Archive for Kent

New Kent & Sussex Youth Philanthropy Boards Selected

Posted by Allison Levine 
· Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 
· No Comments

Forty Kent and Sussex County high school seniors and juniors will experience the triumphs and challenges of being philanthropists this year through the Delaware Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Board (YPB).

Like their counterpart in New Castle County, the Kent and Sussex County YPBs include students from public, private and parochial schools. The DCF gives the Kent and Sussex County student boards $10,000 each to award to local charities. The students work together to choose a focus area, solicit and review grant applications, conduct site visits and decide how to distribute the money to have the greatest impact.

Grant applications will be available at delcf.org/grants in late December and due in January.

“The DCF’s Youth Philanthropy Board is one of the most fun and effective programs we run in the community,” said Bill Allan, vice president of philanthropy for Southern Delaware. “The students learn to see the needs in their communities and work hard to find ways to prioritize and address those needs. It gives the students a unique experience they would not otherwise have at this young age.”

Kent County YPB

This year’s YPB participants are:

Kent County (with Congresswoman Lisa Blunt-Rochester)

Destinee Osei-Afriyie, Sr., Polytech

Dayuna Harmon, Sr., Polytech

Silvana Nasim, Sr. Caesar Rodney

Micaela Maxwell, Jr., Caesar Rodney

Meghana Lodhavia, Sr., Dover

Daniel Shockley, Sr. Milford

Sussex County YPB

Marina Spangler, Sr., Dover

Mia Davis, Jr., Smyrna

Lauren Iglio, Sr., Smyrna

Conner Cooper, Jr., Caesar Rodney

Bethany Kline, Jr., Calvary Christian

Zach Mazuchowski, Sr., St. Thomas More

Kaitlyn Crowe, Jr., Dover

Jessica Simpson, Sr., St. Thomas More

Kristin Keller, Sr., Calvary Christian

Garrett Geidel, Sr. Caesar Rodney

Leslie Webb, Sr., Lake Forest

Not Pictured:
Raven Gaeta, Jr. First State Military Academy

Emilee Mills, Jr., Milford

 

Sussex County

Back Row:

Taylor Dade, Jr., Cape Henlopen

Colin Anderson, Sr., Delmarva Christian Academy

Lyncie Etienne,Sr., Laurel

Hayley Wilson, Sr., Sussex Tech

Cailey Murphy, Sr., Sussex Academy

Molly Martiner, Jr. Sussex Academy

Shannon O’Hara, Jr., Sussex Tech

Jackie Cannon, Sr., Cape Henlopen

Alex Reyes, Jr., Sussex Academy

Cade Keeler, Sr. Sussex Central

Kevin Greenlee, Sr., Sussex Central

Aryan Patel, Sr., Delmar

Front Row:

Brendyn Vanderslice, Sr., Laurel

Maddy Lester, Sr., Greenwood Mennonite

Gabby Hudson, Sr., Indian River

Kaylee Hall, Jr., Indian River

Kat Marini, Jr. Worcester Prep

Gabby Morelli, Sr., Delmar

Maddie Betts, Jr., Cape Henlopen

Not shown:

Caden Dickerson, Sr., Seaford

Marley Fishburn, Jr. Seaford

How Two Wooden Ducks Seeded Life-Changing Scholarships: The Story of the John B. and Marion A. Smitheman Fund

Posted by Allison Levine 
· Tuesday, July 10th, 2018 
· No Comments

Edward “Ned” Smitheman was a quiet man who left a remarkable legacy, thanks in large part to two wooden ducks.

Ned Smitheman

Ned Smitheman

An only child, a longtime resident of Dover, and a lifelong bachelor and engineer for the U.S. Army, Smitheman loved to help others. And he has done so countless times, even after his passing 17 years ago.

Born in Haddonfield, New Jersey, Smitheman graduated from the University of Delaware with an engineering degree in 1938 before entering the U.S. Army, where he served gallantly during World War II and the Korean War. An electrical engineer, Smitheman stayed in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers until he retired in 1969.

One day, sometime around 1993, Smitheman was clearing his attic of things he inherited after the death of his parents, John and Marion Smitheman.

He came upon two rare wooden decoy ducks carved by the artist Ira Hudson. He knew he had something special on his hands.

The decoys sold at auction for a total of $90,750.

Smitheman decided to use that money to open an endowed scholarship fund in his parents’ names at the Delaware Community Foundation. The John B. and Marion A. Smitheman Scholarship Fund, which also received proceeds from Smitheman’s estate when he passed in 2001, helps Kent County high school students who want to study engineering.

Now at $1.9 million, the Smitheman Fund has awarded over $130,000 to 52 students since 1994.

Smitheman had no heirs, and his will was executed by his dear friend and neighbor Betty Stevens, who delights in the knowledge that Ned’s generosity will continue in perpetuity.

“He would be so pleased that the DCF has managed his gift so well and that many students are able to fulfill their engineering dreams,” she said. “It is a legacy to him, and I’m certain his parents would be proud.”

The Kids are alright…next generation leadership and the DCF Youth Philanthropy Boards

Posted by Stuart Comstock-Gay 
· Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018 
· No Comments

One of the challenges of every generation is to ensure that succeeding generations are prepared to lead. Whether in our families, our schools, our workplaces, or in community groups, we should all be attentive to inspiring and encouraging new leadership.

At the DCF, one way to watch that work in action is our Youth Philanthropy Boards. And if you’ve ever bemoaned the lack of responsibility and leadership in the “next” generation, these students will make you change your mind.

Each year, DCF invites a student from every high school in the state to participate in YPB in their respective counties. With light touch guidance from DCF staff and volunteer mentors, the youth are in charge.

Each year, these students walk into a room of strangers and begin a process that starts with identifying critical issues, moves on to picking an issue for a grant program, building a grant application form, reviewing applicants, conducting site visits, and then awarding grants – $10,000 each in Kent and Sussex Counties, and $15,000 in New Castle.

