Fred DeGrandis, president of the Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals, with the recipients of the Community Service Awards: The Rev. Richard D. Warger, Harry A. Zilli Jr., Dave Lesjak, Shari Caruso, Thomas J. Gable, James Skerl. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Six recognized for service to community health
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Published Sept. 24, 2008

Six individuals were recognized by Fairview, Lakewood and Lutheran hospitals for their contributions to the health and well-being of people across the Westshore and beyond at a luncheon Aug. 27 at La Centre Conference and Banquet Center in Westlake.

Each recipient of the fourth annual Community Service Award also had a $500 donation made to a charity or organization of his or her choice by the Community West Foundation.

“Our fourth annual Community Service Award ceremony has given us the opportunity to honor six remarkable individuals who are making a profound difference in the lives of those around them,” said Fred DeGrandis, president and chief executive officer of the Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals. “While each of our honorees is unique in their backgrounds and professional contributions, they share an exceptional commitment to improving our community today and for generations to come.”

Shari S. Caruso, a home economics teacher at Rocky River High School, established a service learning course to inspire her students to become passionate about service to others. Today, Caruso’s class contributes as many as 4,500 volunteer hours per semester, and she is seen as a vital community resource linking student volunteers to those in need. Caruso also helped her students organize Rocky River’s very first American Cancer Society Relay for Life fund-raiser.

Thomas J. Gable, owner of the Four Gable Management Company, was recognized for his time serving on various leadership boards, including the Lakewood Hospital Foundation, the Lakewood Hospital Health Care Association, The Western Region Board of the Cleveland Clinic Health Foundation and the Cleveland Clinic Orthopaedic Leadership Board. He also worked on fund-raising events that help the Clinic’s Westside hospitals, including the annual Ambulance Chase event to benefit Lakewood Hospital.

David Lesjak, president of Lesjak Planning Corporation, organized the first annual “Run for the Young” run held June 28 of this year at Crocker Park. The 5K and 3K raced raised money to support child fitness and nutrition programs at area recreation centers. He also runs the annual Cruisin’ for Charity Classic Car Show to benefit the Westlake Community Services Department and Residents in Need fund.

As a theology teacher at St. Ignatius High School, Jim Skerl founded the Labre Ministry, an outreach program to benefit Cleveland’s homeless population. The Labre group, which consists of teachers, students and friends of St. Ignatius, deliver food and other necessities to the homeless every Sunday evening. Skerl also established the Joseph of Arimathea Program paul bearer program at which St. Ignatius students assist at the funerals of poor individuals who may not have a significant number of family members or friends to attend their funeral. 

The Rev. Richard D. Warger led the Lutheran Chaplaincy Service for nearly 30 years. The program has become widely recognized as a national model for organizations looking to expand chaplaincy services in their communities. In northern Ohio, the Lutheran Chaplaincy Service manages nearly 40 chaplains representing 18 different denominations who serve at numerous hospitals and facilities.

Harry A. Zilli, Jr., the chair of the Grants Committee of the Community West Foundation, oversees the distribution of grant money to dozens of Westside community organizations, including the North Coast Health Ministry, Neighborhood Family Practice, Care Alliance and the West Side Catholic Center, as well as to Lutheran and Fairview hospitals. Over the past five years, the Community West Foundation distributed 77 grants totaling over $18 million to area hospitals and agencies that feed the hungry and shelter the abused and homeless.