Rebecca Klug | Delaware Community Foundation

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Caesar Rodney Rotary Fund Accepting Grant Applications for 2020 Projects Serving At-Risk Youth in New Castle County

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Wednesday, October 16th, 2019

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The Caesar Rodney Rotary Foundation (CRRF) New Castle County Youth Empowerment Fund at the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) will accept grant applications Oct. 15-Nov. 15, 2019.

The grant maximum is $2,500 and is available only to New Castle County nonprofit organizations serving youth and young adults ages birth through 25 years who are underserved and at risk for not having the skills and support for a self-sufficient future.

Grant applications can be accessed through the DCF website, delcf.org/grants. Selections will be made by Dec.6.

The CRRF was formed in 2018, as a means for the Caesar Rodney Rotary Club to accelerate the mission of educating the community and addressing the needs of youth at risk in New Castle County, Delaware. Educating the community includes providing public awareness of the need as well as encouraging volunteer opportunities to address the needs. More information about the CRRF can be found at crrfoundation.org.

This year, the Caesar Rodney Rotary Club is celebrating 30 years of “Service before Self.” The club meets Fridays at 7:30 a.m. at the University and Whist Club, 805 N. Broom Street, Wilmington. More information about the Caesar Rodney Rotary Club can be found at portal.clubrunner.ca/7000.

Informal conversations in an auditorium during the DCF's Latino Communities in Sussex County event

New DCF Report Highlights Complexities and Contributions of Latino Communities in Sussex County

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Wednesday, October 9th, 2019

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At its Oct. 7 Focus Conversation event in Georgetown, held in partnership with La Colectiva de Delaware, the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) released Perspectives on the Latino Population in Sussex County, Delaware, the result of a research project commissioned by the DCF and conducted by researchers at the University of Delaware. The report will serve as a resource for nonprofit organizations, funders, community leaders and others striving to engage and advance this important segment of the community.

The report shows that, with a population of over 20,000, Sussex County Latino communities contribute more than $50 million in tax revenue to Delaware annually. There are more than 800 Latino-owned businesses in the county. Sussex County Latinos are buying homes, holding jobs, and going to school and church. However, they still face challenges related to language and cultural differences, unfamiliarity with U.S. systems and processes, immigration status and more.

The research team identified important moments that can be leveraged by community members, nonprofits, and pro bono services to build opportunity, including through culturally sensitive and bilingual programs and services for immigration assistance, college and financial aid navigation, public transportation improvements, home buying, business training, and banking.

DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay describes the report’s findings as encouraging and inspiring. “Sussex County’s vibrant and diverse Latino community is bringing new passion to the belief in the American Dream.”

The report was researched and written by Drs. Jennifer Fuqua and April Veness at the University of Delaware with the support of a grant from CFLeads to the DCF. The study was completed in collaboration with Dr. Christine Cannon, executive director of the Arsht-Cannon Fund at the DCF; La Colectiva de Delaware; La Esperanza; and many other partners.

For more information and to view the complete report and accompanying materials, visit delcf.org/sussex-latinos. Report materials are available in both Spanish and English.

Photo by John Mollura Photography

DCF Welcomes Satheesh Nadarajah as its New Accountant

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Friday, October 4th, 2019

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The Delaware Community Foundation is pleased to welcome Satheesh Nadarajah as an accountant. As part of the DCF’s finance team, Nadarajah will be the point of contact for various fundholders to process grant requests and resolve all accounting questions.

Nadarajah immigrated to the United States five years ago from Sri Lanka, where he worked as a national administrator for Handicap International and an accountant for World Vision International and the Family Rehabilitation Centre. After working at Bank of America in Newark, Del., for four years, Nadarajah began to further pursue a career in accounting. He holds an international Professional Qualification in management accounting from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK, and is currently in the process of obtaining his professional membership as a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) from the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

“I am so excited to have found an opportunity at the DCF to return to working with philanthropy and nonprofit organizations,” Nadarajah said.

“As a key member of our finance team, Nadarajah will play an important role in helping donors support the charitable causes they care about,” said DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay. “He shares our organizational values and is committed to helping us fulfill our mission to improve quality of life in Delaware.”

Delaware Community Foundation Announces 2020 Capital Grants

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Wednesday, September 25th, 2019

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Beginning Monday, Sept. 30, Delaware nonprofits are invited to apply for the Delaware Community Foundation’s 2020 Capital Grants.

