Supporting the Workforce Behind the Counter, the Table, and the Chair
When a medical crisis hits, the David C. Howard Foundation is here to bridge the financial gap. We provide critical medical care grants to the dedicated service, hospitality, and beauty professionals who take care of our community every day—ensuring that a health emergency doesn't jeopardize your livelihood.
Based in Northeast Ohio | Serving Hospitality & Personal Care Workers Nationwide
Deeply Rooted in Stark County. Built to Support Workers Everywhere.
Hospitality & Food Service
Providing medical financial relief to front-of-house and back-of-house restaurant personnel, kitchen staff, servers, bartenders, hosts, and catering teams.
Behind the Chair Outreach
Providing a critical safety net for the hands-on beauty and personal care artists who keep our community looking and feeling its best—including licensed cosmetologists, hair stylists, barbers, estheticians, and tattoo professionals.
Founded in Canton and deeply rooted in Northeast Ohio, The David C. Howard Foundation was born out of a commitment to care for the people who take care of everyone else. While our heart and history belong to Stark County and Ohio, our mission has no borders.
Whether you are mixing drinks in Canton, working a kitchen line in Cleveland, running a salon in Columbus, or serving guests anywhere across the nation, The David C. Howard Foundation stands behind you. If you work in food service, hospitality, or personal care and are facing a medical crisis, our doors and grant applications are open to you, no matter where you call home.
See Our ProgramsGuided by Experience. Accountable to Our Community.
We aren't managed from a distant corporate boardroom. Our board, medical reviewers, and founding team have spent decades in healthcare, kitchens, behind bars, on the floor, and behind the chair. We know the realities of these industries because we've lived them—and we are committed to managing every dollar with total transparency and care.
Allen West
Board President & Co-FounderAllen leads the foundation's strategic direction, governance, and long-term vision. Bringing over three decades of healthcare, human resources administration, and management experience, he ensures the organization operates with sound oversight, fiscal responsibility, and strong community stewardship. Allen co-founded the foundation to provide a dependable safety net for working people, using his background in organizational leadership to keep assistance direct, compassionate, and focused on dignity.
Michael Eastman
Vice President of Operations & Co-FounderMichael directs the foundation's day-to-day operations, grant workflows, and regulatory compliance. Drawing on a background in clinical operations management and a decade of hands-on experience as an EMT, he manages the intake and review process to keep grant turnarounds fast, practical, and accountable. Michael works directly with healthcare providers and community partners to ensure applicants get the medical care and prescription support they need without unnecessary red tape.
Vallari Eastman
Board LiaisonVallari serves as the operational bridge between the foundation's board of directors, leadership team, and community initiatives. Bringing a rigorous analytical background from the biotechnology and biomedical research sector, she supports organizational governance through workflow coordination, grant evaluation, and structured administrative oversight. Vallari is dedicated to health equity and worker support, ensuring foundation initiatives run efficiently and remain closely aligned with the board's mission to deliver direct, practical medical assistance.
Clinical Review Team
Dr. Ciera Sears, MD & Paula Moore, ParamedicOur independent Medical Review Board evaluates all incoming grant applications to verify clinical necessity and emergency scope. Led by Dr. Ciera Sears, MD, and veteran paramedic Paula Moore, this panel ensures funding goes directly toward legitimate, high-impact medical care expenses.
Board of Directors
Volunteer Advisory BoardOur governance board consists of local business owners, healthcare professionals, and industry veterans who serve entirely without compensation. They oversee financial stewardship, policy decisions, and program integrity to guarantee that public grant funding serves its intended purpose.
Our Commitment to Funders & Donors
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity Status | EIN: 41-5178258
- Clinical Verification: Independent medical review on all grant requests to ensure legitimate clinical need.
- Financial Integrity: Zero-compensation executive structure for maximum grant impact.
- Transparency First: Annual financial summaries and IRS filings available upon request.
How We Help
Providing critical support when it matters most
Medical Co-Pays
We cover medical co-pays and deductibles so hospitality workers can access the healthcare they need without financial stress.
Recovery Period Support
Short-term help covering lost wages during a medical recovery — typically up to two weeks. This isn't rent or utility assistance; it's here to keep a worker afloat long enough to get the care they need and get back on their feet. As funds allow, we're glad to help with other bills too, but our priority is getting people through treatment and back to work.
Prescription & Medication Assistance
Help covering the cost of medications and prescriptions tied to a health-related hardship, so workers can stay on treatment, avoid complications, and minimize time away from the job.
Insurance Premium Assistance
Help covering a health insurance premium payment during a medical hardship, so coverage doesn't lapse right when it's needed most. Focused on keeping workers insured through treatment and recovery — not an ongoing subsidy.
How to Apply for Assistance
Applying for help is simple and confidential. Follow these three steps to get started on your request today.
Visit the Client Portal
Click the Client Portal button to get started — it's the secure gateway where all applications are submitted and tracked.
Create Your Account
Sign up with your email to create a free, secure account. This keeps your information private and lets you track your request.
Complete the Forms
Fill out the application, upload any supporting documents, and submit. Our team reviews every request with dignity and urgency.
Our Impact
Grants Issued to Local Service & Hospitality Workers
Direct Medical Expense Allocation
Fast-Track Application Review
Every dollar donated goes directly toward easing the financial burden of healthcare for hospitality workers in our community. We keep our overhead low and our commitment high — because we know these workers by name, we know their stories, and we know what it costs when help does not come in time. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier service-industry community — one worker, one family, one act of generosity at a time.
Make a Difference Today
Annual Giving Program
MonthlySet up a recurring monthly payment to provide sustained, reliable support for workers in need. Monthly donors are the backbone of our mission.
No overhead. No runaround. Just help, delivered with dignity. Together, we make sure the hardest-working people in the room are never left to face a health crisis alone.
Join Annual GivingReach Out to Us
Whether you need assistance, want to volunteer, or have questions about our programs, we would love to hear from you.
Email Us Directly
vallari@dchbehindyou.org