ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

On 2026-05-19, Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) delivered a floor speech titled "ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS" in the Senate.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2367] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ______ RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF DELAWARE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize and congratulate the Delaware Community Foundation, DCF, on 40 years of extraordinary service to the State of Delaware through its enduring commitment to philanthropy, community investment, and collaborative leadership. Over the last four decades, DCF has brought together individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits to strengthen communities and find solutions that work for all Delawareans. Delaware Community Foundation was established in 1986 with Jack Quindlen, then-treasurer of the DuPont Corporation, serving as its first board chair. Just a few years later, in 1989, Governor Mike Castle endorsed the Delaware Community Foundation, and the State appropriated $2 million to support nonprofit organizations through the DCF ``as an investment in the charitable future of Delaware.'' Since its founding, the Delaware Community Foundation has celebrated many milestones in service to our community. In 1992, the DCF exceeded $1 million in grants to nonprofits for the first time. The following year, it elected the first female chair, making another important step forward in its leadership. In 1997, the community services building opened in Wilmington, providing affordable office space for the nonprofits in the region. The DCF worked diligently on this project to bring that vision to reality and remains headquartered there today. In 2002, the Delaware Community Foundation expanded its reach in the State and established its first southern Delaware office in Georgetown. In the mid-2000s, the DCF recognized the importance of cultivating future leaders in philanthropy and established the Next Gen North and Next Gen South young professionals groups. Together, these groups have contributed more than $500,000 to their communities up and down the State of Delaware while also inspiring a new generation of civic engagement and philanthropic leadership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Delaware Community Foundation once again showed its unwavering commitment to the State and raised $5 million in just a few months. It was one of the first organizations in the country to begin granting funds to nonprofits and communities facing unprecedented challenges. Today, the Delaware Community Foundation continues to be a thriving philanthropic organization, providing necessary grant funding, as well as technical assistance and support, to nearly 200 nonprofits in the State that have established funds at the DCF. This year alone, the DCF will grant more than $25 million to the Delaware community, and by the end of 2026, it is on track to deliver a record-breaking $1 million in scholarships to allow students across Delaware to further their academic careers without the burden of excessive student debt. At a time where philanthropy is more critical than ever to ensuring our local communities can grow and thrive, the DCF is working tirelessly to help organizations meet the moment. In the spring of 2025, the DCF opened the Meet the Moment grant program, a $545,000 grant program, offering grants of up to $20,000 to support a variety of needs for nonprofits. Over 175 organizations applied, with requests totaling above $3.3 million, signaling the dire need for philanthropic support in this moment. The Delaware Community Foundation has provided more than $1 million in grants and programming to date through the Meet the Moment program to help organizations grow and work in an ever- changing philanthropic landscape. Today, I invite my colleagues to join me and the people of Delaware in honoring the outstanding work of the Delaware Community Foundation in celebration of its 40th anniversary. I extend my deepest gratitude to the DCF and know that its steadfast leadership will continue to be reflected in all they do for the State of Delaware for years to come. ____________________