Multiplying Good honors service at the Delaware Salute to Service

Posted 5/12/23

WILMINGTON — Multiplying Good celebrated community volunteerism at the annual Delaware Salute to Service, the organization’s premiere awards ceremony recognizing unsung heroes across the …

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Multiplying Good honors service at the Delaware Salute to Service

Posted

WILMINGTON — Multiplying Good celebrated community volunteerism at the annual Delaware Salute to Service May 11, the organization’s premiere awards ceremony recognizing unsung heroes across the state.

The event was co-chaired by Gov. John Carney and First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney, Tatiana Copeland and Chai Gadde.

This year’s sponsors for Delaware Salute to Service are Bio Tek reMEDYS, Bank of America, Belfint Lyons Shuman, Covenant Wealth Strategies, Discover Bank, Farnan Law LLP, Harvey Hanna & Associates, LabWare, M&T Bank, Newark Recycling Center, The South Jersey Group, United Healthcare, WSFS Bank, Sam and Joan Beard, Rob and Linda Harra, Edrees & Nicole Siddiqi and Patricia Curtin White, M.D. and Family.

Award categories and winners:

Outstanding Service by a Young American

  • Lauren Tyree. Lauren is a freshman at St. Mark’s High School and has logged over 500 hours of volunteer service. Lauren is a Spartan Ambassador, member of the Peace of Mind Club promoting mental health and social impact awareness, Z Club service and women’s advocacy club, Leo Club, vacation bible school volunteer, and is an 8-year Girls on the Run volunteer. During the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lauren was troubled by seeing so many in her community suffering from food insecurity. She worked with her family and others to start Cul-de-sac Concerts, a weekly livestreamed concert series that presented over 100 performers, attracted over 30,000 online viewers, and raised $25,000 for local food banks. Lauren recently attained her Eagle Scout award as the first and only female and the youngest member in her troop to do so. Her Eagle Scout project was recruiting volunteers to build a Gaga pit for an elementary school. When the national United Methodist Church discontinued their charter relationship with Scouts BSA, Lauren recognized that the future of her female Boy Scout Troop was at risk. So, Lauren created another non-profit, Growth and Leadership Development Network, to charter four Scout Units in her area enabling about 100 youth to continue scouting now and into the future.

Outstanding Service by Employees in the Workplace — New Castle County Government

  • Taya Dianna — Dianna has been with New Castle County since 2004, currently serving in the Community Service Department as the Graphic Arts Designer. Starting with tennis lessons 20 years ago, Ms. Dianna has done everything in her power to help grow the sport, from captaining recreational leagues for over 15 years, to leading the Impact Team Tennis, hosting a US Open bus trip, to volunteering with Tennis in the Streets, and running the Delaware Tennis Facebook page which has acquired more than 1.6K members all in a volunteer capacity. Her work has enabled inner-city youth to be introduced to the sport and benefit from the impact that sports and teamwork can have on one person. Ms. Dianna has spent over 20 years volunteering as a team captain for the USTA and captained over 200 volunteer tennis teams impacting over 2,400 people.
  • Stephanie Moore — Ms. Moore has been with New Castle County for approximately five years and currently serves the Department of Land Use as a Certified Assessor. Ms. Moore is a dedicated leader for the Scout Pack and Troop serving as the treasurer and secretary as well as the new member coordinator. She welcomes new members and often coordinates fundraisers to ensure all who are interested have an opportunity to participate and benefit from the program. As an adoptive mother of a child who was formerly in the foster care system, she sacrifices her time and finances to ensure the next generation can benefit from the combined support and adventure being an honorable Scout allows all regardless of income, social and economic status, and access. Breaking barriers is what she does, not only in her professional life but also in her philanthropic work.
  • Stephanie Rizzo — Ms. Rizzo has been with New Castle County for approximately 24 years, currently serving as an administrator in community services. Ms. Rizzo is a volunteer for Court Appointed Special Advocate assigned to advocating for youth in the foster care system. She is an advocate and support for the youth that follows up with DFS, foster parents, birth parents and schools to ensure they receive the best care. Additionally, she volunteers for the Newark Skatepark where in 2021, Ms. Moore stepped in when they lost their 501c3 status to ensure the standards of accountability and insurance requirements were met so it could remain a safe and productive outlet for the youth. She filed proper paperwork with the government agencies, created a new board of directors to allow the organization to remain a safe, uplifting, and fun environment for local youth serving thousands every year.
  • Katherine Watts — Senior Corporal Watts has served New Castle County for approximately 17 years and currently works with the Paramedic division. She has dedicated a significant amount of her time towards providing CPR education to the public, specifically underserved communities. Corporal Watts has spearheaded the implementation of Hands-Only CPR classes developed for New Castle County paramedics to train citizens. She also volunteers her time with Dejavu Safety to provide free CPR training and certification throughout the community. Ms. Watts has been dedicated to spreading knowledge and education surrounding cardiac arrest statistics and was recently awarded the “Preceptor of the Year” award. Additionally, she has been appointed as the Mental Health Resource Officer for the division. Senior Corporal Watts has dedicated a significant amount of time, energy, and volunteer efforts to the community to help save lives on and off the clock.

