Lewes foundation honors Burtons for community service

Ann and Dave Burton of Lewes and Milford received Greater Lewes Foundation’s 2018 Community Achievement Award during the organization’s annual meeting April 14. The framed recognition presented to the couple outlines the reasons why the foundation selected them for the award:

“Presented to Ann and Dave Burton for their extraordinary community service to Lewes and Sussex County.

“For more than 50 years, the Burtons have been the very models of community leadership. Their accomplishments have been monumental, yet always done with modesty, gentle leadership and trusting collaboration.

“Ann’s many years of work on behalf of Catholic charities, People’s Place, Wesley College and La Esperanza has been critical to the success of each organization.

“David’s efforts in the revitalizing of Milford, bringing the Delaware Community Foundation to Sussex County, crafting the creation of BayHealth, and creating the Greater Lewes Foundation has given us institutions that will last for generations to come.

“As a successful businessman, Dave has shown how the marriage of business and giving back are mutually dependant. By doing so, he has set the bar for corporate philanthropy in Sussex County.

“Beyond these major achievements lie scores of other contributions of time, leadership and gifts they have made to smaller but important community groups and projects. So many people know Ann and Dave by this simple phrase: ‘How can we help?’”

Ann Burton said they were amazed at how welcoming Lewes was when they purchased a summer home in the town in 2000. “People were very friendly from the beginning and have been the same ever since. We’ve been happy to be accepted as we have and to be involved with the community.”

“We’re privileged to have been involved with the Greater Lewes Foundation and the town through the years,” said Dave. “This is a town that gets after projects and doesn’t stop until they’re completed and benefiting so many. I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Delaware’s U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester addressed the annual meeting as featured speaker.

Despite so much negativity coming out of Washington D.C., Rochester said she still feels joy and optimism about her work in the capital. “All you hear about is the negativity, but we’re actually getting things done over there,” she said.

She said as the first woman and first African-American to serve in Congress as Delaware’s representative, she is particularly pleased to be serving on the House Committee on Agriculture. “I know the importance of agriculture to our entire state and the nation, and I’m working hard now on getting a farm bill passed. There have only ever been four members of the House of Representatives from Delaware that have served on that important committee, and I’m the first in 150 years,” she said.