Calm Canvas Wins FedEx Award for Mental Health Innovation


07/29/2025


FedEx Honors Calm Canvas with 2025 Global Possibilities Award at Future Bound
In observance of World Youth Skills Day and Chronic Illness Awareness Month, FedEx proudly shines a spotlight on Calm Canvas—a group of young innovators from Ohio who received the 2025 Global Possibilities Award at Future Bound by Junior Achievement. Calm Canvas offers a distinctive paint-by-numbers experience that blends artistic expression with evidence-based stress and anxiety management techniques.

The students behind Calm Canvas have firsthand experience with chronic illness and aim to foster understanding and support through their product. Their mission is to help others facing similar challenges feel less alone and to cultivate empathy among the broader community.

FedEx has partnered with Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide for over four decades to inspire and nurture the entrepreneurial talents of youth worldwide. JA is the largest global organization focused on equipping young people with the tools to manage their finances, make informed academic decisions, and succeed in their careers.

Each June, JA USA organizes Future Bound - a major youth entrepreneurship event. The 2025 gathering, held at Georgia State University in Atlanta, welcomed over 300 high school students from across the United States. Participants took part in four competitions: the JA Company of the Year Competition, JA Social Innovation Challenge, JA Stock Market Challenge, and JA Titan Challenge, competing for scholarships, awards, and national acclaim.

As part of the Company of the Year competition, FedEx presents the Global Possibilities Award to the student-led venture that best embodies the values of global innovation, new market connectivity, community impact, and sustainability.

Meet Calm Canvas: 2025 FedEx Global Possibilities Award Winner
Hailing from Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio, the seven-member Calm Canvas team set out to create a meaningful solution to growing mental health concerns. Their aim is to empower individuals to build emotional strength and prioritize self-care.

With stress and anxiety among the leading contributors to suicide—claiming over 800,000 lives each year—the team is passionate about making a difference. Their solution: a therapeutic paint-by-numbers kit, where each color represents a proven coping method, such as deep breathing, gratitude exercises, and mindfulness practices.

Unlike many student companies, Calm Canvas produced their product entirely by hand. From original artwork by COO and lead artist Peyton Craig to in-house printing and packaging, every step was managed by the team.

They also demonstrated exceptional skill in marketing and outreach, building partnerships and engaging communities to spread awareness of their mission. Their content has reached audiences in over 25 countries, garnering more than 25 million views across social platforms.

Beyond sales, Calm Canvas is committed to giving back. Ten percent of profits go toward mental health initiatives, including donations to Akron Children’s Inpatient Psychiatric Center. Their efforts help fund education, resources, and support systems for those navigating mental health challenges.

Josh Lehman, President of Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, praised the team, stating, “We are extremely proud of Calm Canvas and all they’ve accomplished through the JA Company Program. Their creativity, collaboration, and drive are a testament to experiential learning. The FedEx Global Possibilities Award is a well-deserved honor and a stepping stone for future success. With support from companies like FedEx, young entrepreneurs are empowered to dream boldly and achieve even more.”

Peyton Craig expressed deep gratitude, saying, “We’re incredibly thankful to FedEx and everyone involved for recognizing and supporting our work. It’s amazing to see a company of their scale championing youth entrepreneurship. This award is more than a trophy—it’s a powerful reminder that they believe in the next generation of changemakers.”

Click  here to know more about Calm Canvas.