Welcome!
Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation's Winter Jam 2024 tickets are NOW available for purchase. This year's event, which will be held on Friday, March 8th at the Rusty Rudder, promises to be bigger and better than ever. Tickets can be purchased at HERE.
All of the funds that are raised at Winter Jam will benefit educational programs for the more than 6,500 students in the Cape Henlopen School District, including teacher grants for unfunded or underfunded classroom projects, support for homeless and limited income students, STEM initiatives, performing arts education and training, and programs to promote diversity and inclusion.
Still not sure about this party with a purpose...take a glimpse of CHEF Grants in Action at https://youtu.be/F2pMCxDcQHE
WINTER (JAM) IS COMING!!
CHEF welcomes Carol Hall as new board member
The Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation has elected Carol Hall to a three-year term on its board of directors.
Hall was a teacher and counselor for 40 years in Maryland and California, and for the military and State Department students in Germany.
Hall volunteered for 20 years at charitable events in the Washington, D.C. area, and after moving to Rehoboth Beach in 2003, she continued volunteering. She has been a Rehoboth Art League docent for 18 years and serves on the RAL Docent Council. Hall has been a docent at the Rehoboth Beach Museum since it opened in 2007. In 2008, she joined the Village Improvement Association and has been an active member, chairing many of its events throughout the years, and currently serving as membership chair. Hall is also a member of her community homeowners association board.
Hall earned a master in counseling and guidance from Bowie State University in Maryland and a bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland, College Park.
“Carol is enthusiastic about education and helping students to be successful,” said Rick Grier-Reynolds, CHEF president. “She also believes that more needs to be done to support our Cape teachers and administrators.”
CHEF has been a nonprofit strategic partner of the Cape Henlopen School District since 2007. For the latest information about how CHEF is providing Cape students in kindergarten through 12th grade with the tools they need to excel in school and life, go to chef-cape-org.
CHEF welcomes new board member Jennifer Kaufmann
Jennifer Kaufmann/SUBMITTED PHOTO
The Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation has elected Jennifer Kaufmann to a three-year term on its board of directors.
Kaufmann is a native of Dover, where she graduated from Caesar Rodney High School. She received a degree in mass communication from the University of Delaware. Kaufmann has 21 years of sales and marketing experience with Fortune 500 companies, and helped found and open RISE Fitness Adventure in 2014, where she worked as a trainer for 10 years and a fitness instructor for 15 years.
Kaufmann is currently pursuing a master of social work degree at Walden University with a focus on youth and teens, and will intern at Lewes Elementary School and the Sussex Consortium during the spring and summer. She and her husband have been residents of Lewes since 2007, and her son attends Beacon Middle School.
“Jennifer has strong commitment to the Cape District and will make a great addition to our board,” said Rick Grier-Reynolds, CHEF president. “She has served as a substitute teacher for the Cape district since 2021 and as the president for the Lewes Elementary PTO for three years.”
CHEF has been a nonprofit strategic partner of the Cape Henlopen School District since 2007. For the latest information about how CHEF is providing Cape students in kindergarten through 12th grade with the tools they need to excel in school and life, go to chef-cape-org.
CHEF welcomes new board member Wanda Guyton
The Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation has elected Wanda Guyton to a three-year term on its board of directors.
An accomplished entrepreneur, Guyton has a diverse background in sales, marketing, customer service and application development.
Born and raised in Maywood, Ill., she graduated from Proviso East High School in her hometown. Guyton earned her bachelor of science degree in telecommunications management with magna cum laude honors from DeVry Institute of Technology in Alpharetta, Ga.
In 2015, Guyton made the move to Rehoboth Beach to work as a database administrator for Beebe Healthcare in Lewes. Falling in love with the charm of Sussex County and coastal life, Guyton decided to combine her passion for coffee with her love for the Delaware coast during the 2020 pandemic. This led to the creation of Coffee Rendezbrew, a venture that reflects her dedication to providing quality coffee while embracing the coastal lifestyle.
Guyton is actively involved in her community, and is a member of multiple local chambers and a board member of the Delaware Small Business Chamber.
“Wanda will make a great addition to our board,” said Rick Grier-Reynolds, CHEF president. “She is already integrating her love for community and reading into her business practices by allocating a percentage of coffee sales to Read Aloud Delaware, a statewide nonprofit organization with a mission to encourage early-age reading in children.”
