Rooted in Gratitude

PHOTO CAPTIONS
1: Bob participating in Stark Community Foundation’s 60th Anniversary Community Mural Paint Day
2: Vandervaart Family Photo
3: Bob and Karen Vandervaart at the Foundation’s 2025 Spring Donor Gathering
4: Karen dragon boating with Ohio’s Dragon Dream Team 

When Bob and Karen Vandervaart moved to Canton decades ago for Bob’s engineering role at The Timken Company, they never expected the move would define the rest of their lives. 

Bob, who grew up in Illinois, and Karen, originally from Michigan, had no local ties to the area. But what began as a practical career decision quickly grew into something much more—an opportunity to build a life, raise a family and plant deep, lasting roots.

Together, they raised six children in Canton, embracing the everyday rhythms of family life—youth soccer games, swim meets, school concerts and neighborhood gatherings.

Over the years, Canton became more than just where they lived—it became part of who they are. It’s a place that helped shape their children, gave them lifelong friendships and provided countless opportunities along the way. 

“It’s been a great place to live and raise a family,” shared Bob. “The community has provided a lot for our family. We want to give back and make it a great place to live.”

That deep sense of gratitude is what continues to guide the Vandervaarts in their philanthropy and service. 

In 2019, they established a Donor Advised Fund through Stark Community Foundation as a way to support the causes they care most about—from youth programs and education to healthcare and the arts.

It helped streamline their giving, allowed them to bunch donations for tax purposes and, most importantly, gave them an intentional way to stay engaged in the community they love.

“It fits us like a glove,” said Bob, when describing why they enjoy having a Donor Advised Fund.

Karen added, “I love that we can pick and choose where our dollars go.”

Through the Bob and Karen Vandervaart Charitable Fund at Stark Community Foundation, they support dozens of organizations doing impactful work—many of which they’ve known for years, like United Way of Greater Stark County, ArtsinStark and the Dragon Dream Team. 

Bob’s connection to United Way dates back to his early days at Timken, some 40 years ago, when employee giving campaigns introduced him to the nonprofit’s work. Over the years, he’s deepened his involvement by serving on its Impact Committee, helping guide where resources can make the greatest difference.

The arts have always been an integral part of the Vandervaarts’ story. With musicians, painters and makers on both sides of the family, their support of ArtsinStark comes from a place of personal appreciation—and a desire to ensure the next generation has access to the same kind of creative expression.

Their giving also reflects their lived experiences. The Dragon Dream Team holds special significance for Karen, a breast cancer survivor who has paddled for 18 seasons with Ohio’s first dragon boating team for survivors.

A physically demanding water sport rooted in Chinese tradition, dragon boating involves teams paddling in unison in long, narrow boats. Karen has traveled across the country and even internationally with her team, finding healing, strength and camaraderie in the water—with Bob always cheering her on from the shoreline.

Another way the Vandervaart family stays connected to the community is through Stark Community Foundation’s Partners in Giving program. It’s an easy, impactful way for donors to learn about a wide variety of local projects and decide which ones to fund. 

“We’ve been introduced to organizations we never knew existed,” Karen shared. “It’s helped us better understand the needs in our own backyard.” 

Whether it’s purchasing a new refrigerator for Urban Ark’s food pantry, empowering middle schoolers to explore and launch community-focused ideas through TomTod Ideas or supporting Prevent Blindness Ohio’s vision outreach program, the Vandervaarts value the flexibility to make contributions—at whatever level they choose.

“Through this program, you don’t have to contribute a lot to make a big impact,” they shared.

Giving back isn’t something the Vandervaarts only do financially. They roll up their sleeves and volunteer in Stark County and in their faith community, quietly working to make their hometown even stronger. 

At Faith United Methodist Church in North Canton, Karen is active in the sewing ministry, a group of dedicated women who create hats, gloves, quilts and adult bibs for those in need. Most recently, the ministry worked together to make nearly 100 pillowcases for children in foster care. In addition, both Bob and Karen help with the church’s monthly food distribution in Crystal Park as part of its outreach ministry.

Their approach to giving—whether through dollars or time—is rooted in compassion and humility. 

“We see it as a hand up, not a hand out,” they say, a belief they’ve passed down to their six children and a growing number of grandchildren.

That legacy is already being lived out in meaningful ways. Their son, Pete, and daughter-in-law, Laura, recently served as a lead couple for Canton Prom, an adult fundraiser benefiting the Canton Palace Theatre’s 100th anniversary. Their daughter, Kathleen, has dedicated her career to advocating for youth and adults in the Appalachian region, while one of their twins, Jean, works as a teaching artist— sharing the joy of artmaking with children and families. All of their children give back in their own way, using their time, talents and careers to carry forward the values of generosity and service they grew up with.

Through it all, the Vandervaart family remains grounded in a simple truth: when a community gives you so much, you give back in return. 

For them, philanthropy is not just about generosity—it’s about gratitude, legacy and love for the community they call home. And as their family grows and the needs of the community evolve, so too will their giving—always guided by a desire to make a difference, wherever it’s needed most.