shines at Seena Magowitz Golf Classic

It was, once again, a mixture of hope and determination, sadness and challenge, all fused by deep bedding bonds and served up in a spectacular setting in the Valley of the Sun.
The ninth edition of the Seena Magowitz Celebrity Golf Classic raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for pancreatic cancer research and brought a who's who list of bedding executives to the event once again for two days of fellowship, recreation, fund-raising and education.
Presiding over the event was Roger Magowitz, charitable advisor for Houston-based Mattress Firm, who lost his mother to pancreatic cancer in 2001 and has used that loss to galvanize the mattress industry to fight pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest cancers and one that doesn't receive nearly enough attention or financial support.
Each year Magowitz manages to lift his event to the next level, and this year's event, held at the picturesque Arizona Biltmore, was no exception. Attendance was up and top mattress producers, retailers and suppliers filled the room for the awards luncheon that is a highlight of the weekend. More than 400 attended that event.
The luncheon provided a quick overview of the challenges posed by pancreatic cancer, which claims 37,000 deaths each year and has a low survival rate. Top cancer researchers, led by Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, outlined progress being made in the fight against pancreatic cancer, but noted that much more work remains to be done.
Steve Stagner, CEO of Mattress Firm, delivered a hopeful address on the need for the industry to remain focused on pancreatic cancer and to do everything possible to aid the cause. He's leading by example; Mattress Firm is upping its donation this year by $50,000.
Despite the grim odds posed by pancreatic cancer, there was a sense in the room that the mattress industry is helping researchers turn the corner in their fight to cure pancreatic cancer. It is that spirit of hope, buoyed by the strong support of so many mattress companies, that remains a highlight of the Seena Magowitz Golf Classic.
It was cool in the Valley of the Sun, and we didn't see much of the sun that weekend. But we did see the heart of the mattress industry, and that is a beautiful sight that shines bright each December in Phoenix. We'll have coverage and photos from the 2011 Seena Magowitz Golf Classic event in our Dec. 19 issue.
As we head into the holidays, this is a good time to reflect on the precious gift of life we share - and to rally around those like Roger Magowitz who are fighting so hard to give that life to people just like you and me who are afflicted with pancreatic cancer.