The Whetstone Family Foundation

02/21/2026

🌟 The Whetstone Family Foundation is proud to support the Bloomfield Drama Club! 🌟

I had the chance to attend a full-day workshop where these talented students learned puppeteering and workshopped scenes for their upcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors. The creativity, dedication, and energy from the kids and the production team is amazing—this show in March is going to be something special! 🎭

If you love supporting local arts and helping students thrive, consider sponsoring this incredible program. Every bit of support makes a difference! 💛

02/18/2026

This is our home.
These are our people.
This is our commitment.

In 2026, the Whetstone Family Foundation is focusing our giving where our roots run deepest:

Rural Ohio.
Appalachian Ohio.
The students who call this region home.

We know the strength of these communities.
We know the pride, the work ethic, the resilience.

We also know the barriers.

Underfunded schools.
Limited access to opportunity.
First-generation students navigating systems not built with them in mind.

Our 2026 Giving Campaign is a direct investment in Appalachian Ohio — expanding scholarships, supporting arts and education programs, and equipping rural students to pursue college, leadership, and meaningful careers.

Because talent is everywhere.
Opportunity is not.

This is our home. These are our people. And this is our commitment — to give back, to uplift, and to help every student see the possibility in their own story.

Give today. Your gift is tax deductible:
www.whetstonefamilyfoundation.org/donate

02/17/2026

For the third year in a row, the Whetstone Family Foundation has earned the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency — the highest level of nonprofit transparency and accountability.

This recognition reflects our continued commitment to open reporting, measurable outcomes, and responsible stewardship of every resource entrusted to our mission. Through scholarships, arts initiatives, and direct outreach across Appalachian Ohio, we continue advancing Hope, Health, and Humanity through measurable, community-centered impact.

View our full Candid transparency profile:
https://app.candid.org/profile/14597650/the-whetstone-family-charitable-foundation/?pkId=9d6a9ab7-d6fe-4e19-a49c-4741b3713f1d&isActive=true

Support the mission:
https://www.whetstonefamilyfoundation.org/donate

01/14/2026

🌟 Community Night Is One Week Away!

Date: January 14th,2026

Time: 5:00 to 7:00 PM

We are excited to welcome our community into Bloomfield High School to share the many great things happening in our classrooms, programs, and school culture. This event is open to everyone—alumni, current students and families, and members of the Bloomfield community. We hope you’ll join us!

Community Night is a chance to see firsthand what makes Bloomfield special. As a small school, we pride ourselves on turning that strength into an advantage—building strong relationships, offering personalized opportunities, and creating an environment where students truly shine.

Event Highlights & Updates:

🎁 Door Prizes: Thanks to the generous support of our local business community, we’ll be giving away several door prizes, including $100 in cash and a television, along with other donated items.

☕ Refreshments: Light refreshments will be available throughout the evening.

🤝 Community Partners Welcome: Local churches, service organizations, and community-based groups are invited to attend and host a table to share information with families. For details or to reserve space, please contact the Bloomfield HS office at 440-685-4711.

🏀 Stay for the Games!

Anyone attending Community Night is also invited to stay and enjoy our basketball games that evening at no additional cost:

Middle School Game: 5:00 PM

High School Boys Game: 6:00 PM

It’s a great opportunity to experience the game day and cheer on our Cardinals!

🍝 Senior Class Spaghetti Dinner

The Bloomfield HS senior class will be hosting a spaghetti dinner that evening from 4:00–6:00 PM. Come out to support our seniors!

$8.00 – Adults

$6.00 – Children ages 5–12 & senior citizens

Bloomfield High School is truly something special. We invite you to come see it for yourself, connect with our school community, and celebrate all that makes Bloomfield a great place to learn and grow.

We look forward to seeing you next week!

01/14/2026

🍝 Bloomfield Senior Class Spaghetti Dinner & Basket Raffle 🍝

Join us for a great meal while supporting the Bloomfield High School Senior Class!

📅 Wednesday, January 14
⏰ 4:00–6:00 PM
📍 Bloomfield High School Cafeteria
2077 Park Road West, North Bloomfield

💲 Dinner Prices:
• Adults: $8
• Children (Ages 5–12): $6
• Senior Citizens: $6

🎟️ Don’t miss the basket raffle and a great opportunity to support our seniors!

