Reinventing Delaware awarded a $15,000 and $7,000 prize.
The Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation celebrated a decade of community innovation last week by awarding $22,000 to two standout initiatives during its 10th annual Reinventing Delaware event at the DuPont Country Club.
The flagship event, which brings together business leaders and changemakers from across the state, recognized the Delaware Health Empowerment Coalition (DHEC) and WilmInvest’s Community Development Corporation for their impactful, scalable ideas aimed at improving life in Delaware.
DHEC, led by a team of four physicians—Drs. Cydney Teal, Velma Scantlebury, Felicia Stallings, and Joan Coker—received the top honor and a $15,000 grant.
The initiative focuses on delivering culturally competent, community-based healthcare to underserved populations, with a long-term goal of expanding to three locations and reaching over 20,000 patients statewide.
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WilmInvest, a Wilmington-based organization that originally debuted at Reinventing Delaware in 2018, was awarded $7,000 for its new Community Development Corporation.
Founders Joel Amin and Bryce Fender aim to transform distressed, investor-owned properties into opportunities for homeownership, while also offering residents support services. To date, they’ve developed 33 housing units and helped house more than 100 individuals.
In addition to the awards, PDFF announced a new structure for future competitions that will separate nonprofit and for-profit tracks—designed to better support diverse ideas. The initiative continues to receive backing from sponsors including CSC, Barclays, Highmark, and others.
The Foundation will host its 2026 Reinventing Delaware Dinner on November 18, 2025. The event serves as the launchpad for the next round of idea submissions, which are open now through October 1.
Delaware residents with innovative, community-strengthening ideas are encouraged to apply online via the Foundation’s website.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
Jarek can be reached by email at jarek@dimgrey-peafowl-504880.hostingersite.com or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.
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