From beginning to end, the leadership of the students is inspiring.

It starts with the topics they choose. They don’t flinch at hard topics, but zero in on the needs of modern society.

This year, those topics included mental health and substance abuse counseling (Sussex YPB); support services for at-risk youth, with a preference for programs focusing on substance abuse and/or mental health issues (Kent YPB); and assistance for families or friends after the loss of a loved one through substance abuse, suicide or other tragic circumstances (New Castle YPB).

Site visits are organized and attended by the students.

The decisions about who gets the money are theirs. (Awardees this year included LaRed, Children and Families First and Urban Promise. Check our news release page to see details.)

And the awards program is run by the students.

It’s wonderful stuff.

The YPB program is a great example of how – by giving responsibility and a cause, with some mentoring and assistance, to young people – we can watch next generation leadership develop. Here is an excerpt from comments shared by New Castle YPBer Alivia Scott at the awards ceremony in April.

I am so proud of the work we have been able to do through the YPB and the amazing opportunity it has been itself. It has inspired me to be involved and knowledgeable about issues in our area, to volunteer and make my time worthwhile, and has opened my eyes to those in difficult situations.

Talking with the students up and down the state, the comments were the same. “I thought the adults would tell us what to do, but we were in charge.” “This wasn’t easy.” “We were given the responsibility and we took it.” “I didn’t know that I could do this.” “This was a tremendous learning opportunity.”

This year represented the 19th year of the program. And over that time, the YPB groups have awarded over $480,000 in grants. (Foreshadowing: the 20th year of YPB will take them over half a million in grants!) Scores of nonprofits have received much needed support.

Most importantly, scores of young people have strengthened their leadership skills, and built belief in themselves to make a difference in the world.

Arsht-Cannon Fund Increases Access to Mental Health Services for Delaware Hispanics

Posted by Allison Levine 
· Monday, February 5th, 2018 
· No Comments

With the help of a $75,000 grant from the Arsht-Cannon Fund at the DCF, the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Delaware (NAMI-Delaware) is now helping address the mental health needs of Delaware’s growing Hispanic population by providing bilingual, bicultural services from its new Georgetown office.

This two-year program grant is the latest installment of the Arsht-Cannon Fund’s $200,000 NAMI-Delaware Hispanic Services Initiative, a multi-year investment to provide mental health care for Hispanic adults and families coping with mental illness.

Many Hispanics face mental illness due to high levels of stress for prolonged periods of time, driven by fears about their ability to meet basic needs and potential for separation from loved ones through deportation.

NAMI-DE’s website offers information in Spanish.

Negative effects of mental illness are compounded for Hispanics because of the current political environment, cultural stigmas, and limited access to care, particularly bilingual and culturally sensitive care.

“Mothers started feeling scared,” said Blanca Sandoval, a Spanish-speaking Sussex County native, who directs the NAMI-Delaware Hispanic program. “They started keeping their children out of school. They thought their husbands would be taken off their jobs and they would never see them again.”

Over the past 10 years, the ACF, NAMI-Delaware and several other nonprofits have been working in partnership on a variety of programs to increase access to mental health services to Hispanic families in Kent and Sussex County. This work is part of the ACF’s multimillion-dollar investment in improving quality of life for Hispanic Delawareans.

Now, via NAMI-Delaware’s Georgetown office, Hispanic Delawareans can receive services in their native language. Sandoval is coordinating “Sharing Hope/Compartiendo Esperanza,” a series of Spanish-language presentations about the symptoms of mental illness. She also is working with other nonprofits to develop a sequence of workshops addressing issues that often go hand in hand with mental health needs, such as domestic violence.

Through this outreach, Delaware Hispanics are becoming more familiar with mental health issues and the care available. And most importantly, they are gaining confidence that they are safe because NAMI-Delaware provides confidential services, said Anne Slease, NAMI-Delaware director of advocacy and education.

“Many people stopped seeking help. They stopped seeing doctors. They thought their information would be passed on,” Slease said. “This is a big turning point. This is traction. We’re making connections in the community.”

In addition to building trust and offering Spanish-language services, unique cultural sensitivity is needed to work with the Hispanic population because of the significant stigma around mental health issues, Sandoval said.

“The words mental illness can’t even be mentioned when I talk to people,” she said. “The way I approach people is I tell them we have help for depression or anxiety or trauma.”

As she builds trust through visits to festivals, health fairs, churches and other community events, Sandoval is also searching for volunteers to facilitate and expand the popular support groups. She’s also looking for bilingual counselors and therapists to volunteer to work individually with people who are struggling with their mental health needs.

“It’s really critical to partner with the Arsht-Cannon Fund,” Sandoval said. “We’re getting funding to help a vulnerable population.”

The work to expand mental health services for Hispanics in southern Delaware is just one of many nonprofit programs supported by the Arsht-Cannon Fund, said ACF Executive Director Christine Cannon, Ph.D.

“I am very proud to say that our funding (over $9 million since 2003) has increased the number, the size and the statewide availability of programs/nonprofits that support educational opportunities and healthcare access for Delaware’s growing number of Hispanic families,” Cannon said.

“And in supporting the success of Delaware’s Hispanic families, we’re supporting the success of all Delawareans.”

The Arsht-Cannon Fund is one of the more than 1,200 charitable funds at DCF, all working to make Delaware the best it can be. For information about how you can open your charitable fund at the DCF, contact Joan Hoge-North, 302.504.5224.

Arsht-Cannon logo

Arsht-Cannon Awards $667k+ in Grants to Improve Lives of Hispanics in Delaware

Posted by Allison Levine 
· Monday, November 13th, 2017 
· No Comments

 

Hispanic families in Delaware are benefiting from increased access to education and health care with the support of $677,841 in grants from the Arsht-Cannon Fund (ACF), an endowed fund at the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF). 

