Giving back: Longwood Foundation, Louis Capano, SoDel Concepts

827
Advertisement

(Send your news  items to drainey@delawarebusinessnow.com)

NCALL received a  grant of $400,000 for the development of the new commercial space in downtown Dover.

[Not a valid template]Demolition has begun and soon construction will start on NCALL’s 3-story multi-purpose building on the corner of West Division Street and North New Street.

NCALL’s Executive Director, Karen Speakman, said the building will be fully accessible to everyone. “There will be offices for Restoring Central Dover, a place for community meetings, Delaware State University’s small business incubator, and much more,” she said. “Many thanks go to Thère du Pont, Foundation President, and the Longwood Trustees for their generosity and vision!”

Visit  www.ncall.org   for more information.

Advertisement

NCALL is a non-profit affordable housing organization. The organization has assisted more than 8,750 households in Delaware in becoming new homeowners.

Louis Capano honored by Mary Campbell Center founder

The Mary Campbell Center has awarded Louis J. Capano, Jr., its Joseph J. Picciotti, Jr. Chairman’s Award. Presented yesterday by the 94-year old Picciotti, the Center’s co-founder and award namesake, the recognition honors those who have shown a steadfast commitment to serving and supporting the organization’s mission.

“It is the wonderful people who work here at The Mary Campbell Center that deserve all the recognition,” says award recipient Louis J. Capano Jr., who along with his son Louis Capano III, runs Capano Management. “These people do God’s work.”

Capano shared with attendees that he grew up next to what is now The Mary Campbell Center. “As a child I clearly remember Mary’s husband, Mr. Amos Campbell, sitting on the porch of the old farmhouse with their daughter Evelyn at his side,” he said. “It has been a huge privilege watching the center grow into such a vibrant part of our community – and I am very proud to have played a small role in that growth.”

“Mr. Capano is very private about his contribution and didn’t seek this honor,” said Tom Shea, the Center’s Director of External Affairs. “He has answered every call for help, and always comes through for us. This award is our way of saying thank you in a public way for his dedicated support over the decades.” 

Established in 1976, The Mary Campbell Center offers a home-like  residential community for the care of people with physical and cognitive challenges. With  68 full-time residents, the Center also extends programs and services to other organizations serving individuals with disabilities.

Habitat for Humanity holds Brush with Kindness Breakfast

 Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County (HFHNCC) celebrated the Brush with Kindness Breakfast last month. The event served as a showcase for ”

Thanks to support from JP Morgan Chase, Habitat has undertaken a leadership role in coordinating repair work for homeowners in the City of Wilmington, working in collaboration with seven nonprofit partners, a release stated. 

Testimonials offered at the event showcased Habitat’s investment in keeping homeowners safe, warm and dry and working to allow senior citizens to age in place in their own homes.

“Habitat is best known for constructing decent affordable housing and offering 0% interest mortgages to qualified homeowners”  said  Rick Gessner, HFHNCC Board President, “this event was an opportunity the story of how our repair program stabilizes and revitalizes neighborhoods.”

The program concluded with a call to action to support Habitat and assist the agency in matching a $25,000 gift made by an anonymous donor. 

With the commitment of guests, board members, and friends, HFHNCC was able to raise approximately $70,000. 

SoDel donates $4,000 to Food Bank

SoDel Cares, the philanthropic arm of SoDel Concepts, recently donated $4,000 to the Food Bank of Delaware, which provides nutritious foods to Delawareans in need and facilitate long-term solutions to the problems of hunger and poverty through community education and advocacy.

The Food Bank’s culinary program teaches under- and unemployed individuals the skills needed, such as math and management training, so they can gain a foothold in the hospitality industry.

“Chef Tim Hunter, the executive chef for the Food Bank, is a wonderful teacher and a great resource for the students in the culinary program,” said Doug Ruley, vice president of culinary operations for SoDel Concepts. “He’s dedicated to making sure the students are prepared to successfully work in a fast-paced commercial kitchen.”

Some of SoDel Concepts’ most valuable employees are graduates of the program, said Scott Kammerer, president of SoDel Concepts, which has 11 restaurants in coastal Sussex County, Delaware. “We’ve seen firsthand the wonderful things that the Food Bank does for the community, and we support their mission to provide second chances,” he said.

 

Advertisement
Advertisement