CHEF has been a nonprofit strategic partner of the Cape Henlopen School District since 2007.
For the latest information about how CHEF is providing Cape students in kindergarten through 12th grade with the tools they need to excel in school and life, go to chef-cape-org.
CHEF GRANTS IN ACTION
Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation highlights grant activities
Sussex Consortium Vocational Coordinator Pam Graves shares a laugh with student Annmarie Perrotta at the Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation Friends of Cape night at the Sussex Consortium Nov. 14.
Through words and music, district students illustrated how Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation grants have broadened their experiences at the annual Friends of Cape event Nov. 14 at Sussex Consortium.
By inspiring learning and preparing students for healthy, productive lives in a diverse global society, CHEF gives students the tools they need to succeed, Nauman said.
“During the past 13 years, CHEF has contributed an amazing $331,000 for grant awardees,” Nauman said to a round of applause.
CLICK HERE to read the entire Cape Gazette story. CLICK HERE to view the CHEF GRANTS IN ACTION video.
Thompson Island reschedules CHEF fundraiser to Dec. 8
So fans can watch Cape football compete in the state championship game Friday, Dec. 1, Thompson Island Brewing Company has changed the date for its the Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation guest bartending event to Friday, Dec. 8.
Thompson Island Brewing Company is rescheduling its fundraiser for the Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation, as Cape football has advanced to the state championship game against top-seeded Salesianum at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1 at the University of Delaware.
The new date for the guest bartending fundraiser will be 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 8, in the Thompson Island beer garden. A full 100% of the tips from bartending and 50% of all bar sales will go to CHEF, which provides grants and funding to help students and teachers excel in the classroom.
Attendees will see the district superintendent and assistant superintendent behind the bar, as well as principals and educators from Cape Henlopen High School; Mariner and Beacon middle schools; and Love Creek, Rehoboth, H.O. Brittingham and Lewes elementary schools. Teams will compete to see who can raise the most tips for the foundation.
Additionally, in recognition of the Cape football team advancing to the state championship, Thompson Island will host a viewing party for members of the community who are unable to make the drive to the University of Delaware. The game kicks off at 7 p.m., Dec. 1.
For more information about the Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation, go to https://www.chef-cape.org/.
Recent Cape Henlopen Education Foundation grants highlighted
LEWES, Del. - The Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation, affectionately known as "CHEF," hosted a reception Tuesday night to showcase the various educational initiatives that have flourished through the funds it has raised. The event brought together supporters, educators, and community members to acknowledge the positive influence CHEF has had on the local education landscape.
Over the past 13 years, CHEF has successfully raised an impressive $331,000, contributing to diverse programs that enhance the learning experience for students in the district. Among the noteworthy beneficiaries are the Sussex Consortium Riding Program, the Special Olympics Bocce Tournament that was held at Cape Henlopen High School, and funding for Girl Scouts to create birthday bags for homeless students.
Read the WRDE-TV coverage HERE.
THANK YOU to our amazing Winter Jam 2023 sponsors and donors. We couldn't support our students in the Cape Henlopen School District without your generous support.
Winter Jam a success for Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation
The annual Winter Jam fundraiser was a huge success for the Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation, with about 600 attendees raising an estimated $100,000 to benefit district students and teachers.
Held at the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach March 24, the event offered a silent auction, a gift card pull, small bites provided by Jimmy’s Grille and live entertainment by Blue Label Band.
More than 60 local businesses and individuals sponsored or donated to this year’s event, which serves as CHEF’s primary fundraiser.
CHEF provides grants for unfunded and underfunded educational programs for Cape district students and teachers by offering support for limited-income students and those experiencing homelessness, classroom projects, STEM initiatives, performing arts education, and training to support diversity and inclusion.
In 11 years, CHEF has contributed nearly $260,000 to more than 370 grant awardees.
For more information, go to chef-cape.org. For more photos click here.
The Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation (CHEF) sincerely thanks Schell Brothers for being a "Valedictorian - Event Champion" for Winter Jam 2023! We wouldn't be able to support the more than 6,000 students in the Cape Henlopen School District without the generous support of our community businesses. THANK YOU!