Some of the 2017-18 grants were awarded in June and the remainder are being issued this week. Over the past 13 years, the ACF has invested nearly $9 million in Delaware nonprofits focused on education, health care and youth, with a particular focus on improving the lives of Hispanic Delawareans As our Hispanic communities benefit, the quality of life for all Delawareans improves.

1-Immigrant family integration:

Lutheran Church of Our Savior’s English as a Second Language Program – $50,000 (2 years): Helping approximately 150 adults and their children learn to read, write and speak English.

Polytech Adult Education’s Family Literacy Program – $50,000 (2 years): Breaking the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by providing educational opportunities to low-income and immigrant adults and their children.

Latin American Community Center (LACC) English as a Second Language (ESL) and Nurturing Parenting programs – $30,000: Continuing its ESL program and providing a new parenting-skills program.

Friends of Bear Public Library and Friends of Route 9 Library and Innovation Center – $3,500: Offering Plaza Comunitaria program at both libraries that includes basic-, elementary- and intermediate-level school courses in Spanish for immigrants age 15 and over.

Delaware Readiness Teams – $10,000: Translating and disseminating information about early kindergarten registration for Spanish-speaking Latino parents; gathering data to provide help to parents preparing preschoolers for kindergarten.

Friends of Wilmington Parks – $1,800: Buying books in Spanish for preschool and kindergarten nature programs.

Friends of Milton Library and Friends of Garfield Park Library – $5,500: In partnership with the Delaware Hispanic Commission, holding the annual celebration of Latino culture and community at the Milton Library in Sussex County and, for the first time this year, at the new Route 9 Library and Innovation Center in New Castle County.

Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council, Inc.’s ESL & Low Income Tax Clinic – $25,000: Helping Latino immigrant families statewide resolve tax issues.

2-Kindergarten through College Programs that improve life trajectories:

Reading Assist, Inc.’s Reading Corps Reading Intervention Program – $25,000: Recruiting, training and supervising bilingual reading tutors for first- through third-grade students in the Colonial School District.

Sussex Tech Adult Education’s Healthy Snacks for 21st CCLC – $8,500: Providing snacks and food for their after-school programs and field trips.

UrbanPromise Wilmington’s Street Leaders Program – $25,000: Increasing the number of Wilmington’s Hispanic youth leading and participating in their afterschool and summer programs, which focus on developing teens personally and academically in a nurturing environment.

Summer Learning Collaborative, Inc. – $36,000: Expanding this successful summer camp program, focused on reducing the summer learning gap for middle school-aged children in low income families, to Sussex County during the summer of 2017.

La Esperanza Community Center’s Youth Immigration Advocacy Program – $20,000: Planning and piloting a Youth Advocacy Program to support the development, academic success, and rights of Latino youth in its surrounding Georgetown community.

PeaceWork, Ltd. – $10,000: Expanding programs to provide arts, yoga and gardening activities to at-risk youth living at the New Castle County Youth Detention Center.

Leading Youth through Empowerment (LYTE) – $12,000: Planning to expand capacity to recruit, enroll, and engage Latino 8th through 12th grade students in their college access afterschool and summer program.

TeenSHARP Inc.’s College Access Ambassador Program – $20,000: Expanding and recruiting additional Latino high school students into its program, which expands college access for students of color.

TeenSHARP Inc.’s Delaware Goes to College Academies – $34,000: Providing academic advising and coaching for college admission for up to 600 Delaware qualified youth during the 2017-18 school year.

Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington’s Hispanic Graduate Support Program – $20,000 (2 years): Enabling Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington to provide continuing guidance to their middle school graduates (and their Spanish-speaking parents), through high school and college.

3-Increased Access to Quality Bilingual Mental/Behavioral Healthcare:

National Alliance on Mental Illness Delaware’s Hispanic Services Initiative – $75,000 (2 years): Expanding outreach to the Hispanic community to increase knowledge of mental illness and reduce barriers to access of care in Kent and Sussex County.

Family Counseling Center of St. Paul’s – $30,000: Educating Latino families in Wilmington on access to mental health care, expanding capacity for screenings to better direct clients, and training new clinicians.

Ronald McDonald House of Delaware’s Housing Program for Delaware’s Hispanic Families – $10,000: Expanding support services for Latino families staying at the Ronald McDonald House while their child is receiving care at a local hospital.

Latino Mental Health Workforce Program – $16,500: Providing partial tuition assistance for three bilingual graduate students, who have committed to work as mental health professionals in Delaware after graduation.

Sussex County Health Coalition – $50,000:  Facilitating an environmental health assessment focused on behavioral health and expanding school-based mental/behavioral programs to Latino students.

4-Advocacy for Education Achievement and Health Equity

Rodel Foundation’s Social Emotional Learning Landscape Study – $20,000: Providing critical information on Delaware’s SEL efforts, student needs, evidence-based practices, evaluation measures, and advice to scale up successful efforts and align with needs.

Rodel Foundation’s English Learners in Delaware – $20,000: In partnership with the Delaware Hispanic Commission’s Education Committee, conducting data collection and analysis to address educational disparities in a series of 5 fact sheets and secure state funding for English learners.

Delaware Campaign for Achievement Now (Delaware NOW) – $60,000: Engaging students, parents, communities, teachers, and organizations to urgently advocate for educational policies for student success – higher graduation rates, test scores, and college enrollments for Latino students.

UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza) – $5,000: In partnership with the Rodel Foundation, developing advocacy and awareness plans for English learners in Delaware.

The Arsht-Cannon Fund was created in 2004 from the estate of the Honorable Roxana Cannon Arsht and S. Samuel Arsht. Roxana Cannon Arsht was the first woman to be appointed to serve as a Delaware judge, while her husband S. Samuel Arsht was well-respected for overhauling Delaware’s General Corporation Law. Their daughter, Adrienne Arsht, said, “My parents’ desires to invest in the needs of the times- supporting the best interests of a civil society- are actualized by supporting this newest wave of immigrants.”

