Lewes awards 2026 nonprofit grants
Historic Lewes, formerly the Lewes Historical Society, was the big winner from the new City of Lewes grant awards program.
Mayor and city council doled out checks to nine local organizations at its April 13 meeting.
Nonprofits that are based in Lewes were eligible to share a pot of $99,200. Grants were divided into small and large categories.
Historic Lewes received a $21,000 large grant and a $2,500 small grant for a total of $23,500. Go Fourth 250 fireworks received a single $20,000 award. Lightship Overfalls received a $9,300 large grant and a $2,800 small grant.
Other recipients were:
• Lewes Public Library - $17,950
• Daughters of the American Revolution - $10,000
• History Book Festival of Lewes - $7,500
• Friends of Lewes Canalfront Park - $4,150
• Children’s Beach House - $2,500
• Historic Lewes Farmers Market - $1,500.
“This is about celebrating the value of our nonprofits. We could not live in this community without your dedication, volunteers and creativity,” said Mayor Amy Marasco.
The Lewes Fire Department and Lewes in Bloom received separate annual contributions from the city.
The nonprofit awards were the result of a first-year pilot program. A team comprising Councilwoman Trina Brown-Hicks, City Manager Ellen Lorraine McCabe and finance committee members Kerry Tripp, George Cole and Deb Hansen reviewed the applications and made recommendations to council.
Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.
