Cape educational foundation highlights grant activities
Students and staff shared their personal stories of how grants received from the Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation have broadened their experiences and helped shape their futures during the Friends of Cape members’ event held Nov. 18 at Cape Henlopen High School.
The evening began with a short video (https://youtu.be/abwKB391-Aw) highlighting some of CHEF’s grant recipients from the last year. In welcoming attendees and thanking them for their support, Cape District Superintendent Jenny Nauman said, “Since 2007, CHEF has contributed an amazing $483,375 to 523 grant awardees! Just last year alone, CHEF gave out 57 teacher grants and eight performing arts scholarships for a total of $76,520.”
One of those recipients, Sussex Consortium Vocational Coordinator Pam Graves, discussed the grant she received for the Sussex Consortium Art Show. Graves said the Sussex Consortium After School Art Program started in 2010 with a grant provided by Very Special Arts Delaware, which is now Art Works For All. In the 2024-25 school year, the grant only covered the cost of the artist in residency and art supplies. Graves said, “Thanks to a generous grant from CHEF, we were able to showcase our students’ artwork at an art show held for families, community members and Consortium staff in the cafeteria at Cape Henlopen High School.”
The Cape Jazz Band, which provided music during the event, has also received many grants from CHEF throughout the years for art scholarships, band competition expenses and field trips to enhance their experiences with the arts. CHEF awarded eight performing arts grants this year for a total of $10,415. Attendees were treated to a performance from Skylar Jamele, who attended the Broadway Evolved Musical Theater in New York, N.Y. The Cape Chorale, which has also received several CHEF grants, performed a medley of songs.
Cape Supervisor of Special Programs Dr. Eileen Baker discussed a CHEF grant she received for the Cape District Special Olympics Bocce Tournament. She started her presentation by mentioning that the Sussex Consortium was chosen as the Unified School of the Year for Delaware. This year, thanks to a CHEF grant, the Unified Sports Program will expand to middle schools in the Cape Henlopen School District.
Attendees also heard about two programs at H.O. Brittingham Elementary that focus on leadership, community and accountability. Guys With Ties and Girls With Pearls encourage students to be role models while exposing them different career opportunities.
Cape Henlopen Human Resources Supervisor Ned Gladfelter wrapped up the presentations by discussing the Grow-Your-Own Para to Teacher Program. This is a community-based initiative designed to address teacher shortages and promote diversity in the teaching profession. The program goal is is to recruit and support individuals already working in schools, particularly paraeducators, to transition into full-time certified teachers. One of the main obstacles paraeducators identified in advancing their careers is money – the cost of the programs, certification exams and trying to maintain living expenses while being a student. Thanks to a CHEF grant, $10,000 in funds is supporting local paraeducators with their financial costs. Trevor Reed, a paraeducator at Mariner Middle School who is in the program, said, “CHEF-provided tuition reimbursement has allowed me to pursue this journey with great confidence.”
CHEF President Calvin Jackson said this year’s goal is to award $100,000 in grants, and the organization needs help from the community to raise these funds. A fun way to support CHEF is by attending the annual Winter Jam set for Friday, March 6, at the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach. He also encouraged attendees to donate to CHEF through the Friends of Cape program. Community members can donate to CHEF in escalating amounts and receive invitations to events, tickets to Winter Jam and more.
For more information about CHEF, go to chef-cape.org.
