From after-school elementary programs and life skills classes to art therapy and self-care initiatives, The Women’s Fund, an endowment fund of Stark Community Foundation, provided $45,000 to support 13 programs addressing the needs of underserved women and children in Stark County in 2026.
Chosen programs serve at least one of the fund’s three priority focus areas: economic stability and advancement, mental and emotional health support and neighborhood-based programming.
This year’s 13 grantees include:
Akron Zoological Park: $3,400 to deliver educational programming that helps students in elementary classrooms strengthen their emotional intelligence to succeed in school and STEM.
ArtsinStark: $4,000 to provide art therapy kits for patients and caregivers in Stark County hospitals.
Canton Museum of Art: $4,500 to create an early childhood arts program, integrating art-making with education for families in Canton with limited resources for creative expression.
Canton Symphony Orchestra: $2,000 to present daily mindfulness prompts and classical music in Stark County schools through Mindful Music Moments.
Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health: $2,700 to provide board games for families to play, leading to quality time together.
Feed Kids First: $2,500 to provide nutritious meal boxes for children in Massillon and Canton City Schools as part of its School Pantry Program.
Lighthouse Ministries of Canton: $5,000 to fund a full year of after-school programs at Patrick Elementary School.
National First Ladies Library: $2,250 to host two Paint & Sip programs, integrating creativity with storytelling for youth and women.
Pathway Caring for Children: $2,500 to provide a six-week program for teens ages 12-19 that reinforces valuable life skills like education, employment, financial literacy, health, wellness and more.
RAHAB Ministries: $5,000 to support ongoing operations and client care at the Canton Drop-In Home for sex trafficked women, including funds for client transportation, food, personal supplies and programs.
Salvation Army of Canton: $1,165 to host classes for caregivers of children 1 to 3 years old that encourage motor and social development of toddlers in a safe environment.
Stark Community Support Network: $5,000 to give mothers the time and space to recharge and focus on self-care while removing the barriers of childcare, transportation and cost.
Stark Library: $5,000 to keep children engaged and learning during the summer months through its Summer Fun School program, removing barriers to learning opportunities for children in vulnerable communities.
The Women’s Fund was created in 2006 by 12 visionary women out of concern for the growing poverty status of women and children in the community. They pooled their resources to create a charitable fund that would advance the status of Stark County women and children in perpetuity.
What started as an initial investment of $120,000 in 2006 has grown to nearly $1,000,000 through the support of donations from individuals, families and businesses coupled with wise investing. Since its founding, The Women’s Fund has awarded over $300,000 to more than 50 area nonprofits supporting underserved women and children.
