Events that Bring Our Community Together
Our events celebrate young people, connect families, recognize achievement, and raise support for year-round mentoring and community programs. Registration and ticketing are available online. Some community programs use school nominations or limited, first-come availability rather than public registration.
Annual Events
Community Easter Egg Hunt
Our annual Easter Egg Hunt gives local children and families a fun opportunity to gather and celebrate together.
Adult Easter Egg Hunt
Join Be a Better Me Foundation for an unforgettable Easter Egg Hunt that starts with a Bar Crawl/Poker Run — where fun, prizes, and purpose collide!
Annual Golf Outing
Spend a day on the course while supporting mentoring and community programs for local youth. The annual outing welcomes golfers, teams, sponsors, and prize donors.
Date: TBD
Location: Spring Valley Golf Course
Annual Gala
Join supporters, sponsors, and community leaders for an evening celebrating the impact of Be A Better Me Foundation and the accomplishments of local young people. The Gala includes recognition, scholarship presentations, silent-auction items, and opportunities to support the Foundation’s work.
Pop-Up Bike Giveaway
Each year, Be A Better Me distributes over 100 bikes to children and young people in the community. Bikes are available on a first-come basis, and the number distributed depends on available donations.
- Age range: Approximately kindergarten through eighth grade
- Date: Saturday, December 19, 2026 (TBD)
- Location: Announced shortly before distribution
- Registration: First come, first served
Supporters can help sustain the Bike Fund throughout the year by donating toward future bike purchases.
LaMar’s Stars Breakfast
LaMar’s Stars Breakfast celebrates outstanding students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Participating schools across Stark County nominate approximately five or six students from each building for recognition.
- Typical season: December
- Participation: School nomination; not general public registration
- Next date and venue: TBD
Holiday Stocking Project
Be A Better Me brings holiday encouragement directly into Canton City elementary schools. In 2025, the Foundation secured funding and distributed approximately 4,000 candy-filled stockings—one for every student in kindergarten through sixth grade.
This is a school-based distribution rather than a public event.
Jingle Bell Shop
The Jingle Bell Shop provides selected young people with a special holiday shopping experience. The Foundation reviews community needs and typically selects five participants for a Walmart shopping experience valued at almost $500 per participant.
- Proposed 2026 date: December 21 or 22 (TBD)
- Participation: Selected or referred participants; not first come, first served. Nominate a participant on our contact form.
Help a Young Person See What is Possible
Your support helps Be A Better Me create mentoring experiences, community celebrations, educational opportunities, and moments of encouragement for children and young people throughout our community.
Be A Better Me Foundation is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN: 81-3380583. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Be A Better Me Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization. CEO LaMar Sharpe also serves the Canton community through his separate professional role with the Canton Police Department. The Foundation is not a program or agency of the Canton Police Department.