Record $200,000 raised at Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation’s Silver Anniversary Gala

 
A record crowd of 500 supporters gathered at Embassy Suites in Independence to celebrate the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation’s 25th anniversary of health care philanthropy, raising more than $200,000 to further its mission of supporting Parma Hospital’s technologically advanced, community‐focused range of care.

Donor generosity resulted in over $200,000 being raised to support Parma Hospital’ services, including hospice and ElderCenter adult day care. The generous array of donors were led by:

• Title Sponsor – Pleasant Lake Villa, A Legacy Health Services Facility; 
• Presenting Sponsors – Donna M. and Alex I. Koler, and the Parma Hospital Medical Staff
• Platinum Sponsors – Forest City and the Parma Hospital Auxiliary.

 
Following a warm welcome from Parma Hospital’s President and CEO Terrence G. Deis, the master of ceremonies, author and Parma native Chuck Spinner, set the tone for the evening by recalling his own positive experiences as a cardiac patient at Parma Hospital. His testimonial was followed by a touching video presentation of the care Angelo and Mary Jo Pimpas’s family received when Angelo’s late mother, Polly, was a participant at Parma Hospital’s ElderCenter.

Finally, Parma native Brian Wagner – whose father was one of the first recipients of Parma Hospital’s hospice care decades ago – helped set a new fund raising record by challenging the crowd with his own $25,000 gift to hospice. “I know that I feel better than anyone about the results,” Wagner said, after his challenge was met with an overwhelming response from other donors. The fact that Wagner’s mother, Rosemary, and several friends and relatives were part of this experience was the most deeply meaningful part of the evening for him.

Foundation Executive Director Marcia Ferguson summed up the energetic evening. “The Foundation is profoundly grateful to all of the evening’s supporters,” Ferguson said. “They should feel deeply rewarded knowing that their generosity will help so many families.”