It All Began With One Family

We believe it takes a village to end childhood hunger. That’s why our family is fighting this growing problem in our own communities in Portage, Stark and Summit counties. By working closely with school districts in the area and the counties at large, we can beat this epidemic. We each bring our own strengths to the fight against hunger. Read below to learn more about each of ours.

The Ben Curtis Family Foundation core team, Sara, Diane, Candace and Ben
Ben Curtis, former PGA golfer and co-founder of the Ben Curtis Family Foundation

Ben Curtis

Founder

Ben Curtis started playing golf at the age of three in Ostrander, Ohio. His grandfather built the local golf course in town and his parents still work there today. Ben came to Kent in 1996 to play golf at Kent State University under renowned head coach Herb Page. He was a three-time All-American and graduated in 2000. This is also where he met his wife Candace. Playing golf has presented a lot of opportunities to Ben but starting the Ben Curtis Family Foundation has been the most fulfilling of them all.

Candace Curtis, co-founder of the Ben Curtis Family Foundation and wife of former PGA golfer Ben Curtis

Candace Curtis

Founder and Executive Director

Candace Curtis played golf at Kent State University, where she met her husband Ben and graduated in 2002. She is a mother of two high school students who attend the schools that the Ben Curtis Family Foundation serves. This gives Candace the opportunity to see,  firsthand, the need for food to be sent home throughout the school year and over long weekends. 

Candace manages the corporate direction and strategy for BCFF. She works to share our vision with the communities we serve as well as many neighboring communities. Awareness is key for support and she will talk to anyone who will listen about how they can help. She maintains relationships within local schools to aid in the success of our programs there, and oversees marketing and event planning.

Sara Beatty, Communications Coordinator/Photographer for the Ben Curtis Family Foundation

Sara Beatty

Chief Operating Officer

Sara graduated from Kent State University in 2003 with a business degree. She is the mother of two middle school-aged children in a school that the Ben Curtis Family Foundation serves. Sara handles the day-to-day operations of the foundation. She is also the liaison for all of our volunteers. She coordinates sign-ups for events and Birdie Bags, as well as our monthly newsletter.

Diane Beatty, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Ben Curtis Family Foundation

Diane Beatty

Bookkeeper & Audit Coordinator

Diane, or “Gigi,” was born and raised in Kent. She is a mother of two and a grandmother of four. Diane worked in Kent City Schools for many years and witnessed the need for more to be done about food insecurity. Diane handles donations and accounting for the foundation. She makes sure that we maximize profits and that as much as possible goes back to the children we serve.

Nicole Cross

Assistant Marketing & Event Coordinator

Nicole attends Kent State University and will graduate with her Bachelors of Business Administration in Spring 2025. She is a marketing major with a minor in nonprofit studies. Nicole handles the marketing campaigns, and more specifically the social media image and impact of the organization. She also assists with the planning process and execution of the fundraising events throughout the year.

Our Why

The core mission of the Ben Curtis Family Foundation is fighting to help alleviate childhood hunger. Our Birdie Bag Program, a weekend feeding program for children, helps drive our mission and gives purpose to our why.

Our Core Values

  • Committed and Confident
  • Honest and Authentic
  • Partnership
  • Efficient and Exceptional 
  • Appreciative

Join Us

Join our family in the fight against hunger. Together, we can make sure students in our communities never have to learn on empty stomachs! Click below to get started.