Canton, OH

Since its inception in September 2007, the Canton chapter of the Foundation for Community Betterment has donated to 32 local families and 16 community organizations in need of assistance. Our goal is simple – to better our community. Whether it is by helping one family in need of direct financial support or funding a community outreach program, we want our simple actions to create a ripple effect of giving.

Our volunteer base keeps growing, in part because of the variety of volunteer events in which our Canton chapter participates. Take a look at some of the different ways our Canton team has helped out over the past few years:

Organize an annual book drive to benefit local nonprofits.
Collect and donate need items for the Domestic Violence Shelter, Pregnancy Support Center, YWCA and other nonprofits.
Bake birthday cakes for children and mothers living at the domestic violence shelter throughout the year and adopt a family at Christmas there.
Pour beer for attendees of the music performances at the HOFEF Ribs Burnoff to raise money for future recipients.
Volunteer at local events, such as Warrior Dash and Habitat for Humanity to boost awareness, lend a hand and raise money for future recipients.
Help with events, such as running a fun “Lobster Trap” hole-in-one putting green with Bender’s Tavern in downtown Canton on First Fridays.
Volunteer at the Stark County Humane Society and collect needed items for the shelters.
Assisted The BeechCreek Botanical Gardens with creating a visual garden.
Worked in Canton Calvary Mission's food pantry to help shoppers decide on groceries for their families (and to make their day a little brighter!).

Please check out the events page for recent and upcoming betterment events...

Canton Chapter Board of Directors:

Darla Brown
Chellsea Mastroine
Elizabeth Degenhard
Robert Powell
Amy Weisbrod
Janet Morris

Contact us:

Canton@communitybetterment.org
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Canton Photos & Videos

Check out our photos on our Facebook page
2017 Janet Shares her story about Betterment - click here for video

2012 Rocktoberfest Recipients

Solid Rock Therapeutic Riding - click here for video
Monica Snyder - click here for video
Project Rebuild - click here for video

“A committee of three sat at most of the meetings planning, brainstorming, and wondering how to attract more people to this great cause. To fast forward to the present day, five years later, the philanthropy vibe is catching on ‘Betterment’ style. We have a board of nine dedicated volunteers, a committee of twenty enthusiastic community supporters all gathering for one purpose: to better our community and have fun doing so!” - Amy Weisbrod, 2011

Current Events:

Join us at a monthly meeting - the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30pm
Save the date for our annual Betterment Bash on October 13th

Our 2018 Canton Bash Recipients:

Since 1972, the assistance organization Lake Township FISH has provided
emergency help such as groceries, clothing, utility payments, and housing
payments to those in need. The program has evolved over the years from a
church closet from which to hand out a few bags of groceries to the needy to a
fully stocked food pantry and grocery that was named Pantry of the Year in 2017
by the Stark County Hunger Task Force. Receiving most of the food items from the
Akron Canton Regional Food Bank, FISH is also supported by local churches,
organizations, and food drives. Since 2016, volunteers make an extra weekly trip
to Akron to pick up mostly perishable groceries such as dairy products and fresh
fruits and vegetables. Because refrigerated space is very limited at the FISH
pantry, the organization needs a commercial refrigerator big enough to store
these items. Our hope is that Betterment Bash 2018 will raise the $3,000 needed
to purchase this refrigerator, strengthening FISH’s ability to provide healthy food
to the local needy.
Dubbed by a local organization leader as “an über social worker without an
employer,” Jennifer Jones has overcome adversity to help those in Stark County
transitioning from prison, drug addiction, and/or homelessness find opportunities
to get their lives back on track. Logging more than 30,000 miles per year on her
car, she drives people to parole meetings, treatment centers, AA/NA meetings, and
job interviews. With insufficient part-time work and recent medical issues, Jennifer
is struggling to get by. The Canton Chapter of The Foundation for Community
Betterment would like to support Jennifer’s community work by raising money to
pay for her car payment, car maintenance, and gas. By helping her, we can
indirectly help all those she serves.

Past Events:

Betterment Bash, November 4, 2017
Betterment Book Drive, April 17, 2017
Betterment Bash, October 29, 2016
Community Betterment Children's book drive, April 15, 2016
Betterment Bash, October 10, 2015
Emergency Bedding Drive, August 18, 2015
Happy Hour with Betterment, June 25, 2015
Betterment Book Drive, April 10, 2015
Rocktoberfest, September 27, 2014
Happy Hour With Betterment, June 26, 2014
Betterment Co-ed Sand Volleyball League, May 2014
Betterment Book Drive, April 7, 2014
Rocktoberfest, September 28, 2013
Guest Bartenders for Betterment, August 12, 2013
Happy Hour with Betterment, June 6, 2013
Bittners for Betterment, March 31, 2013
Co-ed Sand Volleyball, June 1, 2013
Annual Betterment Book Drive, April 2013
Laughs & Draughts, January 30, 2013
Bubbles & Bling, November 29, 2012
Rocktoberfest, September 29, 2012
Happy Hour With Betterment, June 7, 2012
After Hours, June 3, 2010
Outreach Activity at Stark County Humane Society, May 16, 2010
Betterment Book Drive, April 19-23, 2010
After Hours with Betterment Canton Chapter, February 17, 2010
Holiday Outreach at Canton Calvary Mission, November 14, 2009
Rocktoberfest 2009, Septmember 26, 2009
Rocktoberfest 2008, September 27, 2008
Volunteer at Canton Idol with Betterment!, February 15, 2008
Betterment Boo Bash!, October 26, 2007
Betterment Kickoff in Canton, September 18, 2007