Outstanding Service Benefiting Local Communities- WBOC-TV

  • Threasa Brittingham—Ms. Brittingham is a beacon of hope for those in need in the Milton community. Her giving spirit has led her to open a “Giving Cellar” in her home, where she provides free necessities to those who are struggling to make ends meet. Since its opening in August, the cellar has served over 200 visitors. Ms. Brittingham’s dedication to helping others doesn’t stop there. She is the woman behind Milton’s Simply Milton Facebook page and Buy Nothing group, which both focus on community building and supporting those in need. Ms. Brittingham is known as “Momma Milton” to many, and her annual Field Day event for local children, as well as her organization of Grad Fairies during the COVID-19 pandemic, are just a few examples of her tireless efforts to help others.
  • Bernard Carr — Mr. Carr is a dedicated community servant known for his volunteer work, photography, and philanthropy. After serving three years in the Army and four years at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he continued his service by mentoring youth in foster care, sponsoring girls’ basketball, and volunteering at the annual Father/Daughter Dance. He is also the founder and CEO of bwadecarrPHOTOGRAPHY, LLC, which awards an annual sports scholarship to a Woodbridge High School female athlete. He serves on various boards, including as President of the Delaware State University Alumni Association, Inc. Sussex County Chapter, and Vice President of the NAACP Lower Sussex Branch. Bernard has received numerous awards for his outstanding community service, including the Hometown Hero award from the Parker Group and the Community Service award from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
  • William W. (Bill) Collick—Mr. Collick is a well-respected educator and community leader with 45 years of experience. He began as a teacher and coach in the Cape Henlopen School District, working his way up to administrative positions at Delaware State University and Sussex Technical High School. Mr. Collick is known for his work with various organizations, including the Seaford Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, and Children and Families First. He was a founding board member of Pathways to Success, which supports several Delaware high schools. Mr. Collick is currently serving his second 4-year term with Habitat for Humanity and volunteers at Westside New Beginnings. He has a deep connection to his hometown of Lewes and is passionate about preserving the town’s history through his work with the Lewes Historical Society.

Outstanding Service by a High School

  • The Charter School of Wilmington — During the 2023 Students in Action End-of-Year Reflection process, Charter School of Wilmington earned a Gold Banner, Best Reflection, Student Choice Award, and Most Outstanding SIA Team to represent Delaware at the national level. In their 10th year of planning and hosting Charterthon, they earned $100,778.83, which exceeded their ambitious goal. Their efforts span an entire year of hosting events within their school and in the community to raise both funds and awareness of the plight of children fighting cancer, and the B+Foundation, which exists to support the families of kids with cancer through financial assistance, research funding, advocacy, and education. This year Charter School of Wilmington faced new challenges, added more activities to Charterthon to build excitement and attendance, and increased the education and advocacy in their fundraising, telling their “why” in every activity and interaction.

Outstanding Service by a Company or Organization

  • Carl M. Freeman Foundation — The Carl M. Freeman Foundation, a private family foundation established in 1960, has a long history of supporting nonprofit organizations. They seek to honor their founders’ legacies and passions by endorsing excellence, leveraging resources, and promoting innovative community-based leadership and giving. Founded in 2000, its Freeman Assists Communities with Extra Support program is designed to find and fund the smaller, overlooked projects in our neighborhoods. Their belief is that the major nonprofit organizations with visibility and ample support win most donors’ attention. The FACES advisory board provides a unique insight into community needs and priorities, which allows them to support projects that are most important to the community. In 2022, FACES Sussex doubled their award funds from their traditional $50,000 to $100,000 which allowed 15 non-profit grantees to receive $10,000, $5,000 or $2,500 grants. Their impact since 1960 includes cumulative grants and commitments of $55.9M to a total of 1,015 organizations.

