Gift supports local health care center while honoring siblings
Alumni couple’s unique reason to support Timothy Freeman, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities
Jude Schramm, Bus, ’97 and Kristen Schramm, Bus, ’96, grew up in neighboring southeast Ohio towns. They started dating in high school, but that was not their first connection.
When Kristen’s brother, David Sutton, was born with Down syndrome, the pediatrician connected her mother with Jude’s. His nine-year-old sister, Erin Marie Schramm, also had Down syndrome.
“It was difficult being in southeastern Ohio,” shares Jude, who is the chief information officer at Fifth Third Bank. “There weren’t any services available, and my mother was given the choice of keeping my sister or institutionalizing her.”
Kristen recalls that both women became single mothers while raising their children and were grateful for their mutual pediatrician who “took the time to learn how to care for patients with Down syndrome. He was just a good human being.”
Our siblings have largely gone through life unnoticed by most people. This gives us the chance to give their names to something. A legacy for them.
Jude Schramm Bus, ’97
Transitioning from pediatric to adult care
Jude, Kristen and Erin Marie Schramm. Photo/Provided.
As Jude and Kristen’s siblings grew older, finding health care providers able to meet the needs of adults with developmental disabilities was difficult.
In 2023, the Schramms attended the National Down Syndrome Society’s Adult Summit in Cincinnati, where the keynote panel was from UC Health’s Freeman Center. They were so impressed with what they heard, they wanted to be involved.
“It’s hard to be around them (the Freeman Center staff) and not want to get on board,” says Kristen.
The Freeman Center will open a new clinical space this fall at UC Health’s Victory Parkway campus. The new facility adds ten times the space for patient care and includes the full spectrum of specialized services and equipment for adults with developmental disabilities.
The Schramms are supporting the new space with a gift that will honor their siblings. Two rooms at the facility, a behavioral health room and an exam room, will be named for Erin and David, respectively.
“Maybe our investment won’t help our siblings, but we can do something for the people in our community,” Jude shared.
He continued with his voice breaking. “Our siblings have largely gone through life unnoticed by most people. This gives us the chance to give their names to something. A legacy for them.”
Philanthropy as the foundation
Jude Schramm, Bus, ’97 and Kristen Schramm, Bus, ’96. Photo/Provided.
“Individuals with developmental disabilities don’t often have a voice so they don’t get the attention from a fundraising perspective,” says Jude.
“These individuals typically can be overlooked when it comes to where people want to put their money. It becomes really important to find the people who can fund these issues.”
“We need people to understand the story of this community, and that’s probably what Dr. Lauren Wang [Freeman Center medical director], is so good at,” explains Kristen.
“She can get individuals or groups to find the passion to get behind it sustainably. Because you need some consistency of philanthropy to help keep an undercurrent going. Philanthropy is the foundation.”
The need for adult services is critical
Both of the Schramm’s siblings currently live with their mothers. Erin Schramm and her mother continue to live in southeast Ohio, and with no care options available to them locally, they make the four-hour round-trip trek to Ohio State University several times a year for care. Kristen’s brother recently relocated from Columbus to Cincinnati with his mother.
Kristen says, “I’ve not told anybody about the naming yet and so my brother isn’t aware a room will be named for him. I can’t wait until it opens, and I can share the information. I know he will be really excited.”
Support the Freeman Center.
Featured image at top: Jude and Kristen Schramm and family. Photo/Provided.
This is how breakthroughs happen
Your generosity has illuminated what’s next: Student success beyond the classroom. Bearcats winning on the Big 12 stage. The gift of discovery for the health of our community. When you give to the University of Cincinnati and UC Health, you invest in the problem-solvers of tomorrow.
