our mission

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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!    

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. 

Resiliency is the key to individuals overcoming obstacles along their path. Adult education is a great alternative for  students who have struggled with reaching their goal of receiving a high school diploma. Students enrolled in the Brevard Adult Education program have options to receive their high school diploma or pass the GED exam. There are three locations in Brevard County, Florida that offer in person learning opportunities. 

Since 2015, Shining Though Shadows has funded a $500 scholarship offered annually for a South Area adult education graduate, through the Brevard Schools Foundation. Students who have been awarded this scholarship have used it to offset the cost of their textbooks. 

NEWS: Larger tax-deductible donations can be made directly to Brevard Schools Foundation, a designated 501 C-3.  It is important that Shining Through Shadows Resilient Spirit Scholarship is included on the memo line of a check and any other correspondence in order for the donation to be added to the Shining Through Shadows scholarship account that Brevard Schools Foundation maintains for us. NOTE: Without this Shining Through Shadows scholarship designation, the donation would go into the BSF general scholarship fund, not our targeted scholarship for an adult education student.