Subaru Loves to Care® Brings Warmth and Hope to MetroHealth Cancer Patients

On July 10, the MetroHealth Cancer Institute was filled with warmth from the compassion of visitors who came bearing gifts of comfort and encouragement. As part of the national Subaru Loves to Care® initiative, representatives from Ken Ganley Subaru Wickliffe and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) visited MetroHealth to deliver heart-shaped bundles of love: 80 warm blankets and 10 patient care kits for patients undergoing cancer treatment.

The visit was coordinated by The MetroHealth Foundation in partnership with Brittney Bajc, LLS Campaign Development Manager. For Brittney, this initiative is deeply personal. Her own mother was treated for cancer, and she knows firsthand how something as simple as a warm blanket can bring comfort during difficult times.

Representing Ken Ganley Subaru Wickliffe were Sarah LaPuma, Business Division Manager, and Derrick Rentz, Digital Marketing Manager.

Each blanket, folded into a heart shape, was accompanied by a message of encouragement from the Ken Ganley team. These messages reminded patients that they are not alone in their fight – that thousands of Subaru retailers across the country are united in offering warmth, love and support to those battling cancer. This effort is part of a decade-long partnership between Subaru and LLS, which by the end of this year will have supported nearly 500,000 cancer patients nationwide since 2016.

One patient, Jeffrey Powell, shared, “I’m so glad I was here today.” His words captured the spirit of the visit – a moment of unexpected kindness that made a meaningful impact for him.

Sarah LaPuma reflected on the experience, saying, “To visit with each of the patients was so rewarding and so nice to hear the words of appreciation. It feels very meaningful.”

The visit was made even more special thanks to the support of Kelley Tomaro, Nurse Manager at the Cancer Institute, and Megan Berghaus, Assistant Nurse Manager, who helped guide the team through the pavilion. Dr. Michael Harrington, a palliative care physician, was also on hand.

The MetroHealth Foundation is proud to partner with organizations like Subaru and LLS to bring moments of comfort and connection to our patients. We are deeply grateful to Ken Ganley Subaru Wickliffe for their generosity and to all who made this visit possible.