Prince Edward County, ON – May 21, 2026 – The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area is pleased to announce that $100,176 has been awarded through the 2026 Stark Family Fund granting program. A total of 84,426 will support 10 projects and organizations across Prince Edward County, and $15,750 will support the Fund’s longstanding scholarship and bursary program at Pince Edward Collegiate Institute (PECI) run in partnership with the Rotary Foundation of Picton. The Community Foundation extends its sincere thanks to the Stark Family Fund Selections Committee, a team of County-based volunteer reviewers who review applications and recommend funding. Their local knowledge, care, and commitment help ensure the Fund’s impact remains grounded in the real needs, strengths, and priorities of Prince Edward County.
About the Stark Family Fund
Established in 2002 through a bequest from the Stark family of Bloomfield, the Stark Family Fund reflects a lasting act of care for Prince Edward County. Sisters Ival and Ruth Stark, together with their late sisters Leata, Keitha, and Sylvia, were lifelong County residents known for their quiet generosity and deep commitment to community. Without heirs of their own, the Stark sisters chose to create a permanent endowment from the combined estates of the sisters and their spouses, ensuring their support for local people, organizations, and causes would continue for generations. More than two decades later, the Fund continues to honour that legacy by supporting projects that strengthen quality of life across Prince Edward County. Since inception the Stark Family Fund has granted a cumulative total of $1,416,565 to agencies across the County, exceeding the value of the original bequest.
“Community foundation funds are designed to carry generosity forward in a way that remains responsive to community needs over time,” says Stacy Kelly, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area. “The Stark Family Fund was created from a love of and care for Prince Edward County, and more than twenty years later, that care is still being translated into meaningful support for local organizations, students, families, and residents.”
Supporting Learning, Care, and Community Life in Prince Edward County
The 2026 funded projects reflect the breadth of the Stark Family Fund’s purpose and the range of local needs and opportunities across Prince Edward County. This year’s grants will support early literacy, healthy meals for students, affordable youth programming, assistive tools for people with intellectual disabilities, safety education, recreational infrastructure, arts and culture, patient comfort, and improved access to health care.
A strong theme across the 2026 funding portfolio is support for young people. Through competitive grants and the Fund’s scholarship and bursary subprograms, the Stark Family Fund will help children, youth, and students learn, participate, build confidence, access healthy food, explore creative opportunities, and pursue education.
A full list of the 10 funded projects can be found below:
1 | BAXTER ARTS CENTRE
Expansion of Baxter Art Centre's Affordable Community Cooking Classes & PA Day Camps | $5,000
Baxter Arts Centre will expand its community cooking classes and PA Day Camps in Bloomfield. With support from the Stark Family Fund, these programs will be offered on a Pay What You Can basis, helping reduce barriers to local arts, learning, and youth programming.
2 | COMMUNITY LIVING PRINCE EDWARD
Empowering Independence Through Assistive Technology, Communication, Literacy, and Music | $3,426
Community Living Prince Edward will purchase tools and technology that support independence, communication, literacy, and creative expression for people with intellectual disabilities. The project will help participants build skills, confidence, and autonomy.
3 | COUNTY KIDS READ
Book Buddies – Fostering Reading Enjoyment and Confidence through aVolunteer Tutoring Program | $2,000
County Kids Read will deliver the 2026–2027 edition of its Book Buddies tutoring program in partnership with Prince Edward Collegiate Institute. The volunteer-supported program will help up to 45 young readers build reading confidence, enjoyment, and foundational literacy skills.
4 | COUNTY OF PRINCE EDWARD PUBLIC LIBRARY & ARCHIVES
Ready to Read at the Library | $3,000
The County of Prince Edward Public Library & Archives will create a curriculum-aligned collection of early reader and high-interest titles. The project will help the library better support children who are learning to read and strengthen access to literacy resources for local families.
5 | PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Enhancing Early Detection: Investing in Digital Mammography at PECMH | $20,000
Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation will support the purchase of a new digital mammography machine with 3D tomosynthesis for the new hospital. The equipment will help enable earlier and more accurate breast cancer detection while improving access to lifesaving screening closer to home.
6 | THE CHILDREN'S SAFETY VILLAGE
Removing Barriers to Safety Education: Program Access and Transportation Support for PEC | $5,000
The Children's Safety Village will support transportation and instructor costs for Prince Edward County students to attend safety education programming. The project will help reduce access barriers and ensure more students can participate in hands-on, life-saving safety education.
7 | THE CORPORATION OF THE COUNTY OF PRINCE EDWARD
PECSA – Supporting Dreams and Sheltering Youth Soccer Operations | $20,000
The Corporation of the County of Prince Edward will support Prince Edward County Soccer Association operations by improving secure storage for equipment. The project will help volunteers focus on delivering safe, accessible soccer programming for the community.
8 | THE HASTINGS AND PRINCE EDWARD LEARNING FOUNDATION
Fuelling Bright Futures | $15,000
The Hastings and Prince Edward Learning Foundation will support daily healthy meals and emergency supports for Prince Edward County students. The project will help remove barriers to education by ensuring students are better able to eat, learn, and succeed.
9 | THEROC YOUTH SERVICES
Get Grounded: Who You Are, Your Boundaries & Your Choices | $5,500
theROC Youth Services will deliver interactive, skills-based workshops for intermediate youth. The program will help participants build self-awareness, set healthy boundaries, and make confident choices.
10 | TRENTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Wrapped in Care: Supporting Surgical Patients with Post-Operative Warmth | $5,500
Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation will purchase a blanket warmer for Trenton Memorial Hospital’s surgical recovery area. The equipment will improve comfort and dignity for surgical patients, including many Prince Edward County residents.
About the Stark Family Fund
The Stark Family Fund supports organizations across Prince Edward County with a focus on Animal Welfare, Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education, and Health & Social Services. Established in 2002 through a bequest from the Stark Family of Bloomfield, ON, the Fund has granted over $1.45 million since its inception.
About the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area
Established in 1995, the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area is a catalyst for impact by transforming lives through connecting people, ideas, and resources to build a more resilient community. The Foundation manages over 240 invested charitable funds and has distributed more than $16 million in grants to support impactful community projects.
Learn more at www.cfka.org.
Media Contact:
Adam Walker (he/him)
Marketing & Communications Officer
Community Foundation for Kingston & Area
613.549.9696 ext. 109 | communications@cfka.org
