Steve Crawford named president of Milton Community Foundation
The Milton Community Foundation, now in its 12th year, announced its new President Steve Crawford.
Crawford moved to Milton in 2012 and joined the board in 2016 following his successful launch of the Milton Mural Project on the side of Irish Eyes. The mural won a national award from the United States Sign Council. Crawford, formerly a telecommunications project manager and process engineer, is joined by two new board members, Randy Brown from Avery Hall Insurance, and Claire Porterfield, horticulturist and retired parks and recreation leader. Melanie R. Oliver, Milton's M&T Bank manager, and Tiffany Walter, Milton's County Bank manager, joined the foundation's board in 2017.
Established in 2006 as an IRS tax-exempt nonprofit organization, the foundation has initiated and supported projects and programs that serve the Milton community, including cultural, educational, charitable, civic and environmental activities. Its unique role is escrowing funds for citizen-led initiatives, most recently the Milton Mural Project.
Foundation plans for 2018 include fundraising for summer concerts in Memorial Park, providing scholarships from the Gladys Wilkins Seeding the Future Scholarship Fund, and supporting the Noble Prettyman Cap and Gown Fund for Cape Henlopen students who are unable to afford them. It will host its second fundraising bingo night Tuesday, June 12, to help support these efforts.
Past support from Delaware's Division of the Arts and the Delaware Division of Humanities made possible the foundation's initial project, a statue of John Milton in Mill Park. MCF then partnered with DNREC and the University of Delaware to facilitate the installation of rain gardens at H.O. Brittingham Elementary School, M&T Bank and the Milton library to manage stormwater runoff. It also received funds from Delaware Economic Development Office in partnership with the town's economic development committee.
It contributed funds for the first three Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festivals, events at Milton Theatre and support to local organizations including Milton Garden Club, Milton Lions Club and Friends of the Milton Public Library.
Other MCF officers include Vice President John Potocki, owner of Salon Milton; Secretary Lisa Falzarano, owner of Mercantile Antiques; Treasurer Larry Savage, church leader and retired Wilmington Trust employee; records keeper Beverly White, former manager of Wilmington Trust in Milton; and past MCF Presidents Charlie Fleetwood, Joan Martin-Brown and Emory West.
