Through words and music, district students illustrated how Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation grants have broadened their experiences at the annual Friends of Cape event Nov. 14 at Sussex Consortium.

In welcoming attendees and thanking them for their support, Cape Assistant Superintendent Jenny Nauman said such grants have contributed to students’ interests in cultural experiences, physical activities, philanthropy, performing arts and academics.

By inspiring learning and preparing students for healthy, productive lives in a diverse global society, CHEF gives students the tools they need to succeed, Nauman said.

“During the past 13 years, CHEF has contributed an amazing $331,000 for grant awardees,” Nauman said to a round of applause.

One grant recipient is Cape Supervisor of Special Programs Dr. Eileen Baker, who helped organize the state’s largest bocce tournament with Special Olympics Delaware at Cape High Oct. 10. CHEF provided 350 Cape shirts for participants, Baker said.

Baker then introduced Girl Scout Troop 701 members Katie Curry, Madison Handley, Claudia Stazzone and Delaney Huxtable. The girls have been together nine years, since kindergarten at Shields Elementary, Baker said.

“They have some of the biggest hearts of anyone I’ve ever been around, and they’re going to tell you how they’re using their big hearts to give back to the community,” Baker said, noting troop members applied for the grant on their own.

For the past two years, students said, they have assembled 120 birthday bags filled with personalized cards, tissues, stickers, pencils and other items for school social workers to give to students experiencing homelessness so their birthdays could be extra special.

This year, students said they added Cape T-shirts to the bags so their peers could feel included and show pride in their school. Surf Bagel also donated a $10 gift card for each bag as an extra treat, students said.

Cape High Band Director Chris Burkhart said CHEF scholarships enable students to attend a music camp in Maine in existence since the 1930s. There, he said, students work with college professors and instructors from around the world to hone their craft and make connections.

“The fact that we get to do this for our students at Cape is really, really special,” Burkhart said.

Burkhart said a lot of music teachers he talks to wonder how Cape district students get to attend and participate in so many performances, competitions and field trips.

“The answer is that on top of being an amazing arts school district, we have an amazing organization, CHEF, that prioritizes taking care of our students,” he said.

Many students will go on to pursue musical careers, he said, but most won’t.

“It’s a thing that makes them a whole person, that makes them well-rounded, and Cape and CHEF prioritize doing that for our kids,” he said.

Zion Hood, who attended New England Music Camp thanks to a CHEF grant, said the opportunity gave him a haven to learn about his new bass trombone, make friends and feel comfortable in his own skin, he said.

Singer, clarinetist and pianist Dylenn Enright said her skills grew from the training she received in just one month at the music camp, where meeting college professors has helped open a gateway for her future.

Anna Coverdale said she might not have been able to attend the camp without assistance from CHEF, which allowed her to pursue her passion. The organization helps kids do what they want to do, she said.

Samuel Mincey said he probably would have been unable to attend the camp, but CHEF paid for his tuition. At camp, he said, his vocal teacher helped him discover his tone and define his voice as a person.

Rehoboth Elementary school counselor Renee Kosc said a CHEF grant enabled her to purchase 25 comfort bags for students grieving the loss of a loved one. The bags are filled with coloring and activity books, crayons, tissues, string and beads to make memory bracelets, a blank journal and resources for parents. 

Director of Teaching & Learning LouAnn Hudson said CHEF supports the district mentoring program by purchasing games and supplies, funding ice cream socials and providing gifts for students to give their mentors.

“It meant a lot to kids to be able to give their mentor a gift at the end of the year and to have that time with them,” Hudson said.

Sussex Consortium Vocational Coordinator Pam Graves said her students have benefitted mentally, emotionally and physically from a horse riding program at Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding. This year, she said, 16 students are in the program and attend on a rotating schedule twice a week.

Students not only ride, she said, they also groom and provide foot care for the horses and replace tackle. Saddling up on a horse is very helpful to people with disabilities, she said.

“Horses are so in tune with nonverbal cues in their environment they can help aid people with a variety of issues,” she said.

Benefits include improved balance, faster reflexes, muscle strength and coordination, self confidence, patients and cooperative skills, she said.

Student Annmarie Perrotta, now 21, has participated in the program since she was 5. Horseback riding stretches her whole body, she said, and she would recommend it for anyone with a disability.

“It makes me feel free and independent, almost like I don’t have a disability,” Annmarie said. “It makes me feel relaxed, and it’s the best therapy out there.”

Closing out the evening, CHEF board President Rick Grier-Reynolds said CHEF’s job is to raise money to strengthen and create opportunities for students and teachers. He invited the audience to attend Winter Jam, CHEF’s signature event, which raised $100,000 last year.

“That is the goal,” Grier-Reynolds said.

For more information, go to chef-cape.org.