Mattress Firm Announces Executive Director of Charitable Foundation

Industry veteran and philanthropist, Roger Magowitz, joins Mattress Firm as the charitable foundation Executive Director.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) December 05, 2013

Mattress Firm, Inc., MFRM the nation's largest specialty mattress retailer, today announced that it has appointed industry veteran and philanthropist, Roger Magowitz, as the executive director of the Mattress Firm Foundation. He will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Foundation which raises awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research and clinical trials.

Magowitz has served as the Foundation charitable advisor since 2011 when the organization took on the cause. Since then, he has connected Mattress Firm employees and customers to the message. Additionally, he has helped the Foundation raise over $500,000 for Translational Genomics Research Center (http://www.tgen.org), which is also the recipient of the funds raised by the Seena Magowitz Foundation - an organization founded by Magowitz in 2001 after his mother passed away from pancreatic cancer.

“Roger has made finding a cure for pancreatic cancer his life's mission. He passionately pursues every opportunity to raise much needed awareness. His unwavering dedication has not only united an industry, but it has also provided TGen with funding for clinical trials that have resulted in several breakthroughs,” said Steve Stagner, Mattress Firm CEO and Mattress Firm Foundation board member. “I am amazed by his conviction and look forward to having his leadership at the Mattress Firm Foundation.”

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and 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. Despite these statistics, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) currently allocates less than 2% of its annual research budget to pancreatic cancer.

About Mattress Firm Foundation
The Mattress Firm Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on raising national awareness of pancreatic cancer and directly funding research and clinical trials in an effort to reverse the odds and, ultimately, find a cure for this deadly disease. For more information, visit: http://www.mattressfirm.com/charity.

About Mattress Firm
Houston-based Mattress Firm MFRM is a high growth specialty retailer, recognized as one of the nation's largest specialty bedding companies, offering a broad selection of both traditional and specialty mattresses, bedding accessories and related products from leading manufacturers. With more than 1,200 stores across 31 states, Mattress Firm has the largest geographic footprint in the United States among mattress specialty retailers. Mattress Firm offers customers comfortable store environments, guarantees on price, comfort and service, and highly-trained sales professionals. More information at http://www.mattressfirm.com.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/12/prweb11387894.htm