Stephen A. Comunale, Jr. Family Cancer Foundation: Bringing even more comfort to cancer patients
This story originally appeared in the Fall 2023 edition of Promise magazine.
The Stephen A. Comunale, Jr. Family Cancer Foundation has eased the cancer journey for hundreds of local families at Summa Health and beyond, providing more than $1.75 million in assistance since 2006.
The foundation’s longtime support of the Summa Screens program has helped Summa Health provide free breast imaging services to uninsured and underinsured patients for years.
Other programs and services supported by the foundation aim to alleviate the stresses of cancer treatment. Among these are the wig salon, physical and massage therapies, nutrition counseling, support groups and more.
In 2019, the foundation helped design and create a larger space in a better location for expanded cancer support services on the Barberton Campus through a spa-like experience at the Renewal Nook.
Most recently, the foundation established the Stephen A. Comunale, Jr. Family Cancer Foundation Supportive Care Fund for Oncology. Ongoing generosity to the fund provides patients access to wigs and wig care kits, art carts with supplies such as coloring books and pencils, painting workshops at the Akron and Barberton Campuses, and food pantry items at the Jean and Milton Cooper Pavilion.
Infusion centers at both locations in addition to the Summa Health Medina Medical Center feature Tree of Hope murals with leaves and birds adorned with patients’ thumbprints. Once the Stow-Kent Outpatient Infusion Center opens in late 2023, it also will feature a mural.
On October 12, the community came together for an Employee Breast Health event celebrating breast health and unity. One of the day's highlights was the unveiling of The Tree of Life, a remarkable mural and a symbol of our collective strength and support for one another also made possible by the Comunale Foundation.
“We are so very grateful to the Comunale Foundation for helping us provide these crucial and comforting services to patients who are going through a cancer journey. We are like the comforting, warm hug of cancer care,” said Christina White, director of Supportive and Integrative Programs at the Cancer Institute.
To support oncology services and supportive care at Summa Health, contact Summa Foundation at 330.375.3159 or foundation@summahealth.org.