“We’re honored to partner with a growing number of Hispanic-serving non-profits that provide life-changing opportunities for integration, learning and health,” said ACF Executive Director Dr. Christine Cannon. “Our Hispanic families face unique challenges that require understanding, culturally-sensitive approaches, and expert program bilingual staff and volunteers who care deeply.”

“We’re proud of the impact of the Arsht-Cannon Fund,” said DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay. “The focus on Hispanic families fosters a community where everyone can feel welcome and succeed. Supporting a diverse and healthy community is at the core of the DCF’s mission.”

Teens Experience Being Philanthropists

Posted by Allison Levine 
· Thursday, November 9th, 2017 
· No Comments

Sixty-seven Delaware high school students will experience the joys and challenges of being philanthropists this year through the Delaware Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Board (YPB).

With a board in each county, the YPB includes students from public, private and parochial schools. The DCF gives the students a total of $35,000 to award to local charities. Within their county board, the students work together to choose a focus area, solicit and review grant applications, conduct site visits, and decide how to distribute the money to have the greatest impact.

Grant applications will be available at www.delcf.org/grants in November and due in January.

“The Youth Philanthropy Board program does more than give kids the chance to make a difference,” DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “It gets them out into the community to experience firsthand the impact their work has on people’s lives.”

Kent County
Back Row:
Nick Olsen, St. Thomas More Academy
Daniel Shockley, Milford High School
Jessica Simpson, St. Thomas More Academy
Stephen Baione, Polytech High School
Darby Brennan, Milford High School
Savannah Poorman, Smyrna High School
Zach Mazuchowski, St. Thomas More Academy

Front Row:
Meghana Lodhavia, Dover High School
Ali Guckes, Dover High School
Grace Gast, Dover High School
Marina Spangler, Dover High School
Tara Bond, Polytech High School
Claudia Little, Lake Forest High School
Lauren Iglio, Smyrna High School

Not Pictured:
Andy Chen, Caesar Rodney
Dyamond Fears, Lake Forest High School
Garrett Geidel, Caesar Rodney High School
Eryne Jenkins, Caesar Rodney High School

New Castle County
Rebecca Alexander, senior, Newark High School
Doris Almonte, senior, Mount Pleasant High School
*Siawaa Antwi, junior, Freire Wilmington Charter School
Madison Berkey, junior, Red Lion Christian Academy
**Scott Bernetich, senior, Charter School of Wilmington
Luke Campbell, junior, Wilmington Christian School
*Julianna Cann, senior, Padua Academy
*Rachel Carlton, senior, Caravel Academy
Elisa Davila, senior, St. Andrew’s School
Chase Dunlap, junior, St. Elizabeth High School
*Lon’yea Ellis, senior, Delaware Design Lab
*Cecilia Ergueta, senior, Wilmington Friends School
*Peter Kardash, junior, Salesianum School
**Nicole Kennedy, senior, Conrad Schools of Science
*Jane Lyons, junior, Ursuline Academy
Thomas McGraw, junior, Tall Oaks Classical School
*Emma Miller, senior, Cab Calloway School of the Arts
Ajah Quawiy, junior, Delcastle Technical High School
Lance Ralsten, junior, St. Mark’s High School
Sofia Rose, senior, John Dickinson High School
Kayla Sampson-Jones, junior, Brandywine High School
*Alivia Scott, senior, Appoquinimink High School
*Alyxandria Sisofo, senior, St. Georges Vo-Tech High School
Cameron Smith, sophomore, Sanford School
Colin Smith, junior, Delaware Military Academy
*Cassi Sullivan, senior, Tower Hill School
Ifunanya Ugorji, senior, Howard High School of Technology
Anya Verucci, junior, Newark Charter High School
*Paige Ward, senior, Hodgson Vo-Tech High School
*Kayla Woods, senior, Tatnall School

   **3rd year member        *2nd year member

Sussex County
Back Row:
Hayley Wilson, Sussex Tech High School
Morgan Absher, Woodbridge High School
Cade Keeler, Sussex Central High School
Harrison Gale, Cape Henlopen High School
Colin Anderson, Delmarva Christian Academy
Vasmi Patel, Delmar High School
Tom Turnbaugh, Laurel High School
Josh Bredbenner, Worcester Preparatory School
Nyra Giles, Laurel High School

Front Row:
Kristin Esterly, Woodbridge High School
Maddy Lester, Greenwood Mennonite School
Anna Ives-Michener, Cape Henlopen High School
Karen Ventura-Lopez, Sussex Central High School
Kasiyah Tatem, Sussex Tech High School
Isaac O’Neal, Delmar High School
Hector Herrera, Sussex Academy
Brendyn Vanderslice, Laurel High School

Not shown:
Kaitlyn McKinney, Seaford High School
Cailey Murphy, Sussex Academy

 

 

 

Potter Trust Fund gives $220K in grants to help low-income Kent County residents

Posted by Allison Levine 
· Tuesday, October 10th, 2017 
· No Comments

Low-income Kent County residents will have increased access to emergency housing and home repairs, health care, and more with the support of $220,000 in grants from the Potter Charity Trust Fund at the CenDel Foundation, a fund of the Delaware Community Foundation.

Caring Hearts Helping Hands, Inc. – $11,000 to provide support to low-income working families for the holidays with toys, clothing, and food gift cards.

Catholic Charities, Inc. – $35,000 to provide financial assistance, coaching, and other resources to prevent homelessness.

Code Purple Kent County Delaware – $10,000 to provide emergency shelter, food and other items necessary for people in need.

Communities in Schools of Delaware, Inc. – $30,000 to coordinate a continuum of care for students in need and their families (in partnership with the Food Bank of Delaware, Goodwill, NCALL, Westside Family Healthcare and several other local nonprofits).

Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition– $30,000: to provide immediate financial assistance to Kent County residents in need who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, Inc. – $4,000 to create access to essential services that enable homeless adults to acquire existing benefits and employment.

Milford Housing Development Corporation – $40,000 to provide free emergency home repairs to eliminate unexpected and immediate threats to life, health and safety for low-income homeowners (in partnership with the Modern Maturity Center and Catholic Charities).

