2023 Sapphire Ball
“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”
20 years of community commitment to healthcare
This story originally appeared in the Summer 2024 edition of Promise magazine.
2023 marked a 20-year milestone for the Summa Health Sapphire Ball, a signature event that has contributed over $14 million, demonstrating the community’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services in the region.
Held at the John S. Knight Center on September 23, the evening also marked a triumphant fundraising endeavor, generating more than $867,000 to advance the award-winning, life-saving care of the Summa Health Neuroscience Institute among other vital clinical programs.
Before guests rocked out to the iconic sounds of Starship, the evening showcased the powerful stories of patients whose lives were profoundly impacted by the exceptional care they received at the Neuroscience Institute.
Dr. Cliff Deveny, Summa Health president and CEO, shared an inspiring video highlighting the experiences of grateful patients like Alvaro Marroquin, who overcame a major brain aneurysm, and Kathy Geier, who received critical treatment following a severe subarachnoid hemorrhage.
“Caring for patients like Kathy and Alvaro is our why,” said Susana Bowling, M.D., physician chair of the ball and medical director of the institute. Alvaro and his wife, Juana, were among the guests attending the gala.
Honorary Chairs Gary and Rhonda Didado shared their personal connection with Dr. Bowling, whom they met for the first time in 2010, when she treated Gary’s father for a stroke. “It was a very difficult time for our family, but Dr. Bowling being there really helped us through it. We felt confident that we were in the right place,” said Gary.
The gala also witnessed generous donations, including a meaningful gift from Jane Weingart and family in honor of her late husband, Dr. John Weingart, Summa Health’s first chair of Neurology and Akron’s first board-certified neurologist.
Huntington Bank was the Diamond Sponsor of the gala. Ruby sponsors were the Akron Beacon Journal, Sandy and Cliff Deveny, Gary and Rhonda Didado, The Lehner Family Foundation, Tony Solaro and Thomarios.
For more information, contact Nikki Hawk at hawkn@summahealth.org or 330.375.3548.