Women's Board of Summa Health:
Celebrating a century of service and generosity
This story originally appeared in the Fall 2023 edition of Promise magazine.
The Women’s Board of Summa Health, a treasured group that has raised over $8 million and provided more than 350,000 volunteer hours to the health system, celebrated 100 years of service and support in 2022.
The extraordinary generosity of its members continued in 2023 with an impactful gift in support of the new Juve Family Behavioral Health Pavilion on the Akron Campus. In grateful recognition, Summa Health was honored to recognize the Women’s Board with a plaque that hangs in the ground-floor waiting area.
“Historically, the vision of the board has always been to support Summa Health in whatever way it can, including major building projects such as the [Juve] Behavioral Health Pavilion and the Williams Breast Center,” said Julie Pasternak, who recently began her term as board president.
In keeping with tradition, members also contribute annually to Summa Health’s scholarship fund for nursing education. This is a significant factor for Summa Health in acquiring Magnet status for nursing excellence and education.
“When Akron City Hospital had a small nursing school, the board not only provided financial support to nurses, but they even gave Christmas gifts and held parties for them,” said Julie. “It is part of our legacy.”
Hundreds of women have been part of the board over the years, touching the lives of countless patients through their efforts. In recognition of this legacy of service and support, the Women’s Board was honored with the prestigious Boniface DeRoo Award for Philanthropy in 2019 – Summa Health’s highest philanthropic honor.
Taking a moment to reflect on her new role, Julie said she is honored to have been chosen to lead this dedicated and committed group of volunteers.
“We work as a team. We all pitch in through service and philanthropy. We put in our time to raise the funds we donate.”
The Summa Health System – Akron Campus Gift Shop, one of the largest gift shops in Northeast Ohio, serves as the primary fundraiser of the Women’s Board with proceeds helping Summa Health to acquire vital medical equipment for nearly every department. Members volunteer their time in the gift shop, helping patients, families and guests who visit the hospital.
Members also create and hang holiday decorations throughout the Akron Campus and provide a small gift each year for patients hospitalized during the holidays.
“Our members are proud to live out the board’s core values of commitment, kindness, teamwork, inclusiveness and the desire to make a difference,” Julie added.
For more information about the Women’s Board of Summa Health, contact Summa Foundation at 330.375.3159 or foundation@summahealth.org.