Seven local projects received over $34K in grants from the Stark Family Fund. 

On June 17, the Community Foundation, which holds the Stark Family Fund, granted $34,325.07 to local charities in Prince Edward County.

The grants celebration, which was held in Bloomfield, brought together volunteers, community members and grant recipients for an evening of sharing and general festivity. During the celebration, each grant recipient had a minute to describe their funded project and the impact it will have in our community, making it a truly inspiring and poignant event.

This year, grants were awarded in several fields of interest, reflecting the wide range of community initiatives that were of interest to the Stark Family.  

“Congratulations to all of the Stark Family Fund grant recipients,” says Tina Bailey, Executive Director of CFKA. “We look forward to watching these local projects thrive as they carry on the Stark family legacy.”

In 2002, the Stark Family Fund was established at the Community Foundation with a generous bequest from the last two surviving members of the Stark family, Ival and Ruth. Through the fund, the accumulated estates of the five Stark sisters and their spouses will be able to sustain worthy projects in Prince Edward County for many years to come.

Each year, project proposals are invited from local charities, and then evaluated by a Prince Edward County based volunteer selection committee. Projects selected for funding are announced each June.

The next grant application deadline is March 16, 2020.

For more information about the Stark Family Fund and how to apply, visit https://www.cfka.org/the-stark-family-fund/.

Charities receiving grants this year include:

Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation

Be SMART – $4,421.00

This grant will used to purchase IV smart pumps with upgraded technology to prevent medication errors.

Prince Edward Collegiate Institute

Adjustable Basketball Nets – $4,933.07

Thanks to a grant from the Stark Family Fund, PECI is proud to announce an improvement to our infrastructure with the installation of four adjustable basketball nets.  These nets will remove barriers for our primary and intermediate learners to become more active and engaged during phys-ed class and also help the County Clippers provide age-appropriate leagues for our youngest students in grades K – 2.

The Children’s Foundation

Playing for Keeps and Camps of Hope – $8,000.00

The Children’s Foundation is the charitable arm of Highland Shores Children’s Aid. The funds from this grant will support our Playing for Keeps, Camps of Hope and Helping Hands programs. These three programs are essential to community development. In 2018, PFK helped 31 children register for a sport/activity, sent 32 children to camps and help 11 at-risk moms in PEC. We are thankful to partner with great groups such as The Stark Family Fund to “help one child at a time.”

Rotary Club of Picton

Bursaries for PECI – $5,750.00

These bursaries are provided to graduating students from PECI that are attending post secondary education.

Prince Edward County Arts Council

County Kids Read- Books for Our Very Young – $3,600.00

The Stark Family Fund grant will be used to purchase 1,050 board and picture books to be distributed to free books to low income families and at-risk children in Prince Edward County. Ownership of the books is key to the project’s success and bookplates will be pasted in each book where a child’s name can be printed.

Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation

Direct Patient Care Medical Equipment – $4,421.00

This grant will used to purchase replacement IV Infusion Pumps that are critical in providing patient care.

Wellington & District Food Bank

Food to Share Cooking Sessions – $3,200.00

Food to Share will hold cooking sessions for users of the Wellington and Picton Foodbanks in which a leader is trained in Safe Food Handling and kitchen organization by a Food to Share trainer. Foodbank clients will receive instruction and increase their skills in meal preparation as well as be able to share in the food being prepared.