By Paula Schleis
Akron Beacon Journal
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — Western Reserve Hospital is thanking area first responders — its partners in so many life-changing moments — with a new marketing campaign designed to demonstrate and inspire public support.
The campaign is kicking off this week with billboards that feature police officers, firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers from Cuyahoga Falls.
“In our emergency department and out in the community, we often see first responders at their very best during their most difficult moments,” hospital CEO Dr. Robert Kent said.
There has been too much “media and social media negativity” targeting first responders, Kent said, and they “never really get credit for what they do every day.”
“Any job, if you don’t have people behind you, you can’t do your job as expected,” he said. The billboard campaign is just one way to “allow them to be more proud of what they do for all of us.”
The first billboard went up Wednesday at the intersection of State Road and Broad Boulevard. Four more will go up in other areas of town, and there will be advertising on the grocery carts at Giant Eagle Market District at Portage Crossing and in local print media.
Similar efforts will be unveiled soon in Hudson, Stow, Silver Lake and Tallmadge.
Cuyahoga Falls Fire Chief Paul Moledor said the hospital already shows its appreciation in many ways.
It hosts an annual Cuyahoga Falls First Responders Appreciation event every year, offers continuing education courses, sponsors open houses and Citizens Academies, and sometimes even delivers hot meals to local police and fire stations.
“As a community, I can’t begin to tell you what it means to us to have the strong support of a major healthcare provider,” Moledor said.
Cuyahoga Falls Police Chief Jack Davis also said his department appreciates not only the support of the hospital, but its intent to “encourage even greater levels of support in our community.”
While the hospital is trying to draw attention to first responders, the city this month turned its spotlight on the hospital.
In an ongoing tradition at the median strip at Broad Boulevard and Third Street, Broad was temporarily renamed Western Reserve Hospital Boulevard last week. There is a renaming ceremony every quarter to call attention to businesses, organizations and individuals that are making a difference in the lives of local residents.
Mayor Don Walters said he remembers hospital officials reaching out to ask what they could do to help the city. It has since partnered on initiatives ranging from the Envelope of Life, a kit that helps residents quickly share vital medical history information in an emergency, to the “Not Me, I’m Drug Free” program, which promotes drug abstinence in elementary schools.
“Many of our city programs would not be possible without their financial commitment to helping improve wellness and quality of life for our residents,” Walters said.
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