These grants support projects and organizations working to build opportunity so all Delaware residents can overcome barriers to success, benefit equitably and thrive. Supported capital projects will have a lasting, positive impact on the population or region served by the applicant organization.

The DCF defines capital as “construction, major renovation or repair of buildings, and/or the purchase of land.” Capital Grants typically range from $5,000 to $20,000, with a maximum award of $25,000. Only 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations within the State of Delaware and those outside the state that benefit Delawareans are eligible to apply.

Applications must be submitted online at delcf.org/grants and must be received no later than 4 p.m., Nov. 8, 2019.

Over the years, the DCF has awarded nearly $5 million in capital and equipment grants, funded through the State of Delaware Fund and the DCF’s unrestricted and field-of-interest funds. Last year, the DCF allocated $256,000 in Capital Grants.

“Capital Grants enable nonprofit organizations to complete work that will benefit their communities for years to come,” DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “Each year, we receive dozens of applications, indicating a real need for help with capital projects that nonprofits’ funding doesn’t usually cover.”

Workshops

The DCF will host two optional workshops to help applicants become familiar with the program and online application. Participants will leave with clear expectations of the next steps in applying for funding. Workshops are free, but registration is required at delcf.org/2020-capital-grants-workshops.

• Georgetown Public Library, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, 3 PM
• Wilmington Public Library, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, 10 AM

For more information, please contact Sarah Grunewald, 302.504.5267.

Photo: 2019 Capital Grant Recipient Southern Delaware Therapeutic & Recreational Horseback Riding
(John Mollura Photography)

Brittany Ostasewski holding a photo of the Tassones

Scholarship Recipient Meets Benefactor Moments Before His Fatal Heart Attack

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Tuesday, September 24th, 2019

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It is a testament to Lawrence Tassone’s life that his final act was one of generosity and philanthropy.

Earlier this year, Brittany Ostasewski, a young nursing student at Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown, was awarded the Delaware Community Foundation’s Elisabeth S. Tassone Oncology Scholarship.

Lawrence, who named the scholarship after his beloved wife after she passed away in 2017, loved to meet the scholarship award winners, and was looking forward to getting to know Ostasewski and hear about her career plans. On Aug. 16, they were scheduled to meet on the Del Tech campus for lunch and a photograph.

Tragically, shortly after Ostasewski met Tassone in Del Tech’s nursing office, he suffered a major heart attack and was rushed to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital.

Stabilized, he was transferred to Peninsula Regional Medical Center, but suffered another heart attack and kidney failure there. He died on Aug. 20.

Ostasewski never got a chance to tell Tassone – “Tazz” to his friends – what his scholarship meant to her.

“I would have liked to thank Mr. Tassone for the honor in receiving this most generous gift in remembrance of his wife,” she said. “In the short time meeting him, I realized how much he truly loved her. This great gift will help me further my path in nursing. I will forever remember both their legacies and the good deeds of the Tassone family.”

After her graduation in May, Ostasewski will go on to complete her bachelor of science in nursing degree at Del Tech.

The DCF awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships each year, thanks to generous donors like Lawrence Tassone who are passionate about education. For more information about DCF scholarships, visit delcf.org/scholarships.

Donations in memory of Lawrence and his wife, Elisabeth, can be made at delcf.org/tassone.

Judge Gregory M. Sleet Joins DCF Board of Directors

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Friday, August 23rd, 2019

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The Delaware Community Foundation welcomes Judge Gregory M. Sleet as a new member of its Board of Directors, filling a newly vacant seat.

The first African American to be appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, Sleet served first as judge, chief judge, and later senior judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. He served for the District Court for over twenty years before retiring in the fall of 2018.

Born in New York City, N.Y., Sleet graduated from Hampton University, then earned his juris doctor from Rutgers University School of Law where he was an Earl Warren Scholar.

He began his career as an assistant public defender for the Defender Association of Philadelphia, and continued to practice law in Philadelphia until 1990, when he served as deputy attorney general for the Delaware Department of Justice, later joining the law department at Hercules Incorporated.

Sleet has a wide range of law experience, including civil and criminal litigation and corporate law. He also served as an adjunct professor teaching patent litigation at Rutgers Law School, Widener University Delaware Law School and Duke University School of Law.

Sleet was vice chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, where he supported the U.S. Attorney General in policy and strategy for the U.S. Department of Justice. Sleet is also the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the NAACP, Central Delaware Branch, was named Delawarean of the Year for Delaware Today, and was named one of Rutgers University’s “Fifty of the Finest” graduates.

