OhioHealth Bereavement Services Gets Huge Boost From Family Foundation

Nationally known philanthropists Tom and Ann DiMarco have committed $1 million to the OhioHealth Foundation to establish the DiMarco Family Fund for Bereavement.

Longtime supporters of the OhioHealth Foundation, the DiMarco’s gift is timely as OhioHealth experiences a growing need for its bereavement services because of the recent pandemic and other traumatic situations impacting our society and communities.

The purpose of the donation is to provide support, guidance, and a safe place to heal for those mourning the death of a loved one. The investment will help provide additional staffing for children’s and community grief services and expand OhioHealth Hospice Bereavement programs beyond Columbus.

“Ann and Tom’s generosity enables OhioHealth to expand these vital programs and offer them when and where they are needed most,” said Karen Morrison, president of the OhioHealth Foundation. “Bereavement services at OhioHealth serve as important connection points to those coping with loss, while finding a way to celebrate life. This wonderful gift allows us to offer even more to the communities and families we serve, and we are so thankful for the DiMarco’s.”

Prior to this generous gift, The DiMarco's had donated nearly $1 million to a variety of causes at OhioHealth, including Hospice and bereavement programs.

“When anyone chooses to spend their last days in hospice, we celebrate the highlights and joys of their life. We try to bring some peace to the struggles they have endured during a lifetime,” Ann DiMarco said. “When families or loved ones reach out for bereavement services at OhioHealth, we hear stories of incredible loss and sadness. We want to support the good work and programs that help others to heal and move forward after the loss of a loved one. We believe this gift will help to expand these amazing services and heal hearts one family at a time.”

Rabbi Rick Kellner of Congregation Beth Tikvah in Worthington knows the value of OhioHealth’s bereavement services firsthand.

“Working with a grief counselor was such a meaningful experience. When my mom died it hit hard and we were dealing with the mountain of emotions and complexities of the pandemic,” Kellner said. “Now, I have arrived in a place of healing and wholeness. While there will still be moments of sadness, I have the tools to be able to respond. I could not have arrived at this moment without my grief counselor guiding me through the valley of darkness.”

The DiMarco’s, who involve their adult children in the family giving, moved here from Philadelphia more than 25 years ago and quickly became active in the community, supporting local causes including Ann’s years of devoted work as an OhioHealth Hospice and Bereavement volunteer. They established the DiMarco Family Fund in 2015.