Media Center
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/8/2007 |
Contact: Seandra Sims 302-573-3731 ssims@uwde.org |
WESLEY COLLEGE PRESIDENT ENCOURAGES SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY NEEDS IN KENT AND SUSSEX COUNTIES
More than 30 people were in attendance at the event, including donors from Kent and Sussex counties, Wesley College faculty, and United Way staff. Special guests included Dover City Councilmen Timothy Slavin and Reuben Salters, and former State Secretary of Labor Harold Stafford.
Miller’s home is the Annie Jump Cannon House, a Victorian-style home in Dover’s historical district constructed in 1860. The beautifully renovated home served as another reminder to guests of the impact of philanthropy because the house had been donated to Wesley College in 1997 in honor of Dr. J. Thomas Sturgis, a longtime Wesley administrator and faculty member, to be used as the president’s residence.
Piano music filtered through the rooms of the elegantly restored home. Guests mingled and discussed United Way’s efforts in Kent and Sussex Counties, then listened to speakers, including 2007 Campaign co-chair Wayne Holden, Dr. Miller, and United Way President Drew Langloh.
Miller has been involved with United Way of Delaware as a board member and committee volunteer for over 10 years. He announced recently that he plans to leave his position at Wesley College in January, when he will become president of Bethany College, in West Virginia.
At the event, Dr. Miller commended United Way of Delaware for its hard work and dedication.
“As an active participant in United Way, I can say that we have staff members who work hard for every donation, account for that money honestly, and disperse it to the causes that are most critical in the state of Delaware,” Miller said.
He said he is grateful to have been given the opportunity to help United Way and plans to continue his involvement in West Virginia in the organization’s local branch.
“I am really pleased to be involved with an organization that works so hard to benefit the people,” Miller said.
The event also included remarks from United Way leaders and volunteers, including Drew Langloh, who spoke about how the organization focuses on collaboration with a variety of foundations, nonprofits, and government agencies.
Langloh noted that United Way of Delaware ensures that the programs it supports use their allocations wisely, and each year, they measure results to report to the community.
Attendees learned about the difficult situations many working families face in the state of Delaware. Success By 6TM, which focuses on the well-being of young children in the state, is one of the initiatives donors can support to aid local families.
Langloh also spoke about a woman who recently re-entered Delaware’s workforce. She had two children and wanted to put them in a quality daycare program, but the facility closest to her home did not provide a quality environment. She wanted her children to attend the high-quality program at Newark Day Nursery and Children’s Center, which was only accepting waiting-list applications at the time. She took a bus to the center every day for two months until spots opened up for her children.
“It is unacceptable that thousands of parents are forced to put their children in centers they are not comfortable with so they can go back to work and support their families,” Langloh said.
“United Way can’t do it alone. But by working with others, we can make a difference,” he added.
United Way of Delaware’s mission is to maximize the community's resources to improve the quality of life for all Delawareans. Through its Community Impact Fund, United Way invests in quality programs addressing Delaware's wide range of critical needs, including resources for children, seniors, and persons with disabilities.