Babbo Italian Eatery has announced its fourth annual Baseball for Babbo Day of Giving event, taking place on February 26, 2025. Over the past three years, this impactful initiative has raised $417,562 for pancreatic cancer research. The restaurant’s long-term goal is $1 million.
All eight Valley Babbo Italian Eatery locations will donate 100 percent of profits to the Seena Magowitz Foundation to support groundbreaking research at HonorHealth Research Institute in honor of the memory of Babbo’s founder, the late Ken Pollack. To amplify the event’s impact, the family and Founder Roger Magowitz will each match funds raised, up to $50,000.
A devoted baseball enthusiast and father, Pollack lost his courageous fight against pancreatic cancer in 2022. The name “Babbo” means “daddy” in Italian and reflects the guiding role Pollack played in the lives of his family, staff and community.
“My dad believed deeply in the importance of giving back and creating a cycle of generosity,” Pollack’s daughter Taylor Schultz said. “Our annual Day of Giving is a meaningful way for us to carry forward his legacy and uphold the values he instilled in all of us.”
As the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate of 13 percent. While this marks an improvement in recent years, the Seena Magowitz Foundation is dedicated to advancing research, raising awareness, and connecting patients and caregivers with medical professionals at world-class institutions to improve outcomes and quality of life.
“Every effort in the fight against pancreatic cancer brings us closer to hope and healing,” Magowitz said. “We are proud to join forces with Babbo Italian Eatery and the community to make a lasting impact and change the future of this devastating disease. Our vision is a world where pancreatic cancer is a chronic, treatable disease.”
Valley residents can support Babbo’s Day of Giving on February 26 though dine-in, take-out, catering, or the purchase of a gift card. Additional opportunities to contribute to the cause include a silent auction and raffle featuring rare memorabilia from baseball legends such as Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero, Dansby Swanson and more. For more, visit babboitalian.com.