National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor Research Fund – $40,000 to provide a plan for crisis and emergency assistance for residents in the Restoring Central Dover plan area (in partnership with the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance).

Peoples Place II, Inc. – $20,000 to provide shelter for homeless victims and victims of domestic violence in two Kent County shelters.

The Benjamin Potter Trust Fund is an endowed fund that will generate a perpetual stream of charitable dollars for the economically underprivileged in Kent County, Delaware, as directed by the will of Colonel Benjamin Potter. Since 1843 the Potter Charity Trust has supported programs that have a lasting, positive impact in Central Delaware. Starting in 2012, the grant process has been managed by the CenDel Foundation, also a fund of the DCF.

“Even now, nearly 175 years after Col. Potter’s death, his work to improve the community continues through the Benjamin Potter Trust,” DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “Our goal at the DCF is to help people give with lasting impact, and we are proud to continue Col. Potter’s legacy through grants that directly benefit Kent Countians in need.”

170 Students Receive DCF Scholarships for 2017-18

Posted by Allison Levine 
· Thursday, September 21st, 2017 
· No Comments

The DCF has awarded $323,100 in scholarships for the 2017-18 school year, helping 170 students pursue secondary education.

Each year, the DCF awards scholarships to students from funds established by generous people who care about education and understand that it can be costly. This year, 198 scholarships were awarded from 56 individual scholarship funds.

There is no cap on the number of scholarships or the amount students may receive. Funding from many of the scholarships may be applied to the costs of textbooks and fees, in addition to tuition. Some are one-time awards, and others are renewable.

“Many of our donors who care about education choose to create scholarship funds to help students and their families with rising college costs,” DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “Our goal is to empower people who care about education with people who are engaged about their futures.”

We are happy to announce the winners of these scholarships and we congratulate them on their achievements.

KENT

Student

High School/ Alma Mater

Scholarship

Amount

Current School
Steven Alvarado Milford Chester T. Dickerson, Sr. Memorial $1,000 University of Delaware
Steven Alvarado Milford Garbutt Family $1,000 University of Delaware
Colby Atkinson Smyrna Achievement Scholarship for Students with Chronic Illness $2,200 University of Delaware
Tyana Barnett Caesar Rodney John A. & Marion B. Smitheman $5,000 Delaware State University
Lena Berry Caesar Rodney Kelly Family $2,000 Franklin and Marshall
Joshua Bethard Caesar Rodney Fred Fifer III Memorial $2,000 University of Delaware
Sheridan Bryan Dover Margaret Stafford Nursing $2,000 University of Delaware
Hannah Cote Polytech Jill Biden – Biden Breast Health Initiative $1,500 University of Delaware
Valeria Coverdale Milford Dr. C. Edward Graybeal $5,000 University of Delaware
Valeria Coverdale Milford Philip L. Bartlett $2,500 University of Delaware
Valeria Coverdale Milford James L. Davis $750 University of Delaware
Valeria Coverdale Milford Milford High Alumni $1,000 University of Delaware
Valeria Coverdale Milford James H. Postles $1,200 University of Delaware
Jessica Creigh Milford James L. Davis $750 University of Delaware
Ashley Hurd Smyrna Thurman G. Adams & Hilda McCabe Adams Family $1,000 Oklahoma State University
Michael Judson Milford Lee Hirsch $2,500 University of Delaware
John Latavitz Smyrna John A. & Marion B. Smitheman $5,000 University of Delaware
Josh Meixell Smyrna John A. & Marion B. Smitheman $5,000 University of Delaware
Tyler Meixell Smyrna John A. & Marion B. Smitheman $5,000 University of Delaware
Markyia Moyer Polytech Sandra Gruwell Keller $2,000 Neumann University
Brion Murray Milford Garbutt Family $1,000 Coffeyville Community College
Logan Rash Caesar Rodney Margaret L. Richey $4,000 University of Delaware
Deja Rodriguez-Santiago Milford Lee Hirsch $2,500 University of Delaware
Deja Rodriguez-Santiago Milford James L. Davis $750 University of Delaware
Deja Rodriguez-Santiago Milford Milford High Alumni $1,000 University of Delaware
Hayden Shockley Milford James L. Davis $750 Montclair State University
Hayden Shockley Milford Milford High Alumni $1,000 Montclair State University
Hayden Shockley Milford Barbara Kimmey Pierce Memorial $1,500 Montclair State University
Hayden Shockley Milford Jill Biden – Biden Breast Health Initiative $1,500 Montclair State University
Hayden Shockley Milford Margaret Stafford Nursing $2,000 Montclair State University
Kathryn Simpson Lake Forest Tony Silicato Memorial $1,000 Delaware Valley University
Jordan Sinclair Smyrna Bethel AME Church Family $1,500 University of Delaware
E. Scott Wallen St. Thomas More FCA Foundation $1,000 Delaware Tech Community College
Daniel Zang Milford Milford High Alumni $1,000 University of Delaware
Daniel Zang Milford James H. Postles $1,200 University of Delaware

