Pictured (from left): Don Padgett III, executive director, Kaulig Companies Championship; Hollie Kozak, division director, Summa Health Medical Group; Isaac Baez, manager, Primary Prevention and At-Risk Populations, Summa Health; and Danielle Thompson, director, Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation.
Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation:
Hitting a hole in one for Summa Health
This story originally appeared in the Fall 2023 edition of Promise magazine.
When it comes to charitable giving, the Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation (NOGCF) is exceptionally notable and steeped in tradition.
Since 1984, the organization has given more than $31 million to worthy causes around Northeast Ohio – including Summa Health. This generosity continues through the Kaulig Companies Championship, formerly the Bridgestone Seniors Players Championship.
Don Padgett III, executive director of the Kaulig Companies Championship, said, “A big part of this tradition is giving proceeds back to organizations that help the community. We are proud to support the great work carried out by Summa Health.”
In the last four years alone, NOGCF has given $400,000 to support a myriad of programs throughout the health system and, in total, has donated more than $800,000 to Summa Health.
The generosity of NOGCF has supported the Summa Health Pride Clinic 2022 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Summit and the Summa Health Equity Center.
“The Summa Health Pride Clinic provides the LGBTQ+ community with a safe and welcoming environment along with access to providers who have specialized training and understand this community’s specific health needs,” said Hollie Kozak, division director of the Summa Health Medical Group.
“The generosity of NOGCF supported the education of 120-plus healthcare professionals across the region related to LGBTQ+ patients and assists in providing culturally competent care,” Kozak added. As a result, Summa Health professionals are even better equipped to meet the unique health needs of the LGBTQ+ community and to treat each patient equally, respectfully and knowledgeably.
Isaac Baez, director of the Summa Health Equity Center, said the generosity of NOGCF helped to provide cooking classes for the center’s clients who may be pre-diabetic or pre-hypertensive. “On the day I visited the class, I can’t even tell you how many people lit up,” said Baez.
“They told me how important the class, the space and the time was. To see the sincerity in their faces mattered so much.” In 2023, NOGCF continued its generosity with a grant in support of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program in Summa Health Women’s Health Services.
“Giving back to our region is a tradition in itself,” said Mr. Padgett. “The Kaulig Companies Championship is proud to play a part in supporting our community and Summa Health.”
Summa Health was proud to recognize the faithful generosity of NOGCF by naming the bridge to the Juve Family Behavioral Health Pavilion in its honor.
For more information on ways you can partner with Summa Health, please contact Summa Foundation at foundation@summahealth.org or 330.375.3159.