Members of the Women's Board of Summa Health and the Women's Board of St. Thomas Hospital were honored with the Boniface DeRoo Award for Philanthropy at the Summa Society Celebration on June 26, 2019. Presenting the awards were (back row, from left): Cliff Deveny, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Summa Health; Anthony Lockhart, chair, Summa Health board of directors; Tom Clark, Summa Health Foundation board of directors; and (back, far right) Phylis Ferrara, president, Summa Health Foundation and chief development officer, Summa Health.
Summa Society Celebration
2019 Summa Health Distinguished Physician Jay Williamson, M.D., with his wife, Jan
On June 26, 2019, the powerful spirit of philanthropy at Summa Health was on full display at the annual Summa Society Celebration. More than 250 guests filled the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn as Summa Health honored its most generous donors and honored some remarkable individuals and organizations for their longtime support.
Cliff Deveny, M.D., Summa Health president and chief executive officer, thanked guests for their precious gifts of time, talent and resources that help Summa Health provide the highest quality, compassionate care to patients, their families and the community. Dr. Deveny was joined by Anthony Lockhart, chair, Summa Health board of directors; Tom Clark, chair, Summa Health Foundation board of directors; and Phylis Ferrara, president, Summa Health Foundation and chief development officer, Summa Health.
At a private reception preceding the main event, three new members were inducted into the Thomas W. Cornell Philanthropic Leadership Society, which recognizes benefactors who have given $1 million or more to Summa Health. They are Stephen A. Comunale, the late Verna Hancock, and the late Wilfred and Florence Weaver.
The prestigious Boniface DeRoo Award for Philanthropy — Summa's highest philanthropic honor — was given to two groups for the first time: the Women's Board of Summa Health and the Women's Board of St. Thomas Hospital. These groups have provided more than $13.5 million and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours to benefit Summa Health patients and their community.
Jay Williamson, M.D., a pioneer in the field of family medicine, was honored for his 46 years of service to Summa Health with the Distinguished Physician Award, the health system's most prestigious physician honor.
More information
- Women's Board of Summa Health and Women's Board of St. Thomas Hospital earn DeRoo Awards
- History of the Boniface DeRoo Award for Philanthropy
- Jay Williamson, M.D., honored with Distinguished Physician Award
- History of the Distinguished Physician Award