NEW CASTLE

Student

High School/ Alma Mater

Scholarship

Amount

Current School
Arianna Abbrescia Archmere Academy Margaret L. Richey $4,000 Villanova University
Ashelly Alvarado Howard Citibank National Academy of Finance $1,000 Penn State University
Haley Baker Sanford Bethel AME Church Family $1,500 Randolph Macon University
Jillian Canning Wilmington Charter Bethel AME Church Community $500 Georgetown University
Tansia Charles Howard Citibank National Academy of Finance $1,000 Delaware Tech Community College
Tansia Charles Howard Dr. Leroy Christophe $500 Delaware Tech Community College
Cole Ciber Salesanium Frank Vari Memorial $2,500 University of Delaware
Travis Deibert Newark Charter Don and Nancy Edwards $5,000 University of Delaware
Jaelyn deJesus St. George’s Tech Bethel AME Church Community $500 Eastern University
Erin Dickert Newark Charter Beekuis $3,000 Dartmouth College
Kerry Galloway A.I. Dupont Bethel AME Church Community $500 West Virginia Wesleyan University
Alexandra Gilardi Cab Calloway Margaret L. Richey $4,000 University of Pittsburgh
Sean Gilardi Cab Calloway Corporation Services Company $1,000 University of Delaware
Elizabeth Habash Wilmington Charter Philip L. Bartlett $2,500 University of Delaware
Elizabeth Habash Wilmington Charter Jill Biden – Biden Breast Health Initiative $1,500 University of Delaware
Elizabeth Habash Wilmington Charter Delaware Youth Leadership $1,000 University of Delaware
Brenna Halligan Cab Calloway Margaret L. Richey $4,000 University of Notre Dame
Paige Harris Appoquinimink Keisha M. Michael Memorial $1,000 Howard University
Adrian Jenkins Sanford Bethel AME Church Family $1,500 Hampton University
Jayna Jones Wilmington Friends Bethel AME Church Family $1,500 Howard University
Kristina Newton Appoquinimink Ryan R. Wagner Memorial $2,000 University of Delaware
Charmy Patel Newark Charter Beekuis $3,000 Northeastern University
Jordan Peel Concord John & Louise Maslin $1,000 University of Delaware
Justin Porter Glasgow FCA Foundation $2,500 Widener University
Ryan Pyle St. George’s Tech FCA Foundation $2,500 Morrisville State College
Binyamin Salis Middletown Ryan R. Wagner Memorial $2,000 University of Delaware
Joshua Taylor Cab Calloway Philip L. Bartlett $2,500 University of Delaware
Dante Wyatt Newark Charter Bethel AME Church Family $1,500 North Carolina University

SUSSEX

Student

High School/ Alma Mater

Scholarship

Amount

Current School
Kate Bagshaw Sussex Tech J.D. O’Connor $1,000 University of Delaware
Kate Bagshaw Sussex Tech Philip L. Bartlett $2,500 University of Delaware
Jasmine Balderson Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $3,000 George Mason University
Collin Birl Cape Henlopen Philip L. Bartlett $2,500 University of Delaware
Kirsten Blake Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $500 Lynchburg College
Brandon Bradshaw Laurel Laurel Alumni $1,000 Fairmont State University
Brock Cataldi Sussex Tech FCA Foundation $1,000 University of Delaware
Benjamin Conrad Cape Henlopen Cape Henlopen Taxpayers for Fair Elections $1,000 University of Delaware
Benjamin Conrad Cape Henlopen Cloutier-Valenti $2,000 University of Delaware
Benjamin Conrad Cape Henlopen Philip L. Bartlett $2,500 University of Delaware
Natalie Culver Laurel Laurel Alumni $1,000 Salisbury University
Spencer Czerwinski Sussex Tech Sussex Foundation $2,000 University of Delaware
Humberto Del Cid Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $3,000 Howard Community College
David Demont Ocean Township FCA Foundation $1,000 Delaware Tech Community College
Andrew Evans Sussex Central Chris Cordrey Student Athlete $1,000 College of William and Mary
Jessica Evans Laurel Laurel Alumni $1,000 Clemson University
Luis Garcia Osorio Sussex Central J.D. O’Connor $1,000 University of Delaware
Luis Garcia Osorio Sussex Central Philip L. Bartlett $2,500 University of Delaware
Amy Green Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $3,000 Susquehanna University
Alexis Haden Indian River Philip L. Bartlett $2,500 University of Delaware
Alexis Haden Indian River Margaret Stafford Nursing $2,000 University of Delaware
TyAnna Handy Laurel Laurel Alumni $2,000 Delaware State University
TyAnna Handy Laurel Janosik Family $1,000 Delaware State University
Gabrielle Hastings Sussex Tech Don and Ann Ward $500 University of Delaware
Skyler Hudson Indian River Atlantis Scholarship for Excellence $5,000 University of Delaware
Skyler Hudson Indian River J.D. O’Connor $1,000 University of Delaware
Skyler Hudson Indian River Philip L. Bartlett $2,500 University of Delaware
Joseph Hutson Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $1,000 West Chester University
Sara Hyde Cape Henlopen John M. Roca Memorial $5,000 University of Delaware
Sara Hyde Cape Henlopen Margaret Stafford Nursing $2,000 University of Delaware
Brianna Hyland Laurel Janosik Family $1,000 Delaware State University
Brianna Hyland Laurel Margaret Stafford Nursing $2,000 Delaware State University
Brian Ireland Woodbridge Merritt M. Luttrell Future Teachers $4,000 Wesley College
Antonio Johnson Laurel Laurel Alumni/George Shollenberger $3,000 Delaware Valley University
Jaycie Kerrick Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $3,000 University of Delaware
Kaitlyn Klabe Cape Henlopen George H. Henry Award $500 Winthrop University
Hannah Layton Laurel Laurel Alumni $1,000 Salisbury University
Hannah Layton Laurel Janosik Family $1,000 Salisbury University
Dominic Longo Laurel Laurel Alumni $1,000 West Virginia University
Matthew Lyons Indian River J.D. O’Connor $1,000 University of Delaware
Katherine Maher Cape Henlopen Cape Henlopen Taxpayers for Fair Elections $1,000 Penn State University
Elizabeth Manlove Woodbridge Merritt M. Luttrell Future Teachers $4,000 Wesley College
Elizabeth Manlove Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $4,000 Wesley College
Collin Mattia Cape Henlopen Generation III $4,000 University of Delaware
Zachary McCann Cape Henlopen FCA Foundation $1,000 Delaware Tech Community College
Nicholas Midgett Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $3,000 Unity College
Alexandra Morris Laurel Laurel Alumni $1,000 Delaware Tech Community College
Samantha Mumford Indian River Sussex Foundation $2,000 Salisbury University
Joshua Roth Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $3,000 Delaware Tech Community College
Itzel Sanchez-Quintero Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $1,000 Wilmington University
Matthew Smith Cape Henlopen Generation III GreenSense $4,000 University of Delaware
Sierra Snigier Seaford Delaware Youth Leadership $1,000 Penn State University
Trevor VanVorst Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $3,000 Gardner Webb University
Marissa Walls Laurel Laurel Alumni $1,000 Salisbury University
Starlyn Wood Woodbridge Mary H. Bailey $3,000 Delaware Tech Community College

