The Barbara Stone Foundation, a local organization championing individuals with disabilities, recently awarded $22,500 in grants to five nonprofits in Upstate South Carolina.
The Community Innovations Grants aim to support programs and individuals that address and provide creative solutions for unmet needs within the local disability community. The program’s fall 2026 recipients include:
- Building Futures Farmstead: $5,000
- Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired: $2,500
- YMCA of Easley, Pickens and Powdersville’s STRIVE Program: $5,000
- KD Collective: $7,500
- Upstate Carolina Adaptive Golf: $2,500
The Barbara Stone Foundation announced the grant recipients during CAN Talks on Oct. 20. The seventh annual event provided six individuals with disabilities a platform to share their personal stories and life experiences. This year’s CAN Talks also raised $20,000 to support the organization’s work to expand employment access for individuals with disabilities.
“CAN Talks is such a meaningful program for us and really gives the community an opportunity to better understand the challenges that those with disabilities navigate each day,” said Lara Ceisel, executive director of the Barbara Stone Foundation.
For more information on the Barbara Stone Foundation, visit barbarastonefoundation.org.
