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Signet donates $1 million to Akron Children’s Hospital to support the fight against the coronavirus

02-22-2021 (Akron, Ohio )

Akron Children’s has received a $1 million gift from its longtime charitable partner Signet Jewelers that will help it provide COVID-19 vaccinations to Akron-area school personnel.  

Signet’s donation includes its annual gift to Akron Children’s for the Kay Jewelers Pavilion -- delivered one year early and increased to address the hospital’s vaccination effort.  

“In times like these, we’re so grateful for community partners like our longtime supporters at Signet Jewelers who’ve already given us so much as part of their mission,” said Grace Wakulchik, Akron Children’s’s president and CEO. “Signet isn’t just supporting us; this gift comes at a critical time to help provide a valuable service to our local schools so our kids and their teachers can meet in-person safely and we may continue to do our part in combating the pandemic.”  

Like many other health care systems, Akron Children’s saw many of its non-essential medical procedures and appointments temporarily halted for nearly two months in Spring 2020 as COVID-19 began to spread. The hospital is now fully operational but continues to adhere to strict COVID precautions such as limited visitation and universal masking as well as enhanced use of personal protective equipment. Akron Children’s caregivers have also mobilized to treat adult patients if community hospitals have no capacity due to COVID.  

 “We’ve been supporting Akron Children’s since 1988, and each day we’re grateful for the incredible work they do for our community,” said Signet Jewelers CEO Virginia C. Drosos. “This pandemic is one of the largest challenges our world has faced in modern history, and it’s important for us to be active in keeping our communities safe and healthy. We are proud to support the tireless efforts of the hospital’s doctors, nurses and staff that are highly engaged in ending the spread of COVID-19 and specifically to help them provide vaccines quickly to our community’s teachers and school personnel.” 

The hospital is working with several local districts and schools to provide COVID-19 vaccinations, including Akron Public Schools, Copley-Fairlawn City Schools, Woodridge Local Schools, Tallmadge City Schools, Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools, Holy Family School in Stow and AKROS/Edge Academy in Akron.   

Signet Jewelers’ commitment to Akron Children’s spans more than three decades. In 2015, the hospital opened the Kay Jewelers Pavilion, which is now home to its emergency department, outpatient surgery center and neonatal intensive care unit. To date, Signet Jewelers has donated $6 million to Akron Children’s toward its overall commitment of $10 million, through corporate and team member gifts. 

Media Contacts

Kathleen Folkerth, Akron Children's
kfolkerth@akronchildrens.org

David Bouffard, Signet Jewelers

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