OUTSIDE DELAWARE (high school unavailable)

Name Amount Scholarship College attending
Daniel Adamo $1,000 Corporation Services Company CUNY Queens College
Jennifer Atkins $1,000 Corporation Services Company SUNY
Taylor Azer $1,000 Corporation Services Company Eastern University
Alyssa Bentz $1,000 Corporation Services Company Saint Joseph’s University
Dominique Billett $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of South Carolina
Anna Brodovsky $1,000 Corporation Services Company Purdue University
Hailey Carmichael $500 Delaware Workforce Investment Center Delaware State University
Joshua Carter $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Delaware
Isabella Casey $1,000 Corporation Services Company Bucknell University
Monique Chapple $1,000 Corporation Services Company SUNY
Kelsey Craner $1,000 Corporation Services Company Rowan University
Kyle Craner $1,000 Corporation Services Company Widener University
Alyssa Deobler $1,000 Corporation Services Company Northern State University
Nicole Deobler $1,000 Corporation Services Company Siena College
Adam Dunlap $1,000 Corporation Services Company Florida State University
Evan Dunlap $1,000 Corporation Services Company Tallahassee Community College
Louise Duvalsaint $4,000 Henry H. Stroud, M.D. Memorial Wayne State University
Lexi  Evelyn $1,000 Janosik Family Eastern University
Brooklyn Falslev $1,000 Corporation Services Company Utah State University
Ashley Garcia $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of California
Chase Garcia $1,000 Corporation Services Company Carleton College
Hannah  Gudgel $1,000 Corporation Services Company Southern Illinois University
Rachel Haley $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Delaware
Sierra Hart $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Utah
Emma Haussler $1,000 Corporation Services Company Otterbein College
Kristin  Heim $1,000 Corporation Services Company Michigan State University
Caitlyn Hennings $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Delaware
Hayden Hinkle $1,000 Corporation Services Company Widener University
Logan Hixon $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Illinois
Jaqueline Hodge $1,000 Corporation Services Company Minneapolis College of Art & Design
Gracie Hudson $1,000 Corporation Services Company Temple University
Jason James $1,000 Corporation Services Company Villanova University
Erve Joseph $1,000 FCA Foundation Delaware Tech Comm College
Kirsten  Kinsler $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Delaware
Skylah Kumar $1,000 Corporation Services Company Neumann University
Sneha Kumar $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Illinois-Urbana
Lukasz Kurtyka $1,000 Corporation Services Company Poznan University
Mateusz Kurtyka $1,000 Corporation Services Company Poznan University
Linfei Li $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Chicago
Justin Liu $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of California-Berkeley
Josiah Lowe $1,000 Laurel Alumni Texas A&M University
Clee Malfitano $1,000 Corporation Services Company Vanderbilt University
Petter Massih $1,000 Corporation Services Company Virginia Tech
Brooklyn Mower $1,000 Corporation Services Company Hood College
James Mulligan $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Delaware
Grace Olive $1,000 Corporation Services Company Rochester Institute of Technology
Rachel Oster $1,000 Corporation Services Company Carthage University
Dharma Patel $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Illinois
Christopher Pelc $1,000 Corporation Services Company Temple University
Gabrielle Perrotti $1,000 Mark B. Holzman Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Elizabeth  Plender $1,000 Corporation Services Company Regis University
Owen Porth $1,000 Corporation Services Company Northeastern University
Maria Rapposelli $4,000 Caesar Rodney Rotary LaSalle University
Abigail Roche $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Pittsburgh
Nikita Rogers $1,000 Corporation Services Company Utah State University
Thor Rogers $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Utah
Chandler Salley $1,500 Bethel AME Church Family Lincoln University
Caroline Savage $1,000 Corporation Services Company Delaware Tech Comm College
Reid Savage $1,000 Corporation Services Company Delaware Tech Comm College
Victoria Savage $1,000 Corporation Services Company Brigham Young University
Bruce Scheibe $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Delaware
Samantha  Sherman $1,000 Corporation Services Company SUNY-Albany
Matthew Slack $1,000 Corporation Services Company Olivet Nazarene University
Skyler Slack $1,000 Corporation Services Company Texas A&M University
Matthew Solomon $1,000 Corporation Services Company Utah State University
Megan Solomon $1,000 Corporation Services Company Latter-Day Saints Business College
Joseph  Stephens $1,000 Corporation Services Company Marquette University
Ashley Straub $1,000 Corporation Services Company Elon University
Alexandra Stryzs $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Delaware
Garrett Stryzs $1,000 Corporation Services Company SUNY
Ashley Swajkowski $1,000 Corporation Services Company Southern Illinois University
Sophia Thomas $1,000 Corporation Services Company Arizona State University
Holly Tidman $1,000 Corporation Services Company Dallas Baptist University
Spring  Vasey $1,500 V. George & Jeannette M. Carey Delaware Tech Comm College
Spring  Vasey $1,000 J.D. O’Connor Delaware Tech Comm College
Megan Whitehouse $1,000 Corporation Services Company Southern Illinois University
Tayla Willson $2,000 Cloutier-Valenti Massachusetts College
Phoebe Wilson $1,000 Corporation Services Company Maryville University of St. Louis
Kiana York $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of Colorado-Boulder
Samuel Zaritsky $1,000 Corporation Services Company University of South Carolina

Kent Youth Philanthropy Board Awards $10K in Grants

Posted by Allison Levine 
· Monday, March 27th, 2017 
· No Comments

 

The Kent County Youth Philanthropy Board (YPB) of the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) will award $10,000 to three Kent County nonprofit organizations at a grants ceremony on April 3 at the Duncan Center in Dover.

