The Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation has selected MBNA as this year’s recipient of its Freedom Award, it was announced by Board Chair Thère du Pont. The award ceremony will be held on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington.
For the first time, the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation has chosen to honor a business rather than an individual. “This honoree captures both my father’s enthusiasm for entrepreneurial innovation and the priority he placed on job growth,” said du Pont. “The 1981 Financial Center Development Act was the centerpiece of his efforts to attract employers to Delaware by creating an innovative regulatory environment. MBNA, displaying both courage and vision, was one of the first to take advantage of the FCDA and immediately created a distinctive culture wrapped around service to the customer and generosity to the local community. Its impact on Delaware continues to this day and one wonders whether any of that would have happened without the vision shared by my father and MBNA’s leaders,” he added.
The Pete du Pont Freedom Award is presented annually to an individual or organization who has championed a successful idea which has led to economic growth or brought innovation to the private sector. The award honors one of Delaware’s finest leaders, Governor Pete du Pont, who delivered Delaware from harsh fiscal times into an age of vibrant economic growth by working with the legislature, business and community leaders, and educators.
Recent Freedom Award recipients include Charlie Horn, Carol Ammon, Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Mike Castle. The Freedom Award presentation serves as a key fundraising effort to help support the Foundation’s work to identify and bring to life bold and innovative ideas to make Delaware even better. As an added bonus, the presentation will include a progress report on the Reinventing Delaware competition and celebrate our Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (E3) and Reinventing Delaware alumni.
This year’s award presentation will be held from 6:00-8:30PM and will include passed hors d’oeuvres and complimentary beverages. “The Freedom Award is held in downtown Wilmington in the hopes that attendees will support local restaurants by having dinner beforehand or after the event,” said du Pont.
Sponsorship opportunities for the Freedom Award are available. Each sponsorship opportunity includes a corresponding number of complimentary tickets as well as inclusion in the event program, and mentions in event publicity. Contact Stephanie Johnnie at [email protected] to learn more.