Champion of Philanthropy: Camille Garcia, MHA

As Manager of Cancer Center Operations and the BREAST (BRinging Education, Advocacy and Support Together)/Amigas Program, Camille Garcia, MHA, brings both expertise and heart to her work – and to her collaboration with MetroHealth’s Office of Strategic Philanthropy (OSP).

Earlier this year, The MetroHealth Foundation launched its Champion of Philanthropy initiative to recognize MetroHealth colleagues who go above and beyond to advance philanthropy. Each month, members of the OSP nominate a team member whose contributions make a lasting impact. For October, that Champion is Camille. 

“Camille has been an essential partner in preparing grant requests and reports to support key relationships with MetroHealth’s philanthropic partners – including the American Cancer Society,” said Kate Brown, President of The MetroHealth Foundation and Chief Development Officer. “Her attention to detail, command of data and ability to share the Cancer Center’s impact have made a tremendous difference. In short, Camille is a rock star!”

Camille’s collaborations with the OSP team span many years and multiple grants and stewardship efforts. She has helped secure over $230,000 in funding to support a variety of programs. Most recently, she partnered with Marcia Meermans, Philanthropy Officer, to steward a $50,000 American Cancer Society grant focused on Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) screening and referrals. 

This work includes detailed data tracking and reporting with the Institute for H.O.P.E.™ team and Cancer Center social worker Lisa Eulinberg, as well as bi-monthly meetings with the American Cancer Society and participation in a national Learning Community with other grantees. Her ability to manage these requirements while keeping patient impact at the center makes her an invaluable partner.

Her professional commitment is matched by a deeply personal one. Camille knows more about breast cancer than most. Her mother is a breast cancer survivor, two of her aunts died from the disease at a young age and a first cousin was diagnosed several years ago. 

This strong family history places Camille and her sister in a high-risk category. Her lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 25.9 percent. Camille is diligent about her own screenings, meeting regularly with breast specialists and undergoing preventive imaging.

Her mother inspired Camille to volunteer with MetroHealth’s BREAST/Amigas Program in 2008 and 2009. She attended community screening events alongside her mom.

“Participating in those events showed me firsthand how much support, compassion and access can mean to a patient and their family,” Camille said. “It grounded my commitment to making sure families don’t face this journey alone.”

For the past 15 years, Camille has been a driving force behind grants that fund cancer care and community screening programs. Her efforts have helped remove barriers for patients –covering transportation, providing free mammograms, and supporting education and outreach in neighborhoods that need it most.

“Every grant I write, I think of the patients it will help,” she explained. “Patients who may not have transportation, women who put off their mammogram because of cost or access or families balancing so many hardships.”

The impact is profound. Through these grants, MetroHealth has helped patients access lifesaving care, caught cancers early through mammogram screenings and supported programs that meet people where they are.

Camille recalls a woman who attended a free community mammogram event and said it was the first time she could prioritize her own health. Another memory that stays with her is of a patient who had undergone a mastectomy and was wearing a sock filled with rice because she couldn’t afford a breast form insert.

“When we were able to use grant funds to provide her with a proper mastectomy bra and breast form, she was so happy – not just because of the item itself, but because she felt seen, supported and whole again.”

 For Camille, every grant and donation represents more than dollars. They represent hope and opportunity for someone to receive the care they deserve.

“I’m truly honored and grateful to be recognized as October’s Philanthropy Champion. This isn’t just my award; it belongs to everyone who’s helped make these grants possible over the years,” she said. “From our MetroHealth Foundation partners to our social worker who connects patients with the resources and community collaborators, every success has been a shared effort. Together, we’ve turned funding into hope for our patients, and that’s something I’m deeply proud to be a part of.”

For more information, please contact Marcia Meermans at 440-592-1396 or mmeermans@metrohealth.org.