The Music School of Delaware’s Wilmington Branch and David C. McBride, board chair, announced that board member, key donor, and long-time adult student of the Music School,
, made a donation to the school of $750,000.
Stegeman’s donation completes the funding of Phase I (new wing) and allows Music School leaders to plan and move for-ward with the second phase of their Capital Campaign.
In Phase II, funds will be raised for several capital projects, in-cluding the renovation of the concert hall and upgrading the school’s roof, heating and ventilation systems.
The support of Stegeman ensures The Music School of Delaware can also plan and prepare to reach their “Goals and Priorities for a Century of Success.”
The board initiated a strategic planning process earlier this spring in preparation for the school’s 100th anniversary year in 2025, a release stated
Board Chair McBride commented on the gift’s significance: “In addition to finishing Phase I of our capital campaign, Dr. Stegeman’s contribution demonstrates an exceptionally strong vote of confidence in the school. From our ability to prosper through the recession, to our excellent mu-sic faculty and programming, and community outreach, The Music School of Delaware is well-poised for continued success.”
Stegeman is CEO and senior scientist of Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, Inc., the company that he founded in 1982 with partner Ralph C. Hood, Jr. and two investors. He is a graduate of the University of Maine, University of Massachusetts, Rutgers University, and he was an NIH postdoctoral research fellow at Temple Medical School.
Located in West Grove, PA, the company specializes in the production and conjugation of affinity-purified secondary antibodies and purified immunoglobulins. He has served on the board of the Music School since 2010 and has been a student in violin and viola since 2001.
In speaking of his intent, Bill said: “With this gift, I want to endorse and support the visionary and positive direction the school is taking and express our appreciation for the excellence of its faculty, student accomplishment, and leadership. I hope many others will give what they can, as well.”
Volunteer of quarter
SOLitude Lake Management, Georgetown, named Greg Blackham as the Volunteer of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2015. This year, Greg has already logged 63 volunteering hours towards SOLitude’s goal of 1200 volunteer hours for 2015, including 24 personal volunteering hours and 39 hours contributed by family and friends.
In addition to encouraging his wife Alissa, daughters Lilyana and Violette as well as relatives and friends to embrace the spirit of The SOLution, Greg participated in various organized team volunteering events. He helped the Food Bank of Delaware in Milford prepare snacks for after school programs, emergency food boxes for families in crisis, food boxes for seniors, as well as participated in a spring cleaning of the coolers used for the after school program.
Greg and his family have been mainstays at weekend environmental cleanup events throughout the area. They helped the DuPont Nature Center in Delaware prepare for its spring opening, planted cape American beach grass in Delaware Seashore State Park, assisted with the Augustine Creek Wildlife area cleanup, and paddled the Brandywine Creek to remove trash and debris.
“Greg is a valued member of the SOLitude team and we appreciate his commitment to helping underprivileged families and his hard work to improve the condition of the parks and shorelines in his community,” said Tracy Fleming, director of Marketing.
Girl Scouts receive grants for Northern Resource Center
Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay announced the receipt of grants to be used towards construction of Girl Scouts’ new Northern Resource Center in greater Newark.
The new building will serve nearly 10,000 girls and 4,000 adult members throughout the Delmarva Peninsula, furthering Girl Scouts’ mission.
The New Century Club of Newark donated $25,000 and the Delaware Community Foundation’s 2015 Capital Grant Pro-gram has provided a $10,000 grant to the Capital Campaign.
The 17,000 square foot building will include a multi-purpose room, retail shop, offices, and exhibit area. The seven-acre lot will feature woods and a stream for outdoor education and citizen scientist activities.
The design/build team includes Bancroft Construction, ABHA Architects, and Landmark Engineering. Completion is slated for December at the site south of Newark, off Old Baltimore Pike. The slogan for the Northern Resource Center is “a beacon for all girls” and the front façade is designed to look like a beacon.
“Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay is grateful for the support we have received for the Northern Resource Center Capital Campaign from the New Century Club of Newark and the Delaware Community Foundation,” said Anne T. Hogan, CEO of Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay. “The Delaware Community Foundation has also supported many Girl Scout community outreach programs. Our thanks go out to both organizations as well as the many other local foundations, corporations and generous individuals who are helping to ‘build the beacon’.”
The Capital Campaign’s goal is $6.5 million. Girl Scouts have raised $3.1 million to date. DuPont CEO, Ellen Kullman, Carla Markell, and Katie O’Malley chair the effort. The public is invited to learn about Girl Scouts and the new building, including donation opportunities and commemorative brick purchases, at www.gscb.org/beacon.
KIDS 5K raises 19K
The Delaware KIDS Fund raised $19,000 and attracted 287 runners at its annual 5K Run/Walk for Kids in Newport on Aug. 1. The race has seen a sharp increase in corporate sponsorships, up from nine in 2010 to 42 in in 2015. Sponsorship dollars increased 306 percent.
Plans are being made to have two such events in Newport and the other in Dewey Beach. The 5K benefits KIDS (Kids In Distressed Situations) Fund, a 501c(3) non-profit organization providing goods and services to children at risk and in distressed situations.