We hope to see you there!

01/14/2026

📣 Come join us tonight at Bloomfield High School!

The Whetstone Family Foundation will be out at Bloomfield High School’s Community Night this evening, and we’d love to see you there.

Community Night is a great opportunity to walk through the school, meet staff, and learn about the many programs Bloomfield has to offer—and one of the programs we’re especially excited to celebrate is the Bloomfield Drama Club 🎭

For the past four seasons, our Foundation has been a proud sponsor of the Drama Club because we believe the arts are essential in helping students build confidence, creativity, and community.

If you care about supporting students, strengthening local programs, and investing in Arts in Appalachia, this is a night you won’t want to miss.

✨ Come say hello, meet the teams, and see what Bloomfield is building.
We’ll be there—and we hope you will be too!

🎭 Community Night is TOMORROW! 🌱
Join us tomorrow from 5–7 PM at Community Night and be sure to stop by the Drama Club table!
Meet Audrey, Seymour, Mr. Mushnik and everyone’s favorite little plant — baby Audrey II 👀🌿
Come say hi, grab info about our show and the drama club, and get a sneak peek at what we’ve been growing on stage.
We can’t wait to see you!

01/01/2026

From The Whetstone Family Foundation

As we close out this year, our hearts are full of gratitude. Thank you to everyone who has supported The Whetstone Family Foundation — through your encouragement, generosity, prayers, and belief in the work we are doing. Because of you, lives and stories across Appalachian Ohio are being lifted with dignity and hope.

As we look ahead to 2026 I am happy to say that it is shaping up to be a remarkable year of growth. We are excited to share that The Whetstone Family Foundation has formally submitted our application to join the Appalachian Funders Network, our hope is that we will be able to strengthen our partnerships and deepen our commitment to the region we love. Together, we believe Appalachia deserves the very best, not as an afterthought, but as a priority.

Our mission remains simple and steadfast:

Hope. Health. Humanity.

We are just getting started.

In the coming year, we will continue to advocate for rural and underserved communities, expand scholarships and programs, and walk alongside families and students across Appalachian Ohio, because every person deserves opportunity, support, and a voice.

From our family to yours,
Brent, Heather, Caitlyn, Isabella, Noah, Madeline, and Abigail, thank you for believing in this mission, for believing in Appalachia, and for believing in us.

Here’s to a year of purpose, partnership, and possibility ahead. ✨

— The Whetstone Family Foundation

WhetstoneFamilyFoundation

12/24/2025

A Christmas Message from the Whetstone Family Foundation

This Christmas season, we pause with deep gratitude for the communities, families, students, and supporters who make our work possible.

At the Whetstone Family Foundation, our mission has always been rooted in a simple belief: that hope grows when we invest in people, when we meet real needs with compassion, and when we choose to walk alongside one another—especially in places too often overlooked.

This year has reminded us that generosity is not just something we give, but something we share. It shows up in scholarships earned, meals provided, doors opened, and futures imagined. It lives in quiet acts of kindness and in the steady commitment to say, these are our people, and this is our home.

As we celebrate the birth of Christ—the Light who enters the world humbly and brings hope into darkness—we wish you and your loved ones peace, rest, and renewed joy.

From our family to yours,
Merry Christmas and blessings in the year ahead.

—
The Whetstone Family Foundation

12/12/2025

This year’s Harvest of Hope reminded us of why the Whetstone Family Foundation exists: to show up for families in Appalachian Ohio with dignity, compassion, and care.

Through this program, we provided full Thanksgiving meal kits to 6 families, ensuring that the holiday table was filled not just with food, but with hope. 🍁🧡

A warm meal may seem small, but for a family facing hardship, it is a reminder that they are seen, supported, and not alone. Harvest of Hope continues to grow each year, and we are grateful for everyone who helps make it possible.

Together, we are advancing Hope. Health. Humanity.

12/11/2025

This year, the Whetstone Family Foundation proudly awarded $5,000 in scholarships to students across Appalachian Ohio — empowering future healthcare leaders and artists, who are determined to uplift their communities. 🎓✨

Our scholarship program was built on one simple belief:
Opportunity should never depend on a ZIP code or a GPA.

