HARRINGTON, DE - October, 2007

MID-DEL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AWARDS
2007 GRANTS TO DELAWARE ORGANIZATIONS

 HARRINGTON, DE - October 17, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Corresponding photos are available via our website
http://www.delawarestatefair.com/fair/community_relations/mid_del_charitable_foundation.htm

On Wednesday evening at the Delaware State Fair, representatives from twenty-four Delaware organizations were awarded financial grants by the Mid-Del Charitable Foundation.  The Foundation, developed to consolidate the charitable contributions of Delaware State Fair, Inc. and Harrington Raceway, Inc., supports Delaware-based organizations and charitable, educational and scientific endeavors which address the wide range of issues, including: health and human services, the arts, agriculture, education, and the environment.

Howell F. Wallace, President of the Mid-Del Charitable Foundation, along with the presiding officers and directors distributed grants to the following organizations: Delaware 4-H Foundation, Delaware Agricultural Museum & Village, Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Delaware Ducks Unlimited Greenwing Event, Delaware Holstein Association, Delaware Hospice, Inc, Delaware Nature Society, Dover Art League, Inc, First Steps Primeros Pasos, Greater Milford Boys & Girls Club, Harrington Fire Company, Harrington Lions Club, Harrington Police Department, Harrington Recreation Department, Harrington Senior Center, Harrington Sunshine 4-H Club, House of Pride, Kent Conservation District Barn Dance, Milford Senior Center, Ministry of Caring, Santa’s Workshop/”Bookaneers” (Milford School District),  Seaford District Library, The CENTER for Therapeutic and Educational Riding,  Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 850.

  
For any organization interested in applying for 2008 consideration, proposals must be submitted via the official Mid-Del Charitable Foundation grant application form which will be available in the spring. For more information, please visit the Delaware State Fair’s website at www.DelawareStateFair.com and choose the link to “Mid-Del Charitable Foundation” found at the bottom of the page.

 

 

2007 MID-DEL FOUNDATION

GRANT RECIPIENTS

 

1.  Delaware 4-H Foundation

The Delaware 4-H Foundation was founded in 1978 to receive & manage private funds in support of the 4-H Youth Development program of Cooperative Extension in Delaware.  The Foundation funds out-of-state trips for teens to regional & national 4-H competitive events, adult & teen leadership training, awards & incentives, camp scholarships, along with national 4-H leadership & recognition events.

Fund use – To focus on 4-H adult & teen volunteer training & development.

 

 2.  Delaware Agricultural Museum & Village

The museum opened in 1980 and is now serving over 26,000 people annually.  Their mission is to collect, restore, preserve, utilize, publish, exhibit & interpret the history & technology of Delaware & the Delmarva Peninsula’s farm life/culture and to offer public educational programs & services.

Fund use – Help pay for personnel, publicity, advertising & speakers for the Annual Lecture Series called “Rural Perspectives”.

 

3.  Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition

The coalition was founded in 1991 by a small group of community volunteers.  Their mission is to raise awareness of breast health issues through outreach, education & support services, in order to facilitate early detection & treatment of breast cancer.

Fund use – To coordinate the Peer Mentor Program, which includes marketing the program to oncology practices & health care facilities, recruiting & training new mentors, providing ongoing training for existing mentors, and providing resources to and educating mentees about survivorship issues.

 

4.  Delaware Ducks Unlimited Greenwing Event

This non-profit organization is dedicated to the conservation of wetlands & habitat restoration of wildlife.  It provides education for youth through Greenwing Events by offering activities such as nature walks, duck identification and nest box building.

Fund use – Activities of the Greenwing Event which include such programs as fish & wildlife and hunting safety.

 

5. Delaware Holstein Association

This association of Delaware dairy breeders’ mission is to provide education & opportunities to Delaware youth in all breeds of dairy cattle.  Major programs include Cow Camp, the 4-H & FFA Spring Dairy Expo, Junior Dairy Futurity, Dairy Judging Clinics and Dairy Quiz Bowl.

Fund use – To increase the quality of junior dairy programs by providing materials for the skillathon, meals during activities, awards for winners of top quiz bowl teams and showmanship and materials needed for participants to compete in the National Dairy Quiz Bowl.

 

6. Delaware Hospice, Inc.

Established in 1982, Delaware Hospice has been committed to being the leader in providing high quality hospice and palliative care to individuals with a limited life expectancy, their families and caregivers and to serve as a resource for end of life care.

Fund use – To support the ‘New Hope’ program that was established in 1990 to provide care to grieving children and adolescents.

   

7.  Delaware Nature Society

This organization’s mission had been to foster understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the natural world through education, preserve ecologically significant areas and advocate stewardship and conservation of natural resources.

Fund use – Scholarship program. Funding has proven to support valuable opportunities for students that may not otherwise be able to participate in the program.

 

8.  Dover Art League, Inc.

Founded in 1973, Dover Art League is a private non-profit organization that has been serving the arts community, school-age children and the general public with quality exhibits and programs to enhance the lives of citizens.

Fund use – To support new programs for youth in Dover and Kent County.

