Published: April 23, 2025
LANSING, Mich. – Community champion Deborah Ginsburg has been honored with University of Michigan Health-Sparrow’s highest honor, the 2025 Founders’ Award, for her unwavering and lasting contributions to the Mid-Michigan community.
Ginsburg supported University of Michigan Health-Sparrow for decades, beginning in 1979 as a part-time team member. She retired 34 years later but continued to give back through a variety of leadership roles. She was a longtime member of the Sparrow Hospital Guild, where she served as Chair, and joined the Sparrow Women’s Board of Managers in 2016, leading the board as Chair from 2021-22. Her service also extended to two-year terms on both the Sparrow Foundation Board and the Sparrow Hospital Board. She and her husband, Ira Ginsburg — the former senior vice president of operations, a longtime volunteer and the 2012 Founders’ Award recipient — are also proud members of the UM Health-Sparrow Foundation’s Philanthropist League.
“I'm very humbled and honored to receive the Founders’ Award,” said Deborah Ginsburg. “We often encounter people in what is often a stressful time in their lives. To me, volunteering and supporting the many selfless people who help our patients and their families is what influences me, and I hope, in some small way, influences others too.”
Deborah Ginsburg celebrates after receiving University of Michigan Health-Sparrow's 2025 Founders’ Award
Beyond her dedication to University of Michigan Health-Sparrow, Ginsburg has remained deeply involved in the community and serves on the Ele’s Place Board of Directors, supporting children and young adults as they navigate grief in a safe and compassionate environment. Her passion for animals also led her to chair the Capital Area Humane Society’s Fur Ball fundraiser for two consecutive years.
“After she retired from Sparrow, Deb continued to give another 15 years of her time to the health system as an act of loyalty to our hospitals and a love for Lansing and our greater community,” said Vicki Belloli, chair of the UM Health-Sparrow Women’s Board of Managers. “She has proven to be a strong leader, a thoughtful philanthropist, an incredible mentor and a true professional to all she has served.”
The Founders’ Award is presented by the Sparrow Women's Board of Managers to a volunteer, community member, retired team member or physician who has made a positive impact on the health of the Mid-Michigan region through their involvement with University of Michigan Health-Sparrow. The award also honors the spirit of our founders — the 114 women who opened the hospital’s doors on March 18, 1896. Past recipients of the Founders’ Award include the late Michigan State University hockey coach Ron Mason and last year’s honorees, the late James Herbert and his wife, Judith.
To learn more about becoming a volunteer at UM Health-Sparrow’s, visit UofMHealthSparrow.org/Volunteer.
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University of Michigan Health-Sparrow is Mid-Michigan’s premier health care organization and includes hospitals in Lansing, Carson City, Charlotte, Ionia and St. Johns, as well as UM Health-Sparrow Specialty Hospital, Care Network, the Michigan Athletic Club, and AL!VE. UM Health-Sparrow is part of University of Michigan Health. Through the dedication of our 10,000 team members, UM Health-Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and patient experience. For more information, visit UofMHealthSparrow.org.