Gallo Gives Foundation awards community donations
Proud to be in the fourth year of making a difference in the community in which its associates live and serve, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty’s Gallo Gives Foundation awarded several of its 2020 second-quarter earnings donations to the Ronald McDonald House, Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice, Rehoboth Beach Film Society, Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation, Literacy Delaware, Ken Cicerale Memorial Music Fund and Just Us Cat Rescue. The total donated for this series of giving was $9,000.
Ronald McDonald House Charities was awarded $3,000 to support Its mission to create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families. It provides more than 2.5 million overnight stays each year, helping families save over $930 million in hotel and meal expenses. To support and help the RMHC, go to rmhc.org.
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice received $2,000. The nonpartisan organization educates, informs and advocates for racial justice, equality and fair opportunity. Some of its goals are to educate for change through knowledge and understanding of past and current racial issues and conditions, enrich cultural environment through multiracial collaboration, address racial and criminal injustice, advocate for ways to improve the criminal justice system in Delaware, and promote positive change for the future of youth. To aid the SDARJ, go to sdarj.org.
Rehoboth Beach Film Society received $1,000 specifically for the Glenn C. Bowman Endowment Fund. Bowman was a board member whose love of independent film was amazing and whose untimely death in 2001 was a tremendous loss to the film society. As part of his estate, he made a financial donation to the film society, and the board decided to establish the Glenn C. Bowman Endowment Fund in honor of his generosity. The fund supports community participation initiatives, primarily outreach efforts that Bowman saw as part of the film society’s mission. Part of the fund was used to support the creation of the Cinema Art Theater, a project that Bowman would think is a great outreach to the community. For more information or to donate, go to rehobothfilm.com.
The Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation was given $1,000. The foundation is dedicated to fostering, advocating for and participating in the preservation of historic Delaware River and Bay lighthouses and will demonstrate this commitment through the restoration and preservation of Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse. It strives to impact not only the Delaware River and Bay communities, but people of all ages and backgrounds in a manner that attains the highest levels of maritime education and cultural enrichment. The foundation regularly participates in community activities and provides presentations to other organized groups. To donate, go to delawarebaylights.org.
Literacy Delaware Inc. received $1,000. The organization assists adults reading at or below a fifth-grade reading level and/or adults who do not speak English to significantly improve their literacy skills. Members believe literacy has the power to open minds and change lives. Volunteer tutors receive 21 hours of training in which they learn a variety of techniques to assist clients. A tutor commits to a yearly 90 hours of tutoring. Many tutors have continued to teach long after completing their initial commitment. Literacy Delaware provides ongoing support and guidance to train tutors through in-service workshops and assistance from staff. Literacy Delaware is an accredited affiliate member of ProLiteracy, which provides research, training resources, and professional development for those in need. To support these efforts, go to literacydelaware.org.
The Ken Cicerale Memorial Music Fund received $500. The name Cicerale was synonymous with intimate jazz. A former student of legendary saxophonists Gerry Niewood and Frank Foster, he performed for many years as both leader and sideman with various jazz and pop ensembles in the greater New York area. CIcerale lived in southern Delaware and performed with the jazz group 5th Avenue, which featured Jeff Cooper on acoustic bass and Ken Schleifer on drums. The 5th Avenue group performed locally in Delaware as well as New York City and Washington, D.C. His family wished to establish an annual scholarship in his name for two jazz music students pursuing college. To donate to this fund, go to delcf.org/donations/ken-cicerale-fund.
Just Us Cat Rescue received $500. The rescue’s mission is to meet immediate and long-range goals in cat rescue in the local community. Its volunteers attempt to rescue and place adoptable cats and kittens as well as provide TNR programs to trap, neuter and return feral cats and kittens in communities. It offers education programs to local communities to assist, whenever possible, in solving cat issues. The rescue is a nonprofit organization that depends on donations of funds, food, medicines, toys, and bedding. Just Us has paid for 356 spay/neuter surgeries for cats so far in 2020. To volunteer or donate, call Kathy at 302-228-1931 or visit the group's page on Facebook.