By investing in Appalachian students, we’re investing in the future of our region — one dream, one classroom, one student at a time.

As we look toward the year ahead, we’re asking for your help to expand our impact.
Your end-of-year gift directly supports:

✔️ More scholarships
✔️ More students
✔️ More opportunities
✔️ More hope

👉 Give today and help us continue building pathways for Appalachian students.
Donate at: www.whetstonefamilyfoundation.org/donate

12/09/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Whetstone Family Foundation Announces the Very Rev. Richard J. Whetstone Scholarship
Honoring a Ruthenian Catholic priest, Eastern canonist, scholar, and spiritual father.

Cortland, Ohio — The Whetstone Family Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of the Very Rev. Richard J. Whetstone Scholarship, established in memory of Father Richard J. Whetstone, JCOL—priest, veteran, Eastern canonist, teacher, and beloved mentor.

Father Richard faithfully served multiple parishes across Appalachia, including Saints Peter and Paul (Warren, OH), St. Stephen (North Huntingdon, PA), St. Andrew (Gibsonia, PA), Holy Ghost (North Side, Pittsburgh, PA), and St. Mary (Herminie, PA). He also taught Eastern Canon Law at Franciscan University of Steubenville, contributing significantly to the formation of future Church leaders.

The scholarship supports Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic students, regardless of the institution they attend, who are discerning or pursuing:
• Priesthood
• Diaconate
• Religious life
• Eastern Canon Law

Priority consideration will be given to:
• Ruthenian Catholic students enrolled at Franciscan University of Steubenville
• Seminarians of Saints Cyril & Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh
• Parishioners of the parishes Father Richard served during his ministry

“Father Richard embodied scholarship, pastoral care, and unwavering service to the Church,” said Brent Whetstone, President of the Whetstone Family Foundation. “This scholarship ensures that his legacy continues in the lives of those who will serve the Church he loved.”

The first award will be granted for the 2025–2026 academic year.

For application details, visit:
www.WhetstoneFamilyFoundation.org/scholarships

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NA OKAMŽITÉ ZVEREJNENIE

Nadácia Whetstone Family Foundation oznamuje vznik Štipendia Very Rev. Richarda J. Whetstonea
Na počesť kňaza, východného kánonistu, učiteľa a duchovného otca.

Cortland, Ohio — Nadácia Whetstone Family Foundation s hlbokou úctou oznamuje vznik Štipendia Very Rev. Richarda J. Whetstonea, JCOL, ktoré bolo založené na pamiatku otca Richarda J. Whetstonea — kňaza, veterána, východného kánonistu, pedagóga a milovaného mentora.

Otec Richard verne slúžil vo viacerých farských komunitách naprieč Apalačským regiónom, vrátane Saints Peter and Paul (Warren, OH), St. Stephen (North Huntingdon, PA), St. Andrew (Gibsonia, PA), Holy Ghost (North Side, Pittsburgh, PA) a St. Mary (Herminie, PA).
Vyučoval tiež východné kánonické právo na Franciscan University of Steubenville, kde prispel k formácii budúcich vedúcich osobností Cirkvi.

Štipendium je určené pre študentov Zjednotenej Gréckokatolíckej (Ruthénskej) cirkvi, bez ohľadu na to, akú školu navštevujú, ktorí rozlišujú alebo študujú v oblastiach, ktoré formovali život otca Richarda:
• kňazstvo
• diakonát
• rehoľný život
• východné kánonické právo

Prednostné zohľadnenie získajú:
• Ruthénski katolícki študenti na Franciscan University of Steubenville
• Seminaristi Seminára sv. Cyrila a Metoda v Pittsburghu
• Veriaci z farností, v ktorých otec Richard pôsobil

„Život otca Richarda bol stelesnením učenosti, pastoračnej starostlivosti a neochvejnej služby Cirkvi,“ povedal Brent Whetstone, prezident Whetstone Family Foundation. „Toto štipendium zabezpečí, aby jeho odkaz pokračoval v životoch tých, ktorí budú slúžiť Cirkvi, ktorú tak hlboko miloval.“

Prvé udelenie štipendia je plánované na akademický rok 2025–2026.

Viac informácií a pokyny k podaniu žiadosti nájdete na:
www.WhetstoneFamilyFoundation.org/scholarships