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There are moments that remind you exactly why you do what you do.
This past Sunday was one of those moments.
A young woman who recently graduated from Early College High School and will be leaving for college next month made the decision to publicly declare her faith through baptism. Surrounded by friends from CAST, we had the privilege of standing beside her as she took this meaningful step. Watching the growth that has taken place in her life over the past several years was both humbling and inspiring.
At CAST, we often talk about building relational community, mentoring students, and creating opportunities for them to serve and lead. While those things are important, our deepest hope has always been that the relationships formed through CAST would point students toward lives filled with purpose, hope, and faith. Sunday was a beautiful reminder that the impact of investing in young people often extends far beyond what we can measure.
Next month, on August 21, we will gather for Rivalry for a Reason, CAST’s only annual fundraising event. It’s a day filled with friendly competition, laughter, and generosity—but it’s about so much more than golf. Every sponsorship, every donation, and every participant helps create opportunities for students to experience the kind of life-changing relationships that lead to moments like the one we witnessed this past Sunday.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your support makes a difference, I can assure you that it does. Moments like these are the reason we do what we do.
I hope you’ll join us on August 21 as we continue investing in the lives of students throughout our community. Together, we’re not just funding a program—we’re helping change lives.
With gratitude,
Sonja White
Executive Director
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We could not be more excited to host our 2nd Annual Rivalry for a Reason—a night of friendly competition with a lasting impact on our students!
Last fall, Brookside took home the trophy, but the true win was the overwhelming support shown by our incredible community. We are deeply grateful to everyone who gave last year and to those who have already generously contributed to this year’s tournament.
If you haven't already, please plan to join us for an evening of fun and competition on Friday, August 21st!
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Rapid Fire with Jaylynn:
Favorite Artist: Michael Jackson
Sweet Treat: Brownies
Favorite Place to hang out around Canton: The Mall
Iced or Hot Coffee: Tea
Worst School Lunch: When they tried to make green pizza for St. Patrick’s day
Best School Lunch: Breakfast for lunch!
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Student Spotlight: Jaylynn Scott
As we wrap up another incredible school year, we are thrilled to spotlight one of our phenomenal recent graduates, Jaylynn Scott. Jaylynn recently graduated from Early College High School with honors, representing the National Honor Society and the McKinley Scholars with a beautiful collection of graduation cords. On top of her active leadership in various school clubs, Jaylynn hit a massive milestone as the first member of her family to complete dual enrollment, walking across the graduation stage with both her high school diploma and an Associate’s degree in hand.
Jaylynn originally decided to join CAST after hearing previous graduates talk about how much fun it was, combined with her own desire to give back to the community. Looking back, her only real regret is that she didn't get involved sooner during her freshman year. Once she did jump in, she fell in love with the open, tight-knit community, especially within the CASTaways Bible study. She noted how wonderful it was to have a space where you are free to just "be" while making genuine new friends.
Throughout her time with us, Jaylynn poured her heart into local service, and is looking forward to serving with us while she is home for holiday breaks! She particularly loved spending time at the Refuge of Hope, where she cherished the deep, meaningful conversations she got to share with people while serving them. Of course, high school had plenty of room for fun, too—Jaylynn laughs remembering her absolute favorite school memory of just being goofy and working on group projects with her friends in chemistry class.
Jaylynn has already moved to Virginia and is preparing to attend Norfolk State University this fall to study Psychology. While she is incredibly excited for a fresh start, she says she had the most fun in high school while participating in CAST, and she fully intends to bring aspects of the program to college with her. She is already looking forward to volunteering in her new community and is even open to starting a student volunteer club on campus if Norfolk State doesn't have one already. Jaylynn, we are so incredibly proud of your hard work, your academic achievements, and the immense heart you have for others. We know you are going to do amazing things in Virginia!
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2026 Impact So Far!
Thanks to the incredible dedication of this group, here is what we have accomplished in just the first half of this year:
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44,608 pounds of food processed and sorted
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36,899 meals created and distributed to local families
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594 total hours of hands-on service logged by our community
| We would love to have you join this amazing intergenerational team! Whether you can make it once a month or just want to try it out, there is a place for you. Use the button below to email Mike! | |
Akron Canton Regional Food Bank Volunteer Crew !
Month after month, you hear us raving about the amazing ways our students serve our community. The love this next generation has for their neighbors makes them incredibly easy to celebrate! But in addition to this stellar group of CAST students, we have an equally amazing group of CAST adults volunteering week after week.
This month, we want to highlight our Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank volunteer group. This diverse group spans in age from 10 all the way up to 90 years young, making this our most intergenerational volunteer opportunity by far! For the past five years, this dedicated crew has gathered at least once (and often twice) a month to process food, sanitize donations, pack senior boxes, and so much more.
When CAST first partnered with the food bank in 2022, a total of 130 volunteers showed up over the course of the year to make a hands-on difference. By 2023, that number had grown to over 300. This year, with the help of our wonderful Food Bank Liaison, Mike Savage, CAST has already brought 198 volunteers to the food bank—and we are only halfway through the year!
