Paul Kares charity names new executive director

Paul Kares Inc., a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity created to benefit children in the culinary and musical arts, announced that Michael Whitehouse has been appointed as its executive director. The organization was founded by local celebrity chef, performer, and Delmarva entertainment and wine entrepreneur Paul Cullen (formerly of the rock band Bad Company).

Whitehouse, a veteran fundraiser for nonprofit and educational causes, most recently worked for the Lewes Historical Society, where he served as director of development from 2018 until March 2022. At LHS, he raised significant funding for historical programming and preservation in Lewes, including a major restoration of the historic Ryves Holt House on Second Street.

“I’m very excited to have Michael come on board to take the helm of Paul Kares,” said Cullen. “When a mutual friend introduced us, I realized we shared a resolve for giving back to the community, and I sensed right away that Michael would bring that enthusiasm and energy to the table.”

Paul Kares is the brainchild of Cullen and another local entrepreneur, Jim Rivette. It was founded as a nonprofit dedicated to encouraging and educating kids who show interest and passion for pursuing their dreams in the culinary and musical fields. Paul Kares’ mission is to support these young artists by providing them with the confidence, training and tools to pursue careers in their chosen artistic field.

“When Paul and Jim sat down with me and shared their vision, and I saw how passionate they were about this cause of helping young people who aspire to careers in music or the culinary arts, I just loved the idea and knew I wanted to support the effort in any way I could,” said Whitehouse. “So when Paul asked me to come on board as executive director, I was beyond excited.”

Whitehouse said working with the new community nonprofit also resonated because of the Lewes area’s vibrant and active core of generous supporters, which he first came to appreciate when he and friends started a campaign to build the Lewes Community Garden in 2016. That effort garnered widespread community support and resulted in what is today a thriving garden association.

Paul Kares struck a chord for another reason, too.

“My wife is an artist, and I have a daughter who is a photographer, and other family members who are musicians, cooks, jewelry makers and writers, so I know the challenge of making a living in the arts. Community and family support makes all the difference,” Whitehouse said.

Whitehouse’s long and eclectic career includes working as a journalist, a speech writer at the Federal Reserve, and a stock market executive, which included serving as director of West Coast media relations for NASDAQ in Menlo Park, Calif., in the early 2000s.

He did his graduate work in journalism at Penn State and has written for The Huffington Post, Bloomberg, The Harrisburg Patriot News, The San Jose Mercury News and other publications. He has also been a guest contributor to the Cape Gazette.

Before moving to Lewes in 2015, Whitehouse worked with several universities, most recently George Washington University, where he organized seminars on banking and finance, and spearheaded several fundraising efforts including creating a scholarship fund in honor of Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker.

That experience will prove helpful as Paul Kares plans to launch its first student scholarship program this summer.

“It’s a better, richer and more rewarding world for all of us when people, especially young people, are allowed and encouraged to pursue their creative passions. And Paul Kares is all about doing that,” said Whitehouse. “I’m very excited about working with Paul and Jim to grow our presence throughout the Delmarva region and beyond.”