The Barbara Stone Foundation gives seven Community Innovation Grants to support individuals with disabilities
June 17, 2025
The Barbara Stone Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting visionary and creative programs and initiatives for individuals with disabilities, recently awarded seven Community Innovations Grants to Upstate non-profits. The Barbara Stone Foundation makes it a priority to invest in innovative programs that directly support individuals with disabilities through their bi-annual Community Innovations Grants program.
The following seven non-profit organizations were presented with Spring grants totaling $29,000:
1. Through Evely’s Eyes: $1,500
2. Aqua Angels: $10,000
3. Dance Collaborative: $2,500
4. PAALS (Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services): $2,000
5. Mary Sunshine House: $5,000
6. Special Olympics of Greenville: $3,000
7. The YMCA of Greenville RECESS (Recreation, Education, Community, Exercise, Social and Service): $5,000
“We are incredibly honored and grateful to be selected as a recipient of the Barbara Stone Foundation grant,” said Rebekah Craig, Founder of Aqua Angels. “This generous support will help us launch our new Waves of Ability adaptive swim program, providing accessible, affordable swim lessons to children and adults of all abilities across Upstate South Carolina.”
“Our Community Innovations Grants program is a great way for the Barbara Stone Foundation to support groups across the Upstate who are actively aligned with our mission and working to make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities,” said Lara Ceisel, Executive Director of the Barbara Stone Foundation.” We encourage any Upstate nonprofit that supports individuals with disabilities through meaningful programming and services to apply for our grants.” We award grants every Spring and Fall, and we encourage groups to apply.”
The 2025 Barbara Stone Foundation board members include Nick Skenteris, President, Michele Reeves, Vice President, Riku Oinonen, Treasurer, Brooke Schmidt, Secretary, Lee Sowell, Matthew Collins, Marion Elliott, Elizabeth Piper, Amy Hallasy, Lisa Finch, Audra Vellucci, Dana Gantt Moore, Jane Hart, and the Honorable Nick Theodore, President Emeritus.
To learn more about Barbara Stone Foundation grants, visit www.barbarastonefoundation.org. Fall grant applications are due September 15, 2025. First-time applicants are encouraged to reach out before applying. For more information, contact Lara Ceisel at [email protected]g.
About The Barbara Stone Foundation
Since 1991, the Barbara Stone Foundation’s primary focus is to influence community systems, policies, and culture to result in equitable opportunities for individuals with disabilities in South Carolina’s Upstate. We do this by identifying gaps in services, investing in, or creating our own innovative programs, leveraging partnerships in the community, and through our signature initiatives Greenville CAN (Collaborative Action Network) and the UP (Upward Professionals) Employment Initiative. To learn more, visit www.barbarastonefoundation.org or find the organization on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
