Fundamental to Liberty HealthShare’s identity is the mission to be a force for good: in the lives of our members, our local community, and the world. This aspiration has been expressed through the multiple arms of Liberty HealthShare’s Sharing Hearts Fund.
What began as a charitable program seeking to support pediatric wellness needs for Stark County, Ohio families, funds for which are generated through grants and other investments separate and distinct from member SharePower and the organization's operations as a healthcare sharing ministry, has blossomed into a multi-faceted, multi-county operation.
The two newest iterations of the Sharing Hearts Fund have sought to support two distinct populations, families experiencing significant medical challenges with their children on the one hand and the local church’s efforts to serve and love those in their communities on the other.
Akron Children’s, located in the heart of Summit County, Ohio, has long been considered one of not just the country’s, but the world’s premier pediatric health organizations.
“Supporting families during difficult times is at the heart of the Sharing Hearts Fund mission,” said Dorsey Morrow, chief executive officer of Liberty HealthShare. “We are honored to support Akron Children’s and continue to reflect our desire to be a force for good in our community.”
Liberty HealthShare has supplied a $200,000 gift that will provide financial assistance to Stark and Summit County, Ohio families who are struggling with pediatric medical expenses, the first portion of which has already been dispersed. The impact of this gift has only just begun.
“This investment will help remove financial barriers that can stand in the way of a child’s care and provide meaningful relief to families when they need it most,” said Christoper Gessner, president and chief executive officer of Akron Children’s.
Liberty HealthShare knows that when a family is going through a difficult time, swathed in uncertainty, the last thing they should be worrying about is how they’re going to afford treatment. This gift, along with curated “share packages” full of comforting items to remind patients and their families that they aren’t walking alone, is a tangible testament to Liberty HealthShare’s belief in sharing one another’s burdens.
Sharing one another’s burdens is of course rooted in Galatians 6:2, and Liberty HealthShare doesn’t see this mandate as an optional recommendation, but as a non-negotiable responsibility. Sharing Hearts for the Church, the newest arm of the Sharing Hearts Fund, seeks to carry that responsibility to the capital “C” Church, not one specific Christian denomination.
With $100,000 available in the form of 20 grants of up to $5,000 dollars, Sharing Hearts for the Church will provide churches in up to nine Ohio counties financial support in their mission to love and serve those in their communities. This can occur through anything from food drives and ministry to the homeless to school supply support and benevolence funds.
“These grants are designed to strengthen ministries already making a difference while encouraging partnerships that can multiply their impact,” said Joshua Grubbs, Sharing Hearts for the Church coordinator. “We hope churches across our region will see this as an opportunity to expand work they’re already doing, or to start an initiative they haven’t been able to get off the ground yet.”
Launched at a faith breakfast in early August 2026, the window for applications was open until October 1. Churches from across Northeast Ohio applied for funding, and an application review committee made up of Liberty HealthShare staff, local non-profit leaders, and pastors are now deliberating on funding decisions.
“The response to Sharing Hearts for the Church has been nothing short of stellar,” said Morrow. “We believe being a force for good means recognizing that some of the most important work in our communities is already happening in church fellowship halls, food pantries, classrooms, shelters, and neighborhoods.”
With funding disbursement to begin during the 2026 Christmas season, the impact of this newest Sharing Hearts initiative will be felt far and wide through Northeast Ohio. When the Church takes seriously the need to be the hands and feet of Christ, Liberty HealthShare believes that lives are changed.
These positive impacts are just one part of all the reasons it is exciting to be part of the Liberty HealthShare family.