Women's Circle awards three grants to Summa Health programs

Members dedicated to improving healthcare for women have given $771,000 since 2014

Members of The Circle of Women’s Health Philanthropists, now in its eighth year and 52 women strong, demonstrated their continuing generosity to Summa Health at their annual holiday gathering held virtually on Thursday, December 9, 2021. Circle members awarded $106,000 bringing their total to $771,000 in grants distributed since the group formed in 2014.

Circle members range in age from 35 to 95 and have diverse backgrounds in business, medicine, philanthropy and much more. They are wives, mothers, daughters and grandmothers. And, they share a common goal: Helping other women.

“We take great pride in our mission to improve the overall health of women in our community,” said Colleen O’Connor Wernig, chair of The Circle. “The remarkable success of funding three grants this year continues to be a reflection of our members and their ever-increasing dedication and enthusiasm.”

The Circle grants awarded in 2021 will support the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Neuroscience Institute and Pastoral Care Services at Summa Health.

• With a grant from The Circle, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology will establish a cadaver dissection laboratory to help revolutionize surgical training for women’s health during the pandemic and beyond.
• The Neuroscience Institute will use its funding from The Circle to establish a much-needed fall prevention program to provide balance improvement that will help significantly reduce falls among women.
• A grant from The Circle will help Pastoral Care Services develop a mother’s loss support program for integrative healing and supporting the needs of moms who have experienced perinatal and postnatal loss.

“Thank you to our grant recipients for their commitment to women’s healthcare in our community,” said Colleen. We’re thrilled to be able to support Summa Health and these vitally important services, and we look forward to hearing about their progress in the year ahead.”

For more information about The Circle, contact Ashley Manning at 330.375.7524 or manningas@summahealth.org.