The Heart of Stark: Six winners of the Endowment Fund Challenge announced

Heart of Stark

In partnership with The Repository, every Monday, Stark Community Foundation highlights positive happenings in our community. Here’s to Good News Mondays!

The six winners of Stark Community Foundation's Six for 60: Endowment Fund Challenge were recently announced.

Each won $10,000 in seed money to establish an organization endowment fund at the foundation.

More than 100 local nonprofits participated in the challenge in celebration of the foundation’s 60th anniversary. During the month-long community voting period, the organizations received more than 80,000 total votes from supportive members of our community.

Meet the winners of the challenge:

  • Arts & Culture Category Winner: Umbrella Alley (Louisville) Located in Bauman Alley, Umbrella Alley is a unique art attraction in downtown designed to revitalize and rejuvenate the old downtown.

  • Community & Economic Development Category Winner: Project REBUILD (Canton)Project REBUILD re-engages young adults to create pathways to academic, professional and leadership opportunities while providing them with the skills and support to set them up for lifelong success.

  • Education Category Winner: Louisville Public Library (Louisville)The Louisville Public Library serves the community by providing resources and programming to stay connected and inspired. As a gathering place for the community, the library brings residents together by offering educational materials, technology and social programming.

  • Environment & Animal Welfare Category Winner: Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve (Washington Township)Residing on 181 acres, Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve educates, inspires and connects people with nature, which ultimately improves one’s physical and mental health and overall quality of life.

  • Faith Based Category Winner: Rhoda Wise Shrine (Canton)Rhoda Wise Shrine promotes and preserves the legacy of Rhoda Wise, known for her spiritual experiences and connection, and operates Rhoda’s home that attracts thousands of visitors annually.

  • Human Services Category Winner: Hartville Migrant Ministry (Lake Township)Hartville Migrant Ministry provides an environment in which migrant farmworkers have access to services that increase their quality of life.

Stark Community Foundation helps individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits achieve their philanthropic goals through a variety of charitable funds and strategic initiatives. Ranked in the top 10% of community foundations in the country, the foundation and its family of donors have granted $230 million to nonprofits since 1963. Learn more at www.starkcf.org.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Six winners of the Endowment Fund Challenge announced