Boy Scouts dinner recognizes Tonda and Joe Parks as Kent County Distinguished Citizens

By Andrew West

DOVER — Tonda and Joe Parks can pinpoint the moment it all started.
For four decades now, they have been bringing people together for the benefit of central Delaware and beyond.

Names and popular haunts from the 1980s readily come to mind when they reminisce.

The story starts in 1985, when Mike Harrington Sr., then-president of the American Heart Association in Kent County, invited them to the Hub for a drink. Knowing Tonda had been successfully organizing events for local companies, he wanted some ideas for a big fundraiser.

“Out of Tonda’s mouth comes, ‘I’d like to start a black-tie event,’” Joe said. “In 1985, there wasn’t one black-tie event in Kent County on an ongoing basis.

“Mike says, ‘I don’t give a darn what you do.’”

For some context, the only big venue in Dover at the time was the former Sheraton Hotel.

“The people in New Castle County, they laughed at us,” Joe recalls. “Ain’t nobody has a black-tie down below the canal.

“Tonda said, ‘We’ll show you.’”

The motivation, she said, related to her father’s death of heart disease around that time.

The next year, the inaugural Affair of the Heart packed in a big crowd for a dance party at the Sheraton. “It was a huge success,” Tonda said.

The initial event netted $11,000.

Over the course of 25 years, the Kent County galas for the heart association brought in more than $2 million.

Those efforts — and so many more — are why Tonda and Joe Parks will be celebrated as the 2024 Distinguished Citizen Award winners Nov. 12 at Harrington Raceway & Casino. The dinner benefits the scholarship program of the Del-Mar-Va Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

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In 2012, Tonda was awarded the state’s Paul Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteerism. Then-Gov. Jack Markell called her name, and the audience in the Dover Downs ballroom erupted.

“He leaned over and said to Tonda, ‘I’m glad you’re not running for governor,’” Joe remembered.

It seems like most everyone in Kent County — and the rest of Delaware, for that matter — have connected with Tonda in one or more roles.

For the Daily State News, she now holds the title of associate publisher, leading outreach efforts and building on our strong calendar of events and partnerships. The Citywide Black History Celebration and Excellence in Education initiatives are examples.

She seamlessly blends community involvement with newspaper work.

This is her third stint with the State News since 1981.

This editor shared a table with Joe and Tonda at last weekend’s Gourmet Gala at Delaware Technical Community College’s Charles L. Terry Jr. Campus. You’re always guaranteed smiles and laughs when the two are around.

And, if you’re at the same event, you can be sure  to see that Tonda is working her way through the room, making connections.

“We need to give kudos to the paper, which has supported me being involved in a lot of nonprofits,” Tonda said. “The paper affords me the luxury of being able to help because it is committed to the community.”

Of great significance in recent years is their support for the CenDel Foundation, an organization focused on increasing philanthropic giving in the region.

The dynamic duo, who have been married 47 years, have been generous in hosting events in their backyard, affectionately known as “Shortwood Gardens.” Among them is the annual Gourmet Dinner FUN’d Raffle and Reception to benefit the CenDel Foundation.

“We’re firm believers that you get back what you give,” said Joe, whose career included 30 years in commercial real estate.

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Jen Cohan is chair of this year’s Distinguished Citizen dinner and one of the 32 previous winners.

“I think what warms my heart most when it comes to Tonda is that wherever Tonda is, Joe is,” she said. “And that’s the epitome of a wonderful, happy relationship, and all the people who enter into their airspace want to be like that.

“We need more of them. If we could just clone Joe and Tonda, that would be amazing.”

She said she admires them for several reasons, including Tonda’s support for professional women in the Wise Women of Delaware organization.

“They are just the bedrock to this local community that we have here in central Delaware,” Ms. Cohan said. “They’re always there, and they’re always giving. They never say no.”

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Ray Teat, the Del-Mar-Va Council’s director of finance and development, said the dinner is the group’s primary way to raise funds to support children and families with scholarships for Scouting programs.

He said area Scouts now number about 4,000.

Tonda and Joe will join a list of previous honorees that includes President Joe Biden, a U.S. senator at the time of his nomination.

“We’re really proud to have them included in the list of esteemed honorees — from senators to leaders in business,” Mr. Teat said.

The Nov. 12 event starts with a reception at 5:30, followed by a dinner catered by Bonz Restaurant & Lounge, in the Gold Room at Harrington Raceway & Casino.

For tickets or sponsorship opportunities, visit delmarvacouncil.org/kent or contact Mr. Teat at 302-531-7465.