Helping People Achieve their Dreams of Having a Family.

Our Mission

About one in six couples has difficulty having a child without medical intervention. If you or someone you love has had difficulty conceiving, you are not alone.

Thanks to advances in medical science, many couples and individuals who were unable to conceive naturally have been helped through Invitro Fertilization (IVF). For too many, the costs of IVF often put the procedure beyond reach. 

The Jaclyn and Evan Williams Fertility Fund, the first of its kind offered through the Summa Health Women’s Institute, provides grants for IVF procedures with genetic testing, helping people achieve their dreams of having a family. 

Application Guidelines 

Couples or individuals in need may apply for the grant through a formal written application to the Summa Health Women’s Institute through an online application. A selection committee consisting of the chair of Summa Health Reproduction Endocrinology and the medical and administrative directors of the Summa Health Women’s Institute will review grant requests and award funding to select applicants. Applicants will be awarded based upon clinical workup and insurance coverage, up to $25,000 of non-covered and out-of-pocket expenses.

Clinical Criteria

Applicants must meet the following clinical criteria and provide verification from the referring physician via a signed medical form:

1. Patients must be age 40 years or younger, treating for infertility, and whose next step is IVF.
2. Body mass index (BMI) must be less than 35 and patient must be in good health overall.
3. Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) must be greater than 1 (unless using donor eggs).
4. Patients must reside in Summit County or one of its bordering counties of Stark, Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, Medina or Wayne.
5. Patients must be willing to fertilize all eggs and cryopreserve all embryos.
6. Patients must be willing to do preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A or PGT-M).
7. PGT-M cases are not excluded, but any chronic diseases must be under control.
8. Patients can have partial fertility coverage and still qualify but should be able to show a need for financial assistance.
9. Grants will be considered only for patients utilizing services at Summa Health.

Next Steps 

If you meet the eligibility guidelines, please complete the online application. Our selection committee will review your application, make a final decision and notify recipients.

Online Application

Information and Forms Required for the Application

• Physician clinical form from the referring specialist that includes the medical criteria listed above
• Clinical application form filled out by the applying patient
• Current employment information, recent W-2(s), 1040 for individual or couple applying
• Medical insurance information for the individual or couple applying
• Financial information including: annual household income, monthly household expenses and retirement plans 

Application Deadlines

Grant requests will be reviewed and awarded twice annually. Please submit your application within one of the application window stated below for consideration.