Our Family Tree
Learn about the generous donors who have established charitable funds through Stark Community Foundation.
When JRC opened the doors to the Myrna A. Pastore campus in 2021, the space created a home for two programs under one roof— JRC’s Learning Center for young children and its Adult Day Center for seniors and adults.
Five years later, the campus at 3300 Parkway St. N.W. continues to be an integral place for collaboration and enrichment among generations. Since opening, the Learning Center has grown from five to over 100 participants, and the Adult Day Center has nearly doubled in enrollment and expanded to serve adults through the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Developmental Disabilities.
This week, the nonprofit is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the campus, the growth achieved and the expanded services now offered. Community members are invited to join the celebration on Tuesday, June 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. to tour the building, participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony and learn more about ways JRC continues to serve Stark County.
“At five years, it's a good time to reengage the community,” said Julie Abiecunas, JRC chief executive officer. “We are excited for community members to come out to see the outcome of the capital campaign, as well as the impact of the committee, donors and everyone who made the campus possible."
Since 1974, JRC has served as a Stark County resource for low to moderate-income families seeking early education programs and senior services.
Father John Robert Coleman founded JRC as an outreach ministry of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Canton. His mission to enrich lives by educating children and engaging seniors continues to be strengthened— especially through the additional programming made possible by the increased space.
Both of JRC’s Learning Centers, one located at the Myrna A. Pastore campus and another at 14th Street N.E., are built on programming that maintains a commitment to excellence in teaching, school readiness, healthy habits and lifelong success. Children ranging in age from six weeks to five years old foster curiosity, creativity and confidence through the play-based learning environments.
JRC’s Adult Day Center provides a safe and stimulating environment for adults and seniors who are primarily self-sufficient, but may benefit from assistance and a more structured space. It provides services that improve seniors’ mental and physical health through activities ranging from gardening and cooking classes to crafts and personal care. The organization also facilitates field trips to local banks and grocery stores, encouraging independence and social interaction.
Each week, the two services combine for JRC’s Intergenerational Connections Program, where children from the Learning Centers and seniors from the Adult Day Center participate in activities together, including story time, music, games and creative projects.
“Childcare and adult services are challenges in our community — and barriers,” said Abiecunas. “I think we see that there's a huge need in the community for these services and these programs, and we want to make sure that we're filling it.”
Through funding from local nonprofits and partnerships that provide essential resources, JRC has continued to serve community members at the Myrna A. Pastore campus in evolving ways, including the recent addition of summer programs for school-aged children.
“We want to celebrate and thank our community for the funds, the trust, the care and the work that was put into this campus five years ago— and we want an opportunity to show people how much it's grown,” said Abiecunas. “I'm very proud of where we're sitting five years later.”