our mission
Our Logo
The word shadows was part of the original idea for a name for the foundation. Kimmi was like her father's shadow, always around him. Other names with and without shadows were considered, but all options explored for a corporation and domain name were already taken. In August 2012, just a few weeks prior to the one year anniversary of Seth
The word shadows was part of the original idea for a name for the foundation. Kimmi was like her father's shadow, always around him. Other names with and without shadows were considered, but all options explored for a corporation and domain name were already taken. In August 2012, just a few weeks prior to the one year anniversary of Seth's passing, we finally registered the domain name shiningthroughshadows.org, Right after that, Kimmi ran into her former soccer coach and family friend, Russ DeBose. He offered to create a graphic design for the logo for Shining Through Shadows. Russ told us he was working on several different designs when he suddenly became inspired to create this one. Russ said that the idea for the design didn't come from him... it came through him. We knew it was a truly a "God-inspired moment" too when we saw it! We hadn't realized that the three words we selected for the foundation's name each had seven letters and that the letter H was the second letter in all of them. The graphic of the ladder was symbolic of Seth's seventeen years as a volunteer firefighter. But more than that, the ladder set off the first letters of each word STS- the initials of Seth Thomas Stark, the inspiration for this foundation!
Chapter 1 of Our story
Shining Through Shadows, Inc is nonprofit corporation established in the state of Florida in 2012. In addition, our nonprofit annually registers with the State for Solicitation of Contributions reporting (CH40030).
In 2015, Shining Through Shadows, Inc. partnered with the Brevard Schools Foundation to fund a $500 annual scholarship called
Shining Through Shadows, Inc is nonprofit corporation established in the state of Florida in 2012. In addition, our nonprofit annually registers with the State for Solicitation of Contributions reporting (CH40030).
In 2015, Shining Through Shadows, Inc. partnered with the Brevard Schools Foundation to fund a $500 annual scholarship called the "Shining Through Shadows Resilient Scholarship" to an adult education student graduating with either their high school diploma or their GED from the South Area Adult Education (SAAE) center in Melbourne, Florida. Kimmi Stark, our founder, was able to get back on track with her education after months of struggling with health issues following her father's passing and reconstructive ankle surgery in 2011. Kimmi graduated from SAAE with her high school diploma in 2014 and wanted to give back to the community that supported her during that difficult time in her life. Learning the importance of being resilient and moving forward despite struggles and obstacles was the focus behind establishing the scholarship.
In December 2025, this decade of sponsorship was terminated. Shiining Through Shadows is beginning Chapter 2 of our story in February 2026.