The Circle awards 2022 grants to Summa Health Family Medicine and Women's Health Centers

The Circle of Women's Health Philanthropists celebrated its 2022 grants and the holiday season at the home of Drs. Sue and Eric Espinal. A recap and photo gallery of that event are shown below. 

Now in its ninth year, the Summa Foundation Circle of Women’s Health Philanthropists gathered for its annual Holiday Celebration on Thursday, December 8, at the home of Drs. Sue and Eric Espinal to celebrate its accomplishments for the year and to reveal the grant winners for 2022. 

Members contribute a tax-deductible donation of $2,500 annually and $1,000 for young professional members under the age of 40. These gifts are then combined to fund a specific need related to women’s health, determined by a vote of members. Since 2014, The Circle has awarded $863,228 in grants to many areas of Summa Health from the Summa Health Pride Clinic and Traumatic Stress Center to palliative care, research, neuroscience, pastoral care and more.

With their collective gifts in 2022, Circle members awarded two grants totaling $92,228 in support of the Summa Health Family Medicine Center and the Summa Health Women’s Health Center. With grants from The Circle, the Family Medicine Center will continue the Health Education Advocacy Law Project that The Circle helped launch in 2022. The Women’s Health Center will upgrade equipment and improve the quality of care for non-English speaking patients.

Jessica Hudson, president of Summa Foundation and chief development officer of Summa Health, presented flowers to Circle Chair Colleen O’Connor Wernig on behalf of founding chair Julia Rea Bianchi. Colleen will serve as Circle chair until spring 2023 when a new chair is announced.

Colleen recognized the newest Patroness and Marie Lawson Society members who have demonstrated 4-year and 10-year commitments respectively to The Circle:

• Patroness members Tracy Dankoff, Kelly Folden, Naomi Ganoe and Dr. Andrea Jopperi
• Marie Lawson Society members Tammy Gersman, Angela Miller and Laura Billow Preston

All members were presented with a Pandora charm in the shape of a knotted heart to symbolize how The Circle is woven together in its philanthropic endeavors for all the women in the community.