BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Press Release) – Southern Motion, a Pontotoc-based furniture manufacturer, continues its outstanding support for the American Cancer Society (ACS), raising $265,000 through its 2018 fundraising efforts.

Since becoming involved in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life in 2004, Southern Motion has raised $1,452,104 through efforts such as golf tournaments, employee payroll deduction and much more. Funds raised at Relay For Life help ACS attack cancer in dozens of ways, each of them critical to creating a world without cancer – from developing breakthrough therapies to building supportive communities, from providing empowering resources to deploying activists to raise awareness.

“Supporting ACS through our fundraising for Relay For Life is now a cultural part of what we do on a daily basis throughout Southern Motion, its vendor base, and the sales representatives of Southern Motion” said Keith Jackson, human resources coordinator for Southern Motion. “At some point throughout the year, nearly 100 percent of our 1,500 employees contribute financially to this annual effort.”

These efforts have generated recognition from the American Cancer Society on many levels, including the top fundraising team in Mississippi and a national team of excellence. In 2017, Southern Motion was honored with a Relay For Life Hero of Research Award which offers qualified teams an opportunity to name an existing extramural research grant in honor of a loved one or their team.

“The passion that drives this support and dedication comes from the cause of eliminating cancer,” added Jackson. “Our passion comes from the fact that we have nearly 1,500 employees throughout our operations, and cancer has seemingly touched each one of them, a member of their family, or a close relationship in a very personal way. Our strength comes from seeing our employees who are survivors and those currently undergoing treatment that get up each day, come to work, do their jobs, and continue to battle every day to beat this dreaded disease.”

“Cancer is a complex disease, and the American Cancer Society cannot do it alone,” says Jeff Fehlis, executive vice president for the American Cancer Society, South Region. “The generosity and ongoing support of Relay For Life teams like Southern Motion has a direct impact on the Society’s ability to ensure that lifesaving cancer research continues to get funded, to provide people facing cancer with the help they need, and to amplify our efforts so that we can continue to attack cancer from every angle. I’m genuinely grateful to Southern Motion and our partnership towards saving lives in our community together.”