Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation names 5 Reinventing Delaware semi-finalists

WILMINGTON, DEL. — The Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation (PDFF) has chosen five semi-finalists from more than 100 ideas from its 2024 dinner last November to advance to the next round of its 11th Annual Reinventing Delaware competition.

Delaware Health Equity Coalition Inc.: Championed by Dr. Cydney Teal, this Wilmington-based initiative aims to make healthcare equitable for low-income and diverse populations across Delaware.

Community Development Corporation: Championed by WilmInvest founders Joel Amin and Bryce Fender, the Wilmington-based Community Development Corporation is a proposed program under WilmInvest focused on lifting low-income individuals out of poverty in Wilmington and surrounding areas.

Future Aviator Project: Championed by Devon Mitchell, the Newark-based Future Aviator Project seeks to position Delaware as a leader in aviation innovation and clean energy.

Vertiport Delaware: Championed by Ashlee Cooper, Vertiport Delaware focuses on integrating eVTOL aircraft and drones into Delaware’s transportation system. Cooper won the New Castle County Chamber Emerging Enterprise Center’s 12th annual Swim with the Sharks pitch competition in September 2024.

Wilmington School District: Championed by Richard Forsten, the Wilmington School District concept envisions the creation of an independent school district to improve education outcomes and opportunities in Wilmington.

These semi-finalists recently completed the first phase of the Reinventing Delaware program, participating in a dynamic ideation session to assess the viability of their ideas and develop immediate action plans to bring them to life. These services, valued at $5,000 each, provide critical support to help turn their proposals into reality.

The 2024 Reinventing Delaware winner was Toivoa and its founder, Laura Randa. The company is revolutionizing mental health care for adults with disabilities—a population disproportionately affected by mental health challenges.

In the coming weeks, the review committee—including PDFF staff, board members Thère du Pont and Jacqueline Flowers, Helena Rodriguez of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, and Scott Malfitano of the Delaware Workforce Development Board—will select up to three finalists. These finalists will receive development resources valued at over $20,000 and compete for a $15,000 grant to implement their ideas, driving economic growth, creating jobs, and making Delaware an even better place to work and live.

Sponsors of the 2024 Reinventing Delaware Dinner in November included CSC, Mrs. Elise du Pont, Highmark, Barclays, and Terry Strine.

For more details on getting involved with the Reinventing Delaware initiative as a sponsor, contact Lynn Roberts at [email protected]. You can also visit our donation page to support the idea development program. Your contribution helps invest strategic, practical resources to position businesses for success, ultimately creating jobs and improving our community.

The Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation is dedicated to carrying on Governor Pete du Pont’s legacy of bold and innovative leadership. Through programs like Reinventing Delaware and the Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (E3), the Foundation fosters transformative ideas that drive economic growth and enhance Delaware’s quality of life.