The Scala family and Kenmore Construction have established a new endowed chair in Sports Medicine. Pictured (from left): Chris Gessner, president and CEO of Akron Children’s, William “Bill” Scala and Sally Scala.
In the 1960s, William Scala Sr., founder of Kenmore Construction in Akron, made the company’s first gift to Akron Children’s.
Six decades later, his family and the company he created carry on his legacy by continuing to support our hospital – from individual donations and annual gifts to our Adult and Pediatric Burn Institute, supported by The Paul and Carol David Foundation, to employee contributions and participation on hospital and Foundation boards of directors. In recognition of a recent gift, Akron Children’s orthopedic department named its new gymnasium the Michael G. Scala Sports Rehab Gymnasium in honor of William’s son Michael, who passed away in 2018.
In May 2023, the Scala family and Kenmore Construction made a gift to establish the Scala Family Endowed Chair in Sports Medicine. The chair is held by Joseph Congeni, MD, former director of Sports Medicine at Akron Children’s.
“It’s something we’re proud to do and glad to be a part of,” said Bill Scala, chairman and president of Kenmore Construction and one of William’s five children. “Akron Children’s means a whole lot to our community. To have such quality of service through the whole spectrum of how they treat kids – right
here in Akron – is a true gift.”
Gift helps elevate renowned division
Endowed chairs provide funding sources that give our physicians and researchers the freedom to pursue new and innovative treatments. This work puts our hospital and our care on the cutting edge. An endowed chair also offers significant prestige for the hospital, helping to bring the brightest minds in medicine to our community.
As the chairholder of the Scala Family Endowed Chair in Sports Medicine, Dr. Congeni will have the resources to continue to elevate and grow the already well-respected and renowned division at our hospital.
Dr. Joe Congeni
“I’m so moved by the Scala family for having the confidence in us to help continue to build this center in sports medicine as what we think is one of the finest in the country,” said Dr. Congeni. “I’ve known and worked closely with Bill Scala for a long time. He’s a man that I’ve admired around this town for a long time because of his generosity.”
“If you talk to anybody who’s been treated by Dr. Congeni and his staff, they all have wonderful things to say,” said Bill, who with his wife, Sally, has been a hospital donor since 1992. “They have
very positive reactions to his knowledge and his demeanor in dealing with young athletes. He has a great way of communicating with the kids, which is a gift.”
Dr. Congeni said that funding from the endowed chair will go toward a number of needs in the division. As the new official sports health provider for Akron Zips Athletics at The University of Akron, the division just opened a new sports health center on the university campus. Another investment area is research.
“We’ve done a lot in the area of brain injury or sports-related concussion,” said Dr. Congeni. “Some of the funding that we’ve been given will allow us to continue this work and bring in the best and brightest in the country to be a part of our team.”
“We’re excited for the long-term impact of this gift,” said Bill. “We hope it allows Dr. Congeni – and the legacy he’s established – to continue to affect our area for a long time.”
Click here to learn more about Dr. Joseph Congeni, the new chairholder of the Scala Family Endowed Chair in Sports Medicine.