Sleet received the 2014 award from the New York Intellectual Property Law Association for outstanding public service as well as the 2014 award from the Philadelphia Intellectual Law Association for achievement in the field of intellectual property. This year, Sleet was awarded the Jefferson Medal for exceptional contribution to the field of intellectual property by the New Jersey Intellectual Property Law Association. Next month he will be inducted into the Rutgers African American Hall of Fame.

“Judge Sleet has demonstrated his dedication to public service in over two decades of experience,” DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “We are honored to welcome him to the DCF board.”

African American man reading a book outdoors

Grants Available from African American Empowerment Fund of Delaware

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Thursday, August 1st, 2019

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Delaware nonprofits are invited to apply for grants from the African American Empowerment Fund of Delaware (AAEFD), a giving circle of the Delaware Community Foundation.

The grantmaking focus area for 2019 will be education, and more specifically, higher education access and retention. Grant awards will be up to $2,500, and funding requests should not exceed this amount.

Each grant request must be submitted online through the DCF’s portal. Applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., August 31, 2019.

All applicants will be notified of decisions by October 31, 2019. For more information, please email AAEFD99@gmail.com.

Winners of the DCF and Mikva Challenge's Project Soapbox competition on stage

Youth Speak Out on Local Issues in Project Soapbox Competition

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Monday, June 17th, 2019

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The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF), in partnership with Rodel, teamed up with Mikva Challenge in sponsoring a competition for Delaware youth to present their ideas on local issues. On Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at Cab Calloway School of the Arts, six middle schools participated in the Project Soapbox competition.

Mikva Challenge is a nonprofit organization that started as a volunteer group working on an electoral engagement project in four schools. It has since flourished into a dynamic range of “Action Civics” programs. Mikva Challenge created Project Soapbox as a platform for underrepresented youth to participate in civic conversations as a means to empower youth and promote an equitable society.

“If we’re going to address the opportunity gap in America, we need to provide additional support to kids who aren’t getting it at home or in their neighborhood,” DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “Most importantly, we need them to know their voices matter and are heard.”

Students researched an issue within their local community, then crafted and presented an original speech. The audience included a panel of judges made up of Delaware educators, philanthropists and other state leaders including Rep. Kim Williams, Rep. Gerald Brady, Rep. Mike Smith, Sen. Tizzy Lockman and Sen. Anthony Delcollo.

Eighty students courageously participated in the semifinals at Cab Calloway, highlighting issues such as the opioid crisis and teen pregnancy. Ava Barton from Cab Calloway took first place in the final round with her speech on net neutrality, while the second and third place winners focused on human trafficking and gun violence.

“The future of our country, our city, our community has to do with people knowing how to get engaged with their communities,” Comstock-Gay said. “Project Soapbox is teaching kids how they can make change real and becoming confident in their voice is an essential part of that.”

DCF Awards $256,000 in Grants

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Wednesday, May 15th, 2019

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From vocational training for at-risk youth to therapeutic horseback riding for children with disabilities, this year’s capital grants from the Delaware Community Foundation will benefit thousands of Delawareans statewide.

The DCF has awarded a total of $256,000 in 2019 capital grants to 15 organizations around the state. This year’s recipients are:

2019 Capital Grants

Read more about the recipients

The Challenge Program – $25,000
To support construction of a new furniture manufacturing facility. The Challenge Program provides vocational training for Delaware’s at-risk youth.

Downtown Visions – $19,000
To enable safety updates, space redesign and technology improvements to their offices. Downtown Visions creates a quality environment for people who live, work and visit downtown Wilmington.

Bellevue Community Center – $19,119
To support the installation of a new state-of-the-art security system. Bellevue Community Center provides affordable and accessible educational, recreational, self-enrichment and family support services.

Family Promise of Northern New Castle County – $14,000
To support important upgrades to essential infrastructure at both of their facilities. Family Promise works to prevent and end homelessness for families.

Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center – $15,000
To replace a playground and the primary HVAC system and for other necessary building upgrades. Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center provides supplemental educational activities for youth in the Hilltop area of Wilmington.

Survivors of Abuse in Recovery (SOAR) – $22,140
To eliminate the flooding and moisture problem in the basement of its North Wilmington location. SOAR provides professional mental health services to victims of sexual trauma and their families.

West End Neighborhood House, Inc. – $20,000
To support necessary repairs and upgrades at six transitional residences. West End Neighborhood House works to help former foster care youth aging out of the system achieve self-sufficiency.

Wilmington Senior Center – $10,000
To support new flooring at its facility. The Wilmington Senior Center provides services, opportunities and partnerships for older adults.

