Suzanne Taigen, Julie Kuipers, Trish Dorsey, Michele Steele, Chloe Rankin Seelbach and Elizabeth Faremouth

Brian and Isabel Stovsky, Morgan Vitanza and Cody Geisler

Hopewell, Northeast Ohio’s unique therapeutic farm community held its 24th annual Summer Solstice event on a muggy June evening at the Orchid House Winery in Aurora. More than 200 guests in chic garden party array, braved the unusually warm weather for an indoor cocktail hour followed by an outdoor full-course dinner under an elegant white tent.
Guests hoped for an appearance by Clara Rankin, Hopewell’s founder, but the lively centenarian could not attend due to the heat. Guest nametags, however, had a sketch of Mrs. Rankin’s signature chapeau on them, in tribute to her work and dedication.
At dinner, after a welcome from emcee and auctioneer Mark Schroeder,

Rick and Pauline Welder with Debbie and Paul Johnson

the script deviated slightly to include a new wrinkle in special events, a live cake auction. Talk about “visions of sugarplums!” Four cakes, one each from Arche’s Hough Baker, Tiffany’s Bakery and The West Side Bakery, both in Akron, and the White Flower Cake Shoppe offered frosted white, chocolate, lemon, and almond cake, all lusciously decorated to the highest bidder. Unusual, sure, but Hopewell raised over $7,500 from these four desserts.
Dinner was followed by a live auction with trips to Hilton Head, Ballyhack Golf Club in Virginia, and a Fighting Irish Weekend in South Bend, plus two very special gourmet dinners from Sara’s Place and Acqua di Dea.

Nancy Abbott, Carole Obernesser and Jennifer Hartford

This event’s speakers always have an important and inspiring story to tell. This year’s presenter, Colleen Slattery, was no different. She described a diagnosis of bipolar disorder that had her waking up on a beach one day, disoriented and homeless. Her journey toward mental health included a stay at Hopewell. There, the rhythm of the working farm and treatment helped her along a healing path. She talked about the joy of living in community in the peaceful environment from cows grazing the surrounding green hills, to simple birdsong in the morning. These led her to a place that “connected to reality once again.” After her stay at the farm and later at Hopewell’sTransition Services Program in University Circle, she regained her confidence, worked full time as a

DeBe Levine-Klotzma and Kerry Klotzman with Matt & Amy Sapola

legal aide and hopes to pass the bar to work in Immigration Law.
While Currents rarely has the room to mention sponsors, Hopewell did note that 2024 is the 24th consecutive year PNC Private Bank Hawthorn has served as the Presenting Sponsor of Summer Solstice, and thanked John P. Beer, Managing Director for overseeing this unusually long-term relationship. Organizers dubbed this year’s Summer Solstice a huge success, raising over $250,000 to support and treat clients with mental disorders who “choose hope” and find personal success and fulfillment through their involvement with Hopewell.
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