Dreams Don't Have
to Change
Barbara Stone started a movement over fifty years ago to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Barbara Stone made a difference and so can you.
31,472
People ages 18-64 in Greenville County with a Disability
U.S. Census Bureau
$25,000
Total Spring 2026 Grants Awarded
Individuals with disabilities can flourish
Barbara Stone was a champion for individuals with disabilities. She started a movement over fifty years ago that forever improved the lives of individuals with disabilities. She was a community and family member, just like you.
You can make a positive difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities by supporting the Barbara Stone Foundation. We believe that all individuals with disabilities can flourish when given the opportunity. Please join us and together we will serve as champions for individuals with disabilities.
How We're Making a Change
UP Pre-Employment Program: Applications Now Open
The UP Pre-Employment Program (PEP) supports individuals with disabilities who are preparing to enter the workforce. Next session begins Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
APPLICATIONS DUE FRIDAY, JULY 31
Questions? Contact Tori Weatherford at tori@barbarastonefoundation.org.
Spring 2026 Community Innovations Grant Recipients
This spring, we awarded $25,000 in Community Innovations Grants to six Upstate nonprofits: Adaptive Pickleball, Mary Sunshine House, Dance Collaborative, Aqua Angels, David’s Table, and YMCA of Greenville’s RECESS Program.
NEXT APPLICATION DEADLINE: SEPT. 15
Join the grant recipients creating more inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
CAN Talks 2026: Tickets On Sale Now
CAN Talks brings our community together to hear individuals with disabilities speak on the topics they’re passionate about, in their own words. It’s an evening that champions self-advocacy and inclusion.
7th ANNUAL CAN TALKS: OCTOBER 20, 2026
This year’s speakers have been selected, and we can’t wait for you to meet them. Watch for the official speaker reveal, coming soon.
OPA Open Tees Off Sunday, September 13
On Sunday, September 13, 2026, the Barbara Stone Foundation and AHEPA team up for the OPA Open, a golf tournament with real purpose behind it. Half of the tournament’s proceeds go directly to the Barbara Stone Foundation, supporting our work alongside individuals with disabilities across the Upstate.
BECOME A SPONSOR: Send an email to opaopenahepa@gmail.com
Sponsorship opportunities are open now for businesses and individuals who want to help make the day, and its impact, possible.
Every donation, large and small affects positive change.
Within our generation, people with disabilities were locked away from society with a belief that they had nothing useful to contribute. Although much progress has been made in the past fifty years, individuals with disabilities still struggle to be seen, heard, valued, and included.
YOU can be the difference. Together, we can achieve our vision of a community where all individuals with disabilities flourish.
