A legacy of caring over two decades in the making was on display at the Regent Theatre last week awhen the 2023 Stark Family Fund grant recipients were announced.

In total, $112k goes to nine local charitable community service organizations in the Prince Edward County area. Those grants are projected to directly impact 26,497 people, including 5,802 youth.

The Stark Family Fund was established in 2002 by two of the Stark sisters, Ival and Ruth, on behalf of their family, including late sisters Leata, Keitha, and Sylvia. All the sisters were lifelong residents of Bloomfield. They pooled their own estates, and those of their husbands, in an endowment fund that supports the community.

The fund is administered by the Community Foundation for Kingston and Area. The Beatty family of Bloomfield serve as trustees. Linda and Tim Beatty could hardly believe that the fund’s grant total crept over the $1 million mark this year.

“In their lives, the Stark sisters cared for each other and now, their thoughtfulness is caring for our community. It’s a wonderful legacy that continues on and on,” Linda Beatty told the Gazette.

“They were so humble and hard working and that is reflected in every initiative that gets supported and it is certainly evident in the 2023 grant recipients,” Tim Beatty added.

Among the various categories of fund channels, Health & Social Services led the way with a total of four grants, and Education was close behind with three.

Included are:

Brain Injury Association Quinte District: Helmet Lending Program for PEC Residents, $4,982

This program provides helmets to the students and residents of PEC so they can safely participate in winter sports.

Hospice Prince Edward: Dinner for One, $7,560

Hospice Prince Edward recognizes the isolation seniors face following the pandemic and especially if that isolation is compounded by a loss of a spouse, partner or loved one. Meal times can be especially lonely. “Dinner for One” educates seniors in how to prepare healthy meal options in small portions, encourage the development of social networks, and perhaps new friendships of hope will develop. A virtual option through zoom is available for those who prefer to be at home.

Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation: Direct Patient Care Equipment for PECMH, $33,623

PECMH needs new ventilators. The ventilators have been identified as critical to its operations.

Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation: Give the Gift of Sight, $20,378

Impaired vision as a result of cataracts greatly impacts the quality of life for those living with them. Additional cataract trays will keep the hospital’s efficiency high and costs low.

County of Prince Edward Public Library & Archives: Discover – Learn – and Grow with Prince Edward 4-H and the Library, $7,000

This funding is for 4-H programs to be offered at the library, with offset membership costs to ensure everyone is included.

South Shore Joint Initiative: Return of the Monarchs 2023, $1,500

The COVID-19 pandemic caused disengagement with the learning process for many children. This program provides curriculum-based learning opportunities for various grade levels in an entertaining way to encourage an interest and provide a vehicle for increased outdoor activities in the educational arena and at home.

Rotary Club of Picton awards for eight new graduates of Prince Edward Collegiate Institute (PECI), $5,750

This project provides $1000 bursaries to five PECI graduates who are attending post-secondary education in the fall, and $750 bursaries to three graduates who are attending Loyalist College. Recipients must demonstrate need.

The Regent Theatre Foundation was recipient of an Arts & Culture grant.

The Regent Theatre Foundation: Cinema Screen Setup Re-Structure to Support Community Rentals & Improve Safety, $23,804

Motorizing its movie screen and wall-mounting its speaker system will enable the Regent to improve safety standards and reduce setup/takedown costs. Reduced costs help maintain low rental rates for community groups wishing to rent the theatre for cinema screenings/events and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the historic theatre.

And, finally, Community Living Prince Edward received a Community Development grant.

Community Living Prince Edward: Kids Night/Day Out – $7,529

One of the greatest needs families with a disabled child express is the need for respite. This project will provide families/caregivers with a regular, consistent relief option called Kids’ Night or Kids’ Day Out. CLPE, which serves 120 families in the community, will provide in-person respite one evening a month and one day per month with qualified staff at a centralized location. CLPE staff will also create Respite Kits to distribute to families, providing an in-home respite option.