Barberton Community Foundation

08/30/2026

08/29/2026

Three organizations making a difference in Barberton. Three reasons to celebrate.

As we count down to Barberton Community Foundation’s 2026 Annual Dinner and Game Changer Awards, we’re proud to recognize the three outstanding organizations that rose to the top in this year’s Company/Organization Game Changer Award category:

🏆 Ignite Brewing Co. — Top Nominee

🏆 Great Trail Council, Scouting America — Top Nominee

🏆 Akron Rubber Development Laboratory, Inc. — 2026 Company/Organization Game Changer Award Recipient

All three organizations are being recognized for the impact they have made in Barberton, with Akron Rubber Development Laboratory, Inc. selected as this year’s award recipient.

Celebrate these outstanding organizations with us at the 2026 Annual Dinner and Game Changer Awards on Thursday, October 29.

Sponsor the event or purchase tickets through the link below.

08/29/2026

Our team is growing!

Barberton Community Foundation has hired LeAnn Starlin Nilsson, Ph.D., as Program Officer for Education, a newly created strategic role designed to strengthen connections across the Foundation’s long-term work from early learning through education and training to meaningful careers.

Nilsson’s work will focus on two priorities in the Foundation’s Strategic Plan: Birth-to-5 Early Learning and Workforce Development & Career Pathways. The position brings dedicated expertise to help the Foundation better understand how early learning, education, training, and workforce systems connect in Barberton, where gaps and opportunities exist, and how its grantmaking and partnerships can contribute to stronger outcomes over time.

Click to read more about this work and LeAnn.

Barberton Community Foundation has hired LeAnn Starlin Nilsson, Ph.D., as Program Officer for Education, a newly created strategic role designed to strengthen connections across the Foundation’s long-term work from early learning through education and training to meaningful careers.

08/28/2026

WE HELP PAY FOR PRESCHOOL.

There are just 3 days left to apply for the Humble Bright Beginnings Preschool Scholarship for this school year.

Did you know that only about 1 in 4 Barberton children enters kindergarten prepared? We know, based on data, that a strong foundation begins much earlier than the first day of school.

Kindergarten “readiness” means being able to stand in line, listen to a story, share, take turns, follow directions, manage big feelings, and be part of a classroom.

Preschool gives children time to build these skills in a classroom setting with teachers trained in early childhood development.

Our scholarship helps eligible Barberton residents ages 3–5 with the cost of a gold-rated preschool.

Need help with the application? Call Barberton Community Foundation. We can help you work through it.

Learn more and apply:
https://barbertoncf.org/julie-jayson-humble-bright-beginnings-endowed-scholarship-fund

Please share this with families who have young children. It could help connect a child with a strong start!

Barberton Preschool
Crowned Crayons Academy
Kind Kids Learning Academy

08/28/2026

Barberton Community Foundation was honored to receive the 🌟 Friend of Children Award 🌟 at the 14th annual Growing Up Akron event hosted by Child Guidance & Family Solutions.

Executive Director Josh Gordon and Director of Community Impact Carrie Herman accepted the award on behalf of the Foundation.

In his remarks, Josh emphasized the importance of supporting both prevention and treatment. Prevention can mean avoiding a crisis, supporting a family earlier, or helping a child build a better future.

Our partnership with Child Guidance & Family Solutions reflects that shared commitment. Through ongoing grant support, the Foundation helps fund local mental health, early learning, and student life-skills programs, including kindergarten preparation, family support, the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding (TAPS) program, and life-skills programs for middle and high school students.

We are grateful to Child Guidance & Family Solutions for this recognition and proud to support work that helps children and families throughout our community.

08/27/2026

💜There has been an outpouring of thanks for the donors who made this support possible, along with many questions about how the Barberton Student Opportunity to Participate Fund works. We hope the District’s update below begins to answer some of those questions.

For questions about the pay-to-participate process, eligibility, refunds, credits, or other logistics, please contact Barberton City School District directly.

If you would like to donate to the Fund, please contact Barberton Community Foundation or visit barbertoncf.org/donate and select Opportunity to Participate Fund.

08/25/2026

A community foundation has raised enough money to eliminate new pay-to-participate fees for Barberton City Schools students in sports, marching band and color guard.

08/25/2026

📰 There’s nothing like making front page news above the fold!

Congratulations again, Game Changers!

🌟Akron Rubber Development Laboratory, Inc.
🌟Donna Alherimi

Thank you for all of the coverage Barberton Gazette.🗞️💜

08/24/2026

We love seeing this kind of momentum in downtown Barberton. 💜

Barberton Community Foundation was proud to support Ohio Tea Lady Inc. through our Restaurant & Retail Challenge, and it’s exciting to see this beautiful space come back to life as part of a growing downtown.

So much to be proud of in Barberton!