Delaware Public Media – $17,000
To support weatherization of Delaware Public Media’s downlink satellite and a back-up generator at the transmitter site. Delaware Public Media provides noncommercial news, information and digital content.

Mom’s House Inc. of Dover – $9,600
To replace the roof. Mom’s House provides free childcare to low-income, single parents wishing to continue their education.

CHEER, Inc. – $23,170
To purchase and install a walk-in refrigeration unit. CHEER provides programs and services to help aging Sussex County residents maintain their independence.

La Red Health Center – $20,000
To support dental suite renovation costs. La Red provides quality patient-centered care to the diverse members of the Sussex County community.

Laurel Public Library – $12,900
To support upgrades to better accommodate children with autism, sensory issues or limited mobility. The Laurel Public Library works to meet the educational, recreational and informational needs of the community.

Southern Delaware Therapeutic & Recreational Horseback Riding (SDTR) – $14,000
To support the installation of a fire protection system. SDTR works to improve the physical and emotional well-being of children and adults living with disabilities.

Sussex Community Crisis Housing Services, Inc. – $15,000
To support the renovation of the Crisis House kitchen. Sussex Community Crisis Housing Services provides emergency and transitional housing to the homeless.

Since 1989, the Delaware Community Foundation has distributed nearly $7 million in capital grants. These are funded by the Delaware Forever Fund, which consists of gifts made to the DCF for discretionary grantmaking.

Capital grants support projects that have a lasting, positive impact on the population served by the organization. They may be used to fund construction, renovation or repair of buildings, and/or land purchases. Capital grants typically range from $5,000 to $20,000, but can be awarded for up to $25,000.

“We are so glad we can help nonprofit organizations invest in their infrastructure so they can continue to provide services,” DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “These capital grants allow organizations to make a long-term difference.”

Photo credit: Andre L. Smith Photography

DCF Convenes 12 Local Leaders for Community Equity Project

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Monday, May 13th, 2019

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On May 5, a cohort of 12 local philanthropic leaders gathered for the first time to launch the Delaware Community Foundation’s (DCF’s) Community Equity Project (CEP). The CEP brings together a cohort of 12 leaders with experience addressing equity issues to define a shared vision and set of priorities to address lasting challenges in our communities.

A focus on equity is crucial to building opportunity for all. There is a growing opportunity gap in this country – an increasing imbalance in the opportunities people have to succeed. Many Delawareans start with so few opportunities and face so many challenges that they have little chance of achieving educational and economic success, no matter how hard they work.

The CEP cohort will explore questions such as: What does our community mean when we call for increased equity? Where should funders focus their resources? What policies and systemic barriers to equity need to be addressed and how? What are the most promising strategies that will effect real, positive change in Delaware? How can we collaborate to activate and scale these innovative strategies?

From now through December 2019, the cohort will share perspectives and history, listen and learn from lived experience and local and national voices, and ultimately define goals and aspirations for a more equitable Wilmington along with best practices or innovative strategies that might get us there. This collective impact process will be facilitated by Social Contract, an organization that was founded to help communities solve complex social challenges.

“We believe that the American dream is worth pursuing,” said DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay, “and we are in search of strategies that can make that dream accessible to all.”

Cohort members are:

• Daniel Atkins, executive director of the Community Legal Aid Society
• Rosa M. Colon-Kolacko, secretary and past president of the board of the Latin American Community Center
• Rebecca Cotto, director of Racial & Social Justice at YWCA Delaware
• Dorothy Dillard, director of the Center for Neighborhood Revitalization and Research at Delaware State University
• Kim Graham, education director at the Christina Cultural Arts Center
• Dr. Marshala Lee, family medicine physician and director of the Harrington Value Institute Community Partnership Fund at Christiana Care Health System
• Shyanne Miller, board president of the Coalition to Dismantle the New Jim Crow and program officer at Rodel
• Michael Minor, vice president of operations at the Central Baptist Community Development Corp and director of Urban Acres Produce
• Cimone Philpotts, member of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and professor of Public Policy Analysis serving as a researcher for the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission
• Jaclyn Quinn, deputy director of the Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council Inc. (DCRAC) and owner of The Law Office of Jaclyn Quinn, LLC
• Shardae White, community relations manager for REACH Riverside and direct case manager for students at Kuumba Academy and Great Oaks for Delaware Division of Health and Social Services
• Christian Willauer, coordinator for Wilmington Neighborhoods Coalition

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