CAST is all about Caring and Serving Together, and this group beautifully reflects who we are. Seeing 20 to 30 friends come together to serve a couple of times a month truly makes an incredible impact. Through plenty of laughs, sorting endless cans and produce, and powering through the dreaded "meat days," this tight-knit crew has helped deliver 350,000 meals to neighbors in our community over the years!
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“From the moment I walked into the volunteer center, I knew there was something different, something special, about CAST, and it turns out my first impression was exactly right.
What began with the perspective of an outsider looking in has grown into the privilege of serving as a member of the Board. It has been a true honor to support the mission of this incredible organization and the people who bring it to life.
CAST has made a profound impact on the Foodbank and on our neighbors, helping provide tens of thousands of meals to our community. Speaking as a Foodbanker, I am deeply grateful for the work CAST does, often in challenging circumstances and always with compassion, generosity, and a servant's heart.
As a board member, I couldn't be prouder to be associated with this remarkable group of people. Thank you, CAST, for making our community stronger, one act of service at a time.”
-Randy Lipscomb
Donor Relations Officer, ACRFB
| | | | Serve alongside our students! | | |
Rapid Fire with Jahnna:
Coffee or Tea: Iced Coffee
Pepsi or Coke: Pepsi
Go to Hype Song: Any Josiah Queen
Early Bird or Night Owl: Night Owl
Top two Fast Food Stops: Little Ceasers or McDonalds
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Graduate Spotlight: Jahnna Paladino (Coats)
If you spent any time around CAST a few years ago, (well… make that a decade ago!) you undoubtedly remember Jahnna Coats (now Paladino). A standout student who graduated second in her Early College High School class! Jahnna was highly involved in Academic Challenge and CAMP, but CAST was a truly foundational chapter of her life. After graduating in 2017, she headed to the University of Toledo, earning a degree in Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design in 2020, paired with a minor in marketing. She spent the next four and a half years in Cincinnati working in her field, handling the scale-up batching, formulation, and testing of cosmetics and personal care products. Life has since brought some beautiful new milestones; Jahnna was married in 2023, welcomed a baby boy named Lochlan in May 2025, and recently moved back home to be closer to family, where she is now a proud stay-at-home mom.
Though she originally joined CAST just to hang out with friends, it quickly became a safe, joyful space during a hard high school experience. Volunteering allowed her to work directly alongside adults and nonprofit directors, which gave her the real-world connections, leadership skills, and confidence she eventually needed when interacting with future bosses and employers. Beyond leadership, spaces such as the EPIC Retreat offered a pivotal space for her personal spiritual growth. Growing up homeschooled and in a a very structured faith community, these experiences such and EPIC allowed Jahnna the freedom to explore God on her own terms. It gave her a unique opportunity to look at faith through a high school student’s lens rather than her family's or church's, surrounded by peers who were meeting God in the exact same way.
Today, Jahnna still thinks back on her CAST memories frequently. She fondly remembers having her face painted at the Harvest Moon Run, getting pulled down by excited pups while giving baths at the Humane Society, and spending time at Whispering Grace Horses. One unforgettable Christmas Eve dinner at The Refuge of Hope sticks out, where she was chatting with a guest and they both began to sing "Feliz Navidad" soon enough the entire dining room suddenly burst into song together. Her time at the EPIC Retreat was equally memorable, filled with the famous Egg Drop challenge, dodging her older brother, sleeping in the dorms, and staying up late to laugh with friends. She also deeply treasures the mentorship of Mrs. Sypek, whose backyard bible studies were so impactful that Mrs. Sypek even visited Jahnna during her college years to stay connected. Looking back, Jahnna is incredibly grateful for the place where she always felt comfortable to be herself, calling CAST a genuinely wonderful chapter of her life. We are so proud of the scientist, leader, and mother Jahnna has become, and we are thrilled to welcome her and her family back home to our community.
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A Special Christmas in July Surprise!
Our evening took an extra-special turn thanks to our friends at RippleFX, who wanted to express their appreciation for our CAST students and their incredible volunteer work this summer.
Sandy put her gracious heart (and amazing bargain-hunting talent!) to work, shopping for and assembling “Christmas” gifts for the students. It was the perfect, fun addition to a meaningful and reflective night.
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As we began preparing for camp season back in June, we knew how crucial it would be to gather together once Aliquippa and Wildside wrapped up. We wanted to create a space to slow down and reflect on all the fun, the memories made, and the "God moments" experienced throughout the summer.
That evening was nothing short of amazing. Over hot dogs and snacks, our students took turns sharing their "Highs, Lows, and Buffalos" (the wacky and unexpected moments!). They also spoke openly about where they saw God moving—from powerful moments like feeling His presence during worship and taking their daily devotions home, to the simple joy of car rides, conversations with Aliquippa neighbors, and inside jokes like "YMCA bathroom moments" that you just had to be there to understand.
Looking back on June, it’s clear our students had fun, served selflessly, experienced Jesus, and grew in deep, meaningful ways.
| | | “I want to be BRAVE” -Alaina Thorne | | | | |
