Big Fish Charitable Foundation hires executive director
Big Fish Charitable Foundation's latest hire is all in the family. Jen Burton, whose brothers Eric and Norman Sugrue own and operate the Big Fish Restaurant Group, will serve as executive director for the group's foundation.
“I wanted to do something more community oriented,” Burton said. “It's the perfect fit for me right now, with me going off the school board.”
Burton is in her fifth year as a school board representative for area D, which covers the Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach area. She said she will not run for re-election.
As executive director of the foundation, Burton said she will work with a seven-member board in deciding where to donate money. Board members are Eric Sugrue, Holly Monaco, Jeremy Diehl, Jenna Douglass, Nick Hammonds, Sarah Dickey Feist and Jim Barr.
Funding for the foundation primarily comes from the Big Fish Restaurant Group and three foundation fundraising events. The restaurant group includes Rehoboth Beach's Big Fish Grill, Summer House, Salt Air and the Crab House; Big Fish on the Riverfront and Bella Coast in Wilmington; and Big Fish Grill in Glen Mills, Pa.
“They take a portion of their sales and put it into the foundation,” Burton said.
The Big Fish 5K, a Summer House Golf Tournament and a Big Fish Tennis Tournament also raise money for the foundation – a 501-c nonprofit organization.
Burton will continue to work part time as a property manager, but will cover more ground in her new position.
“I will be working up and down the state,” she said.
Locally, the foundation has donated to the Children's Beach House in Lewes and Mariner Middle School. The foundation donated $10,000 to Beebe Healthcare's Children's Wing and another $10,000 to the Ronald McDonald House in Wilmington, Burton said.
Burton said Beebe is buying a blanket and light to treat jaundiced babies, and also will purchase car seats for families who need them.
The foundation is also establishing a scholarship for an aspiring culinary arts or hospitality management major.
Burton said she looks forward to her new role. “Big Fish has always been very generous with the community,” she said.
Melissa Steele is a staff writer covering the state Legislature, government and police. Her newspaper career spans more than 30 years and includes working for the Delaware State News, Burlington County Times, The News Journal, Dover Post and Milford Beacon before coming to the Cape Gazette in 2012. Her work has received numerous awards, most notably a Pulitzer Prize-adjudicated investigative piece, and a runner-up for the MDDC James S. Keat Freedom of Information Award.