The DCF’s Kent County YPB is composed of 16 Kent County students from public, independent and diocesan high schools. Since September, YPB members have been studying youth issues in their neighborhoods and schools, learning about community service and grantmaking, and visiting nonprofit organizations.

This year’s Kent County YPB chose to focus on organizations that provide counseling and support services to people suffering from domestic violence, substance abuse and mental illness.

Mary & Martha’s Place – $5,000 to provide food and rent for 1-3 months for unemployed women recovering from substance abuse. This grant will also help buy clothing so they can look for work.

Inner City Cultural League – $3,000 for the hiring of a professional who can do counseling and teach music and dance for a post-high school group of at-risk youths.

Supporting Kidds, Inc. – $2,000 to expand their child bereavement services in Kent County by purchasing needed supplies to train 24 volunteer facilitators for support groups.

The Delaware Community Foundation sponsors a Youth Philanthropy Board in each Delaware county to encourage high school students to become more involved in philanthropy. Each board of high school students is allotted a pool of money to give as charitable grants. The students learn about philanthropy and effective grantmaking, study youth issues in their neighborhoods and schools, solicit grant proposals, conduct site visits, and award grants to those they determine to be most deserving.

Retired Delaware educator Phyllis Wynn established the Youth Philanthropy Fund in 1999 because she wanted to encourage youth to become more involved in philanthropic ventures. Students who serve on the YPB are nominated by their principal or guidance counselor.

“The Youth Philanthropy Board program does more than give kids the chance to make a difference,” DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “It gets them out into the community to experience firsthand the impact their work has on people’s lives.”

2016-17 Kent County YPB

Charlie Stephan, Senior, Polytech High School

Eryne Jenkins, Junior, Caesar Rodney High School

Nick Olsen, Junior, St. Thomas More Academy

Andy Chen, Junior, Caesar Rodney High School

Christie Little, Senior, Lake Forest High School

DyShere Logan, Senior, Caesar Rodney High School

Tara Bond, Junior, Polytech High School

Justin Nash, Senior, Smyrna High School

Meghan Yerkes, Senior, Smyrna High School

Margaret Amory, Senior, Milford High School

Ali Guckes, Junior, Dover High School

Cassidy Bennetti, Senior, Dover High School

Savannah Poorman, Junior, Smyrna High School

Darby Brennan, Junior, Milford High School

Elle Harden, Junior, Lake Forest High School

Therese Sadusky, Senior, St. Thomas More Academy 

 

DCF AWARDS $263,380 STATEWIDE TO HELP VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

Posted by Allison Levine 
· Monday, February 6th, 2017 
· No Comments

The Delaware Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling $263,380 to six statewide, multi-agency initiatives to expand access to health care, protect the environment, help formerly incarcerated individuals re-enter the community, and support economic revitalization.

Through the DCF’s collaborative grant program, the foundation seeds organizations’ efforts to find creative, sustainable ways to work together, leveraging each other’s resources, to make the greatest positive impact on quality of life. Past collaborative grants have resulted in several permanent alliances and organizations that continue to serve Delawareans, including the Delaware Anti-Hunger Coalition and the Delaware Aging Network.

The 2017 lead agencies and initiatives are:

Catholic Charities (New Castle)

Catholic Charities received $25,000 to collaborate with St. Francis Healthcare to better serve individuals who are without health insurance or who are underinsured. This partnership will provide health care and additional services such as mental health counseling, basic needs assistance, and immigration support. The DCF grant will be used for renovations to the Saint Clare Medical Outreach Van, a mobile medical office that offers acute care to the homeless and uninsured, and related transportation expenses.

Eden Delmarva (Sussex)

Eden Delmarva received $33,000 to help ensure safe drinking water is available and groundwater is protected in several Sussex County communities by funding the operation of septic cluster wastewater systems. These private communities are not served by a government-owned system and currently do not have safe drinking water. The DCF grant will be used to negotiate the transfer of ownership from the community to Eden Delmarva’s partner agency, the Diamond State Sustainability Corporation, which will ensure that the systems are sustainable and will protect the environment, groundwater, and drinking water.

First State Community Loan Fund

First State Community Loan Fund received $77,380 to collaborate with the Central Baptist Community Development Corporation to create the Lacey Project, a new economic revitalization endeavor on Wilmington’s East Side. DCF funds will be used to rehabilitate a mixed-use property for residential and commercial use and to provide entrepreneurial training.

HOPE Commission

The HOPE Commission received $60,000 to help re-integrate high-risk, formerly incarcerated men into targeted Wilmington communities. Last year the program served 73 referred members and 65 walk-ins. The DCF grant will help the HOPE Commission double those numbers. The commission will partner with the Department of Corrections, Superior Court of Delaware and other social service agencies to provide services including counseling and support services, outreach, and family engagement and enrichment services.

La Red Health Center (Sussex)

La Red Health Center received $60,000 to increase its capacity to meet the health care needs of the increasing senior population in Sussex County by placing medical providers within communities where there is a high senior population. The CHEER Center will provide clinical space so its members can get health care not currently available. The DCF grant will fund salaries, and equipment and transportations services.

Project New Start

Project New Start (PNS) received $8,000 to provide training to medium- to high-risk/high-need offenders transitioning out of prison, help them secure and sustain employment, and contribute positively to their families and communities. PNS will collaborate with Alternatives to Violence Project, Child, Inc. and the Delaware Safety Council. This grant will provide funds for instruction, course materials, and transportation costs associated with these partnerships.

“The DCF is honored to be able to provide resources to help organizations work together and leverage each other’s resources as they work improve quality of life in Delaware,” said DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay.

The Delaware Community Foundation’s collaborative grants are funded by earnings from the Forever Fund, the foundation’s unrestricted fund. Gifts to the Forever Fund can be made online delcf.org/forever.

 

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