Outstanding Service Benefiting Local Communities — Delaware Today/Delaware Business Times

  • Mariah Calagione — Ms. Calagione has made waves in Delaware with her service activities, philanthropy, and delicious brews. The co-founder of Dogfish Head Brewery, Ms. Calagione has raised over $7M for nonprofits throughout Delaware and the country. She’s been a part of many local organizations, including the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and The Nature Conservancy Delaware Chapter, and has been on several school boards. She is the producer of the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival and a founder of the Red Wagon Calagione Family Foundation. Ms. Calagione was also selected to represent Delaware Today/Delaware Business Times at the Jefferson Awards National Ceremony in New York in October.
  • Stephanie DiMartine — Born and raised in Wilmington, Ms. DiMartine is a local fundraising legend. The event coordinator for Children and Families First, Ms. DiMartine dedicates her free time to coaching bowling, bocce, and basketball for the Special Olympics. She got involved in 1993, when she first saw 2-year-old Amber Benson bowling. The little girl had spina bifida, and Ms. DiMartine was struck by her resilient, passionate spirit. Soon, DiMartine was coaching bowling for the Special Olympics. She is the top individual fundraiser for the Special Olympics Lewes Polar Bear Plunge, raising over $17,000 in 2023, and she’s raised well over $150,000 for Special Olympics in the last five years.
  • Babita Jagnanan — Ms. Jagnanan is Delaware’s first and only female minority textile recycler, and the owner/operator of Phoenix Used Clothing Corp. The organization’s mission is to save textiles from landfills by redistributing usable clothing and household items to people in need, such as those who are reacclimating to life after incarceration, those with physical and mental disabilities, single parents, and low-income families. Phoenix provides food for the homeless, support for those recovering from addiction and bulk contributions after natural disasters.
  • Rylie Maedler — When Ms. Maedler was in second grade, she was diagnosed with Aggressive Giant Cell Granuloma Bone Tumors, which began painfully eating away at most of the bones in her face. She was told that she’d be deformed, toothless and most likely deaf. Ms. Maedler’s family decided to administer medical cannabis. To the shock of Ms. Maedler’s doctors, her pain and swelling decreased, followed by bone regeneration and tumor shrinkage. However, medical cannabis was illegal for children in Delaware at the time. Ms. Maedler began to advocate for it, passing four Delaware laws related to medical cannabis. She also began public speaking, traveling the world to advocate for more research and less stigma.
  • Ketanya Moore — Ms. Moore first realized the importance of community when she was a child, and her home burned down twice. She and her family were forced to stay in a homeless shelter. She resolved to do her utmost to keep others out of that same situation. Now, she’s the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Community Inspired Actions, which provides aid for youth and families and transitional living for young people in the foster care system. On top of that, Ms. Moore is also a licensed real estate agent and a mother of five. Go to cia-delaware.org to help.
  • Laralyn Willey — Ms. Willey, of Seaford, grew up watching her mother, a dedicated nurse, give back to her community. In 2019, when Ms. Willey’s 14-year-old son, Cole, was diagnosed with high-risk Pre-B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Ms. Willey followed in her mother’s footsteps. She founded the Colestrong Foundation, an organization that raises awareness and funds for teens battling cancer and their siblings. To help, volunteer, donate, or participate at events, visit colestrongfoundation.com, Facebook, or Instagram to learn more.

Partner organizations that support Multiplying Good initiatives in Delaware include the following: Media Partners:  Delaware Today/Delaware Business Times, WBOC-TV; Multiplying Good Champion: New Castle County Government; Partners and Corporate Supporters: Ally Bank, Bank of America, Belfint Lyons and Shuman, Bio Tek reMEDys, Christiana Care Health Systems  Crestlea Foundation, Covenant Wealth Strategies, Delaware Community Foundation, Delaware Grant In Aid, Discover Bank, Farnan Law LLC, Incyte, Jobs for Delaware Graduates, LabWare, M&T Bank, Newark Recycling Center, P.J. Fitzpatrick, Prominent Insurance, Rock Solid Contracting,  State Farm Insurance, Sussex County Council, The Rotary Club of Wilmington, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, The Chichester duPont Foundation,  The South Jersey Group, and The Teen Warehouse, UnitedHealthcare, the University of Delaware, Verdantas and WSFS Bank.

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