Last November, the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation (PDFF) commemorated a decade of forward-thinking initiatives with the 10th Anniversary of the Reinventing Delaware Dinner. This milestone event brought together some of Delaware’s brightest minds to share bold ideas for shaping the state’s future. More than 100 innovative ideas were presented at the dinner, and five semi-finalists were selected to advance to the next round. These visionaries are redefining Delaware’s future with their bold, transformative proposals:
Delaware Health Equity Coalition Inc. Championed by Dr. Cydney Teal, this initiative aims to make healthcare equitable for low-income and diverse populations across Delaware.
Community Development Corporation Championed by Joel Amin and Bryce Fender, the Community Development Corporation is a proposed program under WilmInvest focused on lifting low-income individuals out of poverty in Wilmington and surrounding areas.
Future Aviator Project Championed by Devon Mitchell, the Future Aviator Project seeks to position Delaware as a leader in aviation innovation and clean energy.
Vertiport Delaware Championed by Ashlee Cooper, Vertiport Delaware focuses on integrating eVTOL aircraft and drones into Delaware’s transportation system.
Wilmington School District Championed by Richard Forsten, the Wilmington School District concept envisions the creation of an independent school district to improve education outcomes and opportunities in Wilmington.
These semi-finalists recently completed the first phase of the Reinventing Delaware program, participating in a dynamic ideation session to assess the viability of their ideas and develop immediate action plans to bring them to life. These services, valued at $5,000 each, provide critical support to help turn their proposals into reality.
Next Steps: Turning Ideas Into Action
In the coming weeks, our review committee—including PDFF staff, board members Thère du Pont and Jacqueline Flowers, Helena Rodriguez of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, and Scott Malfitano of the Delaware Workforce Development Board—will select up to three finalists. These finalists will receive development resources valued at over $20,000 and compete for a $15,000 grant to implement their ideas, driving economic growth, creating jobs, and making Delaware an even better place to work and live.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
This year’s Reinventing Delaware Dinner was made possible by the generous support of our sponsors: CSC, Mrs. Elise du Pont, Highmark, Barclays, and Terry Strine. Their contributions have been instrumental in underwriting the ideation and development process, helping to bring these transformative ideas to fruition.
Join Our Mission in 2025
We are currently seeking additional supporters and sponsors for the next phase of the program. By underwriting development services or making a donation, you can play a crucial role in fostering innovation and driving economic growth in Delaware.
For more details on getting involved with the Reinventing Delaware initiative as a sponsor, contact Lynn Roberts at [email protected]. You can also visit our donation page to support the idea development program. Your contribution helps invest strategic, practical resources to position businesses for success, ultimately creating jobs and improving our community.