HARRINGTON, DE - October, 2008

2008 GRANTS TO DELAWARE ORGANIZATIONS

 HARRINGTON, DE - October 15, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Corresponding photos are available upon request.  Please contact Danny Aguilar 302-398-5903

On Wednesday evening at the Delaware State Fair, representatives from twenty-six Delaware organizations were awarded financial grants by the Mid-Del Charitable Foundation.  The Foundation, developed to consolidate the charitable undertakings 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: Center for Therapeutic and Educational Riding, Citizens Hose Fire Company, Clear Space Productions, Delaware Association for Children of Alcoholics, Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Delaware Ducks Unlimited- Greenwing Event, Delaware Guidance Services, Delaware Hospice, Harrington Fire Company, Harrington Police Department, Harrington Public Library, Harrington Recreation Department, Harrington, Senior Center, Harrington Sunshine 4-H Club, Harvest Years Senior Center, Kent Conservation District, Lewes Senior Center, Milford Rotary Club, Milford Senior Center, Modern Maturity Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness in Delaware, Read Aloud Delaware, Rehoboth Art League, Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, Santa’s Workshop/”Bookaneers” (Milford School District), and Vietnam Veterans of America

  
For any organization interested in applying for 2009 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.

 

 

2008 MID-DEL FOUNDATION

GRANT RECIPIENTS

 

1. 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. 

Funds Use: Provide scholarships for riders, purchase teaching aides, and maintain their horses.

 

2. Citizens Hose Fire Company, No. 1, Smyrna

The Citizen’s Hose Company, No.1 Inc. is rich in heritage, pride and has proven time and again it’s distinction as a premier fire department.  Established in the late 1880’s, it has proven its ability to serve the residents of the community.

Funds Use: To purchase educational videos for school and community outreach.

 

3. Clear Space Productions

Clear Space Productions is a theatre company committed to creating a cultural home for Southern Delaware residents since its inception in 2004.  The company offers 60 performances each year, and has three distinct, but overlapping facets:  Arts Institute, community outreach and the Theatre Company.

Funds Use: Production expenses associated with two regular season shows focused on students.

 

4. Delaware Association for Children of Alcoholics

The mission of the Delaware Association for Children of Alcoholics is to increase public awareness and recognition of the special needs of children of alcoholics of all ages – especially those who are too young to speak for themselves.

Funds Use: To offer a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome education program.

 

5. 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 and support services, in order to facilitate early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

Funds Use: To coordinate the Peer Mentor Program.

 

6. Delaware Ducks Unlimited- Greenwing Event

Ducks Unlimited is a non-profit organization 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.

Funds Use: Activities of the Greenwing Event include such programs as hunting safety and fish & wildlife.

 

7. Delaware Guidance Services

Delaware Guidance Services provides quality mental health services to Delaware’s children, youth and their families.  Founded in 1952 by the Junior League of Wilmington, the agency has grown to the largest single not-for-profit provider of comprehensive psychiatric services for children and their families in the state.

Funds Use: Increase the quality and quantity of its resources for treating children who have experienced sexual abuse. 

 

8. Delaware Hospice

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.

Funds Use: To support the ‘New Hope’ program.

 

9. 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.

Funds Use: To add specialized equipment to the Emergency Medical Services.

 

10. 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, and promote individual responsibility and community commitment through professional, accountable and ethical services.

Funds Use: Provide enhancements to the Emergency/Crime Scene Trailer.

 

11. Friends of the Harrington Public Library

The Friends of the Harrington Public Library is a volunteer organization founded in 1980 to provide additional support for the library through fundraising and solicitation.  Their goal is to provide access to cultural and educational programs and materials to all library users.

Funds Use: To sponsor the Winter and Summer Library Reading Clubs as well as book discussion groups.

 

12. Harrington Recreation Department

Established 15 years ago, Harrington Recreation Department oversees many local annual events, including Harrington Heritage Day, City Christmas parade, Youth Soccer, Harrington Pop Warner, Hurricane Cheer, and many other youth & adults activities.

            Funds Use: To purchase program materials and enhancements.

 

13. Harrington Senior Center

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

Funds Use: Purchase materials for health, recreation and socialization programs.

 

14. Harrington Sunshine 4-H Club

This organization started over 100 years ago in 1902 and provides opportunities and educational experiences to youth in over 85 project areas.

Funds Use: Purchase materials and supplies to assist in the many events the club participates.

 

15. Harvest Years Senior Center

Harvest Years Senior Center has proudly carried out its service motto of “Seniors Helping Seniors” for the past 31 years.  This organization serves hot, nutritious noon time meals on site and also assists 120 Kent County seniors with grocery shopping trip transportation needs.

Funds Use: Maintain educational, recreational, social, and wellness activities both on and off site

 

16. Kent Conservation District

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.

Funds Use: To support the 2008 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.

 

17. Lewes Senior Center

The Lewes Senior Center began operation in 1967 with a mission of providing access to a variety of social, health related, educational, cultural and recreational activities to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

Funds Use: Funds will be used towards the purchase of a wheelchair accessible van to be able to continue assisting seniors with various transportation needs.

 

18. Milford Rotary Club

The main objective of the Milford Rotary Club is service in the community and throughout the world.

Funds Use: Support the Milford School District Music Enrichment Program and science in the Middle school.

 

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.

Funds Use: To provide a nutritious breakfast, more appropriate and healthful meals for seniors.

 

20. Modern Maturity Center

This center has been in operation for more than 39 years has currently has over 22,000 members.  The mission of the Center is to provide programs and services that will enhance the quality of life, with dignity and respect for older adults.

Funds Use: To supplement the cost of providing a mid-day meal five days a week at the Harrington Senior Center.

 

21. National Alliance on Mental Illness in Delaware (NAMI-DE)

NAMI-DE was founded 25 years ago by nine couples who each had a child had an adult child with a mental illness.  Their mission is to “Support, Educate, and Advocate Until There is a Cure for Severe and Persistent Mental Illness”.

Funds Use: Peer-to-Peer, a unique education program for consumers that aims to help them maintain their wellness and recovery, and live independently in the community.

 

22. Read Aloud Delaware

Started in 1984 by State Representative Kevin Free, Read Aloud Delaware has a mission to ensure that each preschool child in Delaware is regularly read to one on one. 

Funds Use: To purchase chairs for their training facility.

 

23. Rehoboth Art League

Rehoboth Art League encourages artists and arts education, and sponsors exhibits and programs that reflect the diversity of the community in a historic setting and in partnership with other organizations.  Activities, lectures, concerts, house tours and outreach programs are held with diverse cultural, age and disabilities groups.

Funds Use: Support Rehoboth Art League Summer Art Camps.

 

24. Ronald McDonald House of Delaware 

The mission of the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware is to provide a “home away from home” for families of seriously or chronically ill children receiving treatment at area hospitals by offering nurturing and supportive environments where families can stay together and find comfort.

Funds Use: To keep an adequate supply of milk available for families staying at the House.

 

25. 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.

Funds Use: Fund materials for these projects, such as costumes and decorations.

 

26. 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.

Funds Use: Award scholarships to local young marine and ROTC students.