News Release
Contact:           
Michael G. Gaffney, APR
Vice President – Marketing
(330) 643-5532 - Office
(330) 701-8080 - Cell Phone

Date:  May 10, 2007

For Immediate Release

UNITED WAY OF SUMMIT COUNTY NAMES SUMMA CEO TOM STRAUSS 2007 CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN

The United Way of Summit County has named Thomas J. Strauss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Summa Health System, as the 2007 volunteer campaign chairman.

As chairman of the United Way/Red Cross annual campaign, Strauss will be involved in planning and implementing the fundraising effort, recruiting members for the cabinet, and attending campaign special events. Tom will spearhead the effort to make personal visits to more than 300 businesses and organizations in our community to encourage support of the United Way campaign.

Strauss has led the Summa Health System, including Akron City, St. Thomas and Cuyahoga Falls General Hospitals; six community health centers; SummaCare, Inc.; the physician-hospital organization, Summa Health Network; Summa Enterprises Group and the Summa Hospitals Foundation, since 1999.  He holds a doctor of pharmacy degree from Duquesne University.  Strauss and his wife Susan live in Cuyahoga Falls and have three sons.

Others joining Strauss in volunteering for the 2007 United Way Fundraising Drive are:  Nick Anthony of Rubber City Radio Group; Omar Banks of John S. Knight Center, Charlie Booth; Mike Caporale; Theresa Carter of OMNOVA Solutions, Inc.; Craig Chaffinch of American Red Cross – Summit County Chapter; Laura B. Culp of Brockman, Coats, Gedelian & Company; John & Betty Dalton; Ann Durr of Valley Saving Bank; Richard Fedorovich of Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Company; Brian Fortney of Cleveland Magazine; Richard France of Fifth Third Bank; Lee Giller of B. Berger Company; Marty Hauser of SummaCare Health Plan; Judy Joyce of Greenleaf Family Center; John Kovatch of the University of Akron; William Lowery of Annaco, Inc.; Brian Moore of Roetzel & Andress; Donald Pavlik of National City Bank; B. Louis Poppovich of Sky Bank Green Financial Center; Bill Roderick of Barberton Citizens Hospital; James Rollins of Meaden & Moore, Ltd.; Jeff Rovnak of Morgan Stanley; C. Michael Rutherford of Summa Health System; Kathy Smid; the Honorable Linda Tucci Teodosio, Judge of Summit County Juvenile Court; and Ted Walter of CHASE Bank.

Bob Kulinski, president of United Way of Summit County said, "Tom Strauss is CEO of Summit County's largest employer, and is recognized as a thoughtful and compassionate leader. He is passionate about our community and about achieving ambitious goals, so I know he will lead our staff and volunteers to a successful campaign."

United Way of Summit County improves lives by mobilizing community assets for health and human services. For more information, call 330-762-7601, visit our website at www.uwsummit.org, or write to us at United Way of Summit County, 90 N. Prospect St., P.O. Box 1260, Akron, Ohio 44309-1260.