 

9.  First Steps Primeros Pasos

A multi-cultural early learning center operating in Georgetown where there is a substantial lack of early learning for the children.  In 2010, they will open a new facility that will educate approximately 90 children.

Fund use – Purchase various equipment to teach children the basics of science.

 

10.  Greater Milford Boys & Girls Club

This organization’s mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.  The five core program areas are Education & Career Development, Health & Life Skills, Arts, Sports and Character & Leadership Development.

Fund use – Funds will be utilized to build their educational resources in areas such as reading, math, science and social studies.

 

11.   Harrington Fire Company The Harrington Fire Company provides quality fire, rescue and EMS services to protect and save property of its citizens by constantly training and updating their equipment to meet the required standards and its citizens’ needs.

Fund use – Purchase new open wire-type lockers.

 

12.    Harrington Lions Club          

This organization has served the local community for 67 years with funds donated for eye glasses, food baskets and the local food pantry for the needy, boys and girls programs, Senior Center, Police & Fire Departments, scholarships, Special Olympics, Little League and many other community causes.

Fund use – Improve the Lion’s Club shuttle by putting in new seats, tires and re-painting it.

 

13.    Harrington Police Department

Established in 1902, the mission of the Police Department is to maintain and improve the community livability by working with all community members to preserve life, maintain human rights, protect property, promote individual responsibility and community commitment through professional, accountable and ethical services.

Fund use – Vehicle enhancement.

 

 14.    Harrington Recreation Department

Established 13 years ago, Harrington Recreation Department oversees many local annual events, including Harrington Heritage Day, K&S Soccer League, Lake Forest Pop Warner, Titan Baseball, Youth Wrestling and other youth & adults activities.

Fund use – Program materials and enhancements.

  

15.    Harrington Senior Center

Harrington Senior Center is a multi-purpose senior center that includes recreation, socialization, meal program, transportation, information and referral.  Established in July, 2007, it is the oldest senior center in Kent County.

Fund use – Funding for monthly birthday parties, holiday parties and anniversary parties.

 

16.    Harrington Sunshine 4-H Club

This 4-H club is extremely active in their local and county communities in volunteering their time to do things for and to help others.  They perform several activities and support many organizations at community events such as Camp New Hope, Harrington Heritage Day, Milford Hospital Fair, and many others.

Fund use – Purchase materials and supplies to assist in the many events they participate in.

 

17.    House of Pride

Founded in 1988 by Marian Harris, the House of Pride began as a referral organization for men and women seeking assistance with recovery for substance abuse.  Today, the House of Pride meets the needs of the community through empowerment, educational development, housing and cultural interventions.

Fund use – To provide their clients with transportation to and from daily work details and medical appointments.

 

18.   Kent Conservation District Barn Dance        This organization is a 60-plus-year-old governmental subdivision of the State of Delaware with a mission to put each acre of land to the use for which it is best suited and to economically develop and improve the environment by sound planning and conservation practices.

Fund use – To support the 2007 Barn Dance.  All proceeds from the Barn Dance go to the Delaware Envirothon, which is a problem-solving, natural resource education program for high school aged students.

 

19.   Milford Senior Center

Since 1973, the Milford Senior Center has been serving the elderly population of Kent and Sussex Counties.  They have a varied and large number of programs each month.

Fund use – To provide a nutritious breakfast, more appropriate and healthful for seniors.

 

20.   Ministry of Caring         

Founded in 1977, with the opening of Mary Mother of Hope House I, the first emergency shelter for single women on the Delmarva Peninsula, their mission is to help individuals and families move from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

Fund use – To provide dental treatment for underprivileged and uninsured residents of Sussex County.   

 

21.  Santa’s Workshop/”Bookaneers” (Milford School District)

These two student service projects have been hosted by Milford High School for the past eight years.  The purpose of the projects is to provide high school students with the opportunity to volunteer their time to encourage elementary children to learn and to enjoy reading.

Fund use – Fund materials for these projects, such as costumes and decorations.

 

22.  Seaford District Library

Established in 1902 by a group of women who donated books from their own personal collections, the library now offers programs that include: outreach to local schools, story time, annual children’s summer reading series and various adult and children’s programs.

Fund use – Purchase laptop computers to make staff more mobile and provide better customer service to patrons.

 

 23.  The CENTER for Therapeutic and Educational Riding        

The mission of the CENTER is to raise funds for and provide affordable therapeutic equine activities for individuals with special needs, barriers and at-risk youth.  They have included a day program for older adults that includes yoga on horseback.

Fund use – Continue quality programming such as providing scholarships for riders that are unable to afford the cost of riding, purchasing teaching aids and maintaining their therapeutic horses.

 

24.   Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 850

Founded in 2000, this organization’s mission statement is “never again shall one generation of vets abandon another”.  Major programs include: donations in the form of scholarships to young marines and ROTC students, support to local community programs and raising awareness on issues facing local veterans.

Fund use – Award scholarships to local young marine and ROTC students.

 

Media Contact:

Danny Aguilar
(302) 398-5903