Symetra Financial and The Rutledge Group have chosen Eileen Saffran, executive director and founder of The Gathering Place, as one of two Symetra Community Champions across the country. The Symetra Community Champion Award was created to recognize and celebrate those who are working to make a positive difference in their communities.
Having spent 23 years as a clinical social worker, and losing her own parents to cancer, Saffran recognized that cancer patients and their loved ones need information and support, but a gap existed in addressing the entire scope of the disease. So in 1998 she founded The Gathering Place, a nonprofit, community-based cancer support center designed to educate and empower individuals and families touched by cancer through programs free of charge.
The Gathering Place services include two education centers with libraries of more than 2,500 books and DVDs. There are many different types of support groups, as well as exercise and nutrition classes. In addition, they have released a children’s book, Someone I Love is Sick, which is a customizable tool to use when talking with children ages 2 to 6 years old about a parent or grandparent who has cancer.
In just 11 years, Saffran has taken the organization from three employees to 18, with 450 volunteers having served more than 18,000 individuals in the greater Cleveland area. “The stories of desperation and inspiration motivate me each day to keep helping those touched by cancer,” said Saffran.
Saffran was nominated as a Symetra Community Champion by Darwin and Deborah Rutledge of The Rutledge Group. “Over the years I have watched Eileen’s idea materialize into an all encompassing a service to individuals affected by cancer,” said Deborah Rutledge. “Her insight, drive and compassion has helped thousands of people fighting this terrible disease.”
Saffran was recognized by Rutledge at The Gathering Place’s annual Volunteer Recognition Tea on September 25. Symetra’s Managing Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Stan Emert, also presented a contribution to the foundation.
About Symetra Financial
Symetra Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries provide employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions and independent agents and advisors. Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., Symetra and its subsidiaries have approximately $21 billion in assets. Symetra is owned by an investor group led by White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. and Berkshire Hathaway Inc.