100 Women Who Care presents $15K to ESL program

Members of 100 Women Who Care Southern Delaware gathered Nov. 28 at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Rehoboth Beach to present their quarterly award, totaling $10,560, to the Community English as a Second Language Program. Accepting the award were Denise Jacono, executive director, and Kate Cauley, advisory board chair, joined by staff, board members, volunteers and students.

In partnership with 100 Women Who Care Southern Delaware, the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, based in Minnesota, contributed an additional $5,000.  

Cauley said, “The students in this program are an inspiration to me. They teach me something new every day.”

The Community ESL Program’s mission is to improve the educational and career opportunities of non-native speakers by providing English reading, writing and speaking instruction, helping students successfully integrate into southern Delaware communities. The program was launched as a social ministry of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior 20 years ago. Since then, it has spilled out into the community, expanding to include more than 40 volunteers from across the Sussex County area, working with an average of 150 students a year in four different locations: Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Milford Public Library, Beebe Healthcare’s Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing, and online in partnership with the Lewes Public Library.

The donation will assist with salary support and help launch the 20th anniversary celebration beginning in 2024.

The award ceremony was followed by an end-of-term international and intergenerational potluck. Students in this program range in age from 18 to 74 years old, and many brought their children, along with a traditional dish to share, including Vietnamese spring rolls, Mexican takitos, Turkish potato salad, Guatemalan fajitas, Thai dumplings, American mac & cheese, and Japanese apple pie. As friendships blossomed, attendees shared a meal and cheered each other on as certificates of accomplishment were handed out.

“What a great world it would be if everyone could get along as we do here,” said Jacono.

Juan Lux of Guatemala was among the students receiving a certificate. He moved to Rehoboth Beach 10 years ago to join family members. Currently working in construction, he was referred to the program by a friend and has encouraged others to take advantage of it. He has nothing but great things to say about it. With sparkling eyes and wide grin, he enthusiastically gave the teachers a score of “10 out of 10,” and said he “wouldn’t change a thing.”

Members of 100 Women Who Care Southern Delaware commit to donating $100 every three months. At quarterly luncheons, three are selected to make a pitch for their favored local nonprofit, and the voting that follows determines the recipient for that round of giving. The next meeting will be held in January.

For more information, go to Facebook for 100 Women Who Care Southern Delaware, or email 100womencaresd@gmail.com or call Jeri Berc at 302-233-6897.