Date: 10/29/2020
Premieres Saturday, Nov. 7; general release on Monday, Nov. 9, in home theaters everywhere
AKRON, Ohio, October 29, 2020 – Summa Health announced this week the upcoming premiere of the “Sapphire Ball: The Movie.” Since 2001, the Sapphire Ball has supported Summa Health’s clinically excellent care and life-saving programs, raising more than $12 million to benefit Summa Health patients and their families. Although guests are unable to gather in gowns and tuxedos this year, Summa Health is bringing memories of two decades of the ball into the comfort of their homes with “Summa Health Sapphire Ball: The Movie.”
Produced in place of the 2020 live gala, the virtual movie will celebrate the history of the Sapphire Ball and showcase the spirit of generosity that has always distinguished the Akron community. Past honorary chairs and special guests will share their memories with hosts Cliff Deveny, M.D., Summa Health president and chief executive officer, and veteran emcee Dave Lieberth. Set in the Akron Civic Theatre, the movie will take viewers on a cinematic dance down memory lane. Count on lots of fun and entertainment, plenty of delightful moments, and exclusive recognition and benefits for sponsors. An invitation-only premiere opens Saturday, Nov. 7, in select home theaters. General release begins Monday, Nov. 9, in home theaters everywhere when the movie may be accessed online at summahealth.org/sapphireball.
Joining Drs. Sandra and Cliff Deveny as Director level sponsors of the movie are the Akron Beacon Journal, House of LaRose, and Sandy and Tony Solaro.
Cinematographer sponsors are Akron Life Magazine, Foundations Health Solutions, Hasenstab Architects, J.W. Didado Electric, The Lehner Family Foundation, Perspectus Architecture, Thomarios, Patricia and David Wartko, and Yerman & Young Painting, Inc.
Screenwriter sponsors are A Crano Excavating; Akron Civic Theatre; Altercare; BMO Harris Bank; Bradley; Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLC; Debbie and Keith Coleman; Direction Home Akron Canton; Echo Financial Products; Sue Espinal, M.D., and Eric Espinal, M.D.; Fisher Phillips; Hemminger Construction; Huntington Bank; KeyBank; Lake Erie Electric; Lisle M. Buckingham Foundation; Marks Family; Northeast Ohio Medical University; Julia and Michael Pasternak; R.B. Stout; Roetzel and Andress; The Ruhlin Company; Sandra and Richey Smith; Alice and George Strickler; Summa Health Home Infusion - Ritzman Pharmacy; Summit Construction; and Women's Board of St. Thomas Hospital.
*Current as of Oct. 29, 2020
Sponsorships are available by visiting summahealth.org/sapphireball. For more information, contact Nikki Hawk at 330.375.3548 or hawkn@summahealth.org.
The traditional Summa Health Sapphire Ball returns to the John S. Knight Center on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, with Sandra and Richey Smith as honorary chairs.
Summa Health is one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery systems in Ohio. Encompassing a network of hospitals, community health centers, a health plan, a physician-hospital organization, a multi-specialty physician organization, research and the Summa Health Foundation, we are nationally renowned for excellence in patient care and for exceptional approaches to healthcare delivery. Summa’s clinical services are consistently recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (Magnet status), U.S. News and World Report, Thomson Reuters and The Leapfrog Group. For more information, visit summahealth.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/summahealth and Twitter, twitter.com/summahealth.
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Media Contact: Shannon Houser
Phone: 234.312.5432
