AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Greenwood Chevrolet presented a $5,000 check Friday morning to the Mercy Health Foundation to support the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center in Youngstown.
Employees at the dealership joined Gina Marinelli, major gifts officer with the Mercy Health Foundation, for a ceremonial check presentation. The donation was in addition to the $3,145 raised by the Greenwood team during this year’s Panerathon, presented by Warren-based Covelli Enterprises, the largest franchisee of Panera Bread.
This year’s event raised about $700,000, Danielle Corelli, director of marketing for Covelli Enterprises, reported Friday. Since its start, Panerathon has raised about $6 million.
The check was presented in recognition of the efforts of Greenwood business manager Tracy Briden, who organizes the dealership’s team every year. This year’s team had 180 participants, and several breast cancer survivors who have benefited from the center’s services walked with them, she said.
“It’s just been a mission of mine to get as many people involved as I can,” Briden said. Breast cancer “touches so many people, and so many people have experienced it.”
Participating in Panerathon is “near and dear” to the dealership’s staff, said Sean Greenwood, fixed operations manager.
“We’re conscious we’re not just a dealership that’s here to help the vehicle needs. It’s also important for us to be a part of our community and support our community,” he said.
“You guys have been with us since the very first Panarathon and your team grows every year, and the enthusiasm shows,” Marinelli said.
Marinelli also read a statement on behalf of Dr. Rashid Abdu, the center’s founder, who was unable to attend Friday’s event because of recent surgery.
“‘I have not forgotten, nor will I ever forget, your generosity, your compassion, your sustained support of the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center over the years and all of the women it serves in our Valley,’” Marinelli said, reading Abdu’s remarks.
Since Panerathon started, the center has been able to expand its outreach by establishing satellite centers in other communities and the Joanie on the Go mobile unit, which goes to community centers, businesses and schools to provide screenings for women who are unable to get away from work or travel to the center, Marinelli said. Money raised by the Panerathon also funds Joanie’s Promise, a program that provides mammograms at no cost for women who lack insurance to cover screenings, transportation in cases where that is a barrier and an outreach specialist.
“All of the money stays here, and it helps people who are our own friends and neighbors,” Marinelli said.
Pictured at top: From left are Sean Greenwood, Gina Marinelli and Tracy Briden.