CHEF IN THE NEWS
CHEF's Spring Jam Set For May 20th
The Cape Gazette | April 11, 2022
Blue Label Band, shown at Winter Jam 2020, will perform live at the Spirng Jam May 20. Funds raised by CHEF are awarded as grants to support Cape district teachers and students. SUBMITTED PHOTO
The Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation’s signature fundraising event, Winter Jam, is relaunching as Spring Jam, and will be held from 6 to 10 p.m., Friday, May 20, at the Virden Center in Lewes.
All funds raised will benefit educational programs for the more than 6,000 students in the Cape Henlopen School District.
CHEF provides teacher grants for unfunded or underfunded classroom projects, and support for homeless and limited-income students, STEM initiatives, performing arts education, and training and programs to promote diversity and inclusion.
Spring Jam tickets are $30 for Cape Henlopen School District employees and $40 per person for the general public. To purchase tickets, go to chef-cape.org/spring-jam-2022. Read the entire Cape Gazette article here.
Girl Scouts support Cape classmates and community
The Cape Gazette | March 31, 2022
Girl Scout Troop 701 members filling birthday bags are (left side, front to back) Delia Sparks, Grace Eanes, Ellen Ramsey, Katie Curry, Claudia Stazzone, Madison Handley and Jillian Leach. At right are Kate Dowd, Delaney Huxtable and Mikaela Gordon. Not pictured are Teagan Baker, Zoe Neufeld, Abigail Hoeller and Liza Williams. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
The members of Girl Scout Troop 701 have been caring about the community since they first joined together in 2015, when the girls were in kindergarten at Shields Elementary. While in elementary school, the girls held a fundraiser for Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding Center in Milton.
For the last two years, they have made desserts for residents of the Lighthouse for Broken Wings. During the pandemic, when local food banks were in need, the girls created a weekly schedule to fill the Lewes library food closet for six months. Not forgetting their furry friends, they also baked homemade dog treats and sewed cage curtains to make adoptable pets more comfortable during their shelter stays. Read the entire Cape Gazette article here.
Shields Elementary student gives back to district
Shields Elementary fifth-grader Minnie Pettengell, who launched local business Sugar & Scrubs by Minnie in spring 2020, has created a Cape-themed scrub with 10 percent of sales benefitting Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation. ELLEN DRISCOLL PHOTO
Fifth-grader Minnie Pettengell launched Sugar & Scrubs by Minnie in spring 2020, initially to solve her own skin issues – bumps on her arms that couldn’t be soothed with existing products. So, she created her own base scrub she mixes with coconut oil, sugar, Epsom salt, and additional essential and scented oils.
She gave samples to teachers, who loved the products, and then started selling scrubs in a lemonade-stand format outside her home, said mother Brandi Townsend, a fifth-grade teacher at Shields. After positive feedback and strong sales, a business was born.
Minnie said she had to research what mixtures to use so the scrubs could survive heat and shipping, and through trial and error, perfected her recipes.
Read the entire Cape Gazette article here.
CHEF welcomes new board members
The Cape Gazette | February 6, 2022
The Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation has elected community leaders Taryn Burris, Jaime Carter-Houck and Mark Mazak to three-year terms on its board of directors.
Burris graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor of science degree in education and received a master of education degree in special education from the University of Maryland. Burris spent every summer in Lewes with her family since 1980, and she and her husband moved to the area permanently in 2002. They have three children, all attending in the Cape Henlopen School District. In 2005, Taryn opened Kids Cottage in Rehoboth, and in August 2018, she opened Grove & Evelyn in downtown Lewes with friend and business partner Lori Schell.
Carter-Houck grew up in Sussex County, graduated from Milford High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware. She spent three years living in the Washington, D.C. area before she moved back to the beach to pursue her master’s degree in education. She resides in Rehoboth Beach with her husband Ed and is a mother to four boys who all attend in the Cape district. Carter-Houck has taught for the Cape district as a substitute teacher and a one-on-one para as well as a special education teacher for the Sussex Consortium at Shields Elementary. She also owns and operates Bomshell Boutique Rehoboth, a women’s boutique on Rehoboth Avenue.
Mazak, who was born and raised in Throop, Pa., has resided in Lewes Beach for the past seven years. He is a proud alumnus of Misericordia University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Mazak worked in educational settings for more than 20 years. Currently, he serves the State of Delaware as a consultant offering virtual online educational solutions, and is employed by Edmentum. He is a 2021 graduate of Leadership Delaware and founder of MJMLeadership.org, which focuses on life coaching.
Read the entire Cape Gazette article here.
