NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH 2009

The Delaware Mentoring Council honors two local businesses
with The Senator Thomas R. Carper Award for Youth Mentoring

Thirty-six additional organizations recognized with certificates of appreciation
for their support of mentoring Delaware’s children and youth

(Newark, DE – January 29, 2009) JPMorgan Chase and WSFS Bank have been honored by the Delaware Mentoring Council (DMC) for their commitment to mentoring with The Thomas R. Carper Award for Youth Mentoring.

The selection of WSFS Bank and JPMorgan Chase was based on their model of excellent corporate community service and the dedication of their employees in mentoring area youth.

Representatives from both companies have worked closely with school administrators to ensure that their programs follow the basic mentoring standards for safe and effective mentoring as identified by the DMC. They have further supported mentoring through their active participation in the Greater Wilmington Mentoring Commission, a partnership with Mayor James M. Baker, City of Wilmington and the Delaware Mentoring Council.

The awards were presented by Laura Coogan, Staff Assistant to U.S. Senator Thomas R. Carper at the January 27 Celebration of Mentoring at the Baby Grand in Wilmington. Senator Carper sent a video message to event participants because he was detained in Washington, DC in senate session and unable to be present.

Senator Carper has been an avid supporter of mentoring since he served as Governor. He began a new mentoring relationship with a first grader last year after his original mentee, who he mentored for ten years, graduated and became employed.

Lt. Governor Matthew Denn was the featured speaker. Mentoring has been made a top priority of the Markell/Denn administration and he is ready to begin mentoring a student.

Wilmington Mayor Baker addressed the Celebration of Mentoring participants and encouraged them to continue their generous commitment to a positive future for the next generation of Delaware citizens.

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, James A. Wolfe, served as Emcee. Mr. Wolfe serves as Co-Chair of the Delaware Mentoring Council with Michael Gamel-McCormick, Interim Dean, College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy, University of Delaware.

Approximately 150 representatives from area businesses and organizations were in attendance and enjoyed a musical presentation by the The Cathedral Choir School of Delaware.

Many organizations were recognized for their commitment to mentoring children and youth in our community. (See list below).

The DMC, a program of the University of Delaware, is housed in the Delaware Center for Teacher Education in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy and is a collaboration of mentoring programs, corporations, local businesses, government agencies and community organizations committed to providing mentors to youth in need.

The DMC works in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware and Connecting Generations, as well as other community and faith-based organizations to ensure that mentors are screened and trained.

For more information on mentoring visit www.delawarementoring.org or contact Lynn Paul, Acting Director, Delaware Mentoring Council at (302) 831-0520.


In addition to JPMorgan Chase and WSFS Bank receiving awards on January 27,
the following organizations were recognized with DMC Certificates of Appreciation
for their support of mentoring Delaware’s children and youth:

  • Businesses
  • ACW Corporation
  • Aetna, Inc.
  • Agilent Technologies
  • Ashland Hercules
  • AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
  • Bank of America
  • Barclays
  • Bill Ward, Inc.
  • BlackRock
  • Cash Connect
  • Delaware Today Magazine
  • Dover Downs
  • DuPont
  • Grubb & Ellis Company
  • Independent Disposal Services
  • Nationwide Financial Network
  • Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited
  • Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
  • Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics
  • The Bancorp Bank
  • Verizon Delaware
  • Wilmington Blue Rocks
  • Wilmington Trust Company
  • WolfBlock
  • Faith-based
  • Bible Fellowship – Newark
  • Greenhill Presbyterian Church — Greenhill
  • Word of Life — Newark
  • UAME Missions Board
  • Cathedral Church of St. John
  • Christ Church Christiana Hundred
  • St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
  • St. David’s Episcopal Church
  • Service Club:
  • Rotary Club of Wilmington
  • School District:
  • Appoquinimink School District
  • State Agency:
  • Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families
  • Government:
  • City of Newark