Parma Mayor Dean DePiero Race Benefits Two Cleveland Area Charities

Check Presentation by Parma Mayor Dean DePiero: Marcia Ferguson, Executive Director of the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation and Gordon Bowen, Chief Operating Officer of Lifebanc, accept a fundraising check from Mayor DePiero''s Annual 5K Charity Run and 2K Fun Walk. The Foundation and Lifebanc were designated as beneficiaries of the event with all proceeds from the race shared by the two organizations.

Parma Mayor Dean DePiero presented checks, each totaling $2,750, to Lifebanc and the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation.  The money was raised from the 8th annual Dean DePiero 5K Charity Run and 2K Fun Walk this past June at Byers Field in Parma. 

Over the past eight years, more than $55,000 has been collected in donations from Dean DePiero’s Charity Race.  All proceeds from the race are distributed to designated charities.

“The race gives us a great opportunity to reach out and touch the lives of those in our community,” said Mayor DePiero.  “It all boils down to using the race proceeds to help the helpers – organizations that greatly improve the quality of life for our residents.  It’s that helping spirit which makes me proud of the race and the willingness of all the volunteers who make it happen.”

Lifebanc saves and heals lives through organ, eye and tissue donation for transplantation in northeast Ohio.  Lifebanc is responsible for coordinating the organ, eye and tissue recovery process, increasing registration rates by providing public and professional education services and offering bereavement support to donor families.  To become a registered organ, eye and tissue donor and help save a life, say yes at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or visit www.lifebanc.org.

“This generous contribution by Mayor DePiero will heal and save lives in our community,” said Gordon Bowen, Lifebanc Chief Executive Officer.  “This gift will help provide bereavement support to grieving families and educational programs so that more residents will become registered organ, eye and tissue donors.”

Since 1987, the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation has provided more than $4 million of philanthropic support of Parma Hospital’s mission, expanding services and medical, health and wellness care outreach in the community.  Foundation funds helped to create the Tri-C Nursing School at Parma Community General Hospital, Seasons of Life Residential Hospice and growth and development of programs at the hospital’s Elder Center.

“We appreciate Mayor DePiero’s generous contribution, directly helping to improve and build our medical and educational community-based programs,” said Marcia Ferguson, Executive Director of the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation.  “This helps us provide hunger relief and care for the disabled as part of our Safety Net mission as well as assisting the Parma Health Ministry and other organizations that provide medical care for uninsured individuals.”

Several charities have benefited from the 5K Race and 2K Fun Run over the past eight years: Parma’s own Holy Family Home, Seasons of Life Hospice and the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation, Lifebanc as well as the Christopher Reeve Foundation.  In 2010, the race was able to provide its largest donation of $10,000 to the Parma Community General Hospital Foundation.