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When The Legacy Project of Stark County’s new school-based mentoring program launched at Canton City School District’s Gibbs Elementary earlier this year, it quickly became more than just a routine part of students’ school week.
Thanks to volunteer mentors empowering students through lasting, impactful relationships — the program’s impact is being felt deeply throughout the school and our community.
The Legacy Project is dedicated to transforming communities and impacting lives through the power of high-quality mentorship opportunities, leadership development and intentional partnerships. It collaborates with local school districts and community partners to place identified Stark County students in age-appropriate, high-quality mentorship programs.
Between its school-based programming and community-based programming, the organization has grown to serve over 9,250 students with the help of approximately 800 volunteer mentors since inception in 2015.
Today, The Legacy Project operates school-based programs in 21 schools across Stark County, serving approximately 1,100 students supported by 350 volunteers on a weekly basis. Each school-based program is modeled similarly to a small-group mentoring program. Mentors meet with the same group of students each week, showing up consistently with positivity, encouragement and a willingness to connect.
Because the same mentors return each week, students build trusting, developmental relationships with caring adults who are genuinely invested in their growth. Through these relationships, essential life skills are developed, including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making, commitment to learning, social competence and a strong sense of identity.
The launch of The Legacy Project’s school-based program at Gibbs Elementary was made possible through its partnership with United Way of Greater Stark County, which serves as a guide in identifying where programs can have the greatest impact on students, families and communities.
After United Way identified the need for programming at Gibbs Elementary in late 2025, the launch of the program moved quickly. Planning and organizing took place in November, mentor recruitment began in December, followed by mentor training and background checks in January. The program officially launched at the end of January, and more than a dozen mentors have already committed one day each week to working with students.
“The response from our community has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Meghan Schauer, Gibbs Elementary School principal. “Families are excited about the opportunity for their children to build meaningful relationships with mentors, and we’ve seen students look forward to their time in the program each week. It has quickly become a valued support system within our school.”
Funding from United Way was essential in bringing the Gibbs Elementary program to life, covering the cost of mentor outreach and recruitment, staff planning time, supplies for launching the new program and marketing efforts.“Simply put, this program would not have been possible without United Way’s support,” said Rachel Van Dyke, The Legacy Project associate director.
The school-based programs’ immeasurable impact on the future of Stark County is thanks to the dedication and leadership of the mentors who meet with students, and The Legacy Project’s program managers who are present in the schools to support mentors each week.
Learn more about The Legacy Project and its programming at www.lpstark.org.
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 nearly $300 million to nonprofits since 1963. Learn more at .
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Legacy Project of Stark County expands mentoring program…Read more by Stark Community Foundation, Special to the Canton Repository