(Millsboro) (September 25, 2020) — The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Birthday Bash came to halt in the face of COVID 19 and restrictions that were placed on day care facilities throughout Delaware.   This program is to celebrate the Lives of youngsters who have a birthday at the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club  during the month and they receive a $25. Gift card, cupcakes  and balloons   During the height of the pandemic, the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club was only to serve up to 25 children of first responders, a far cry from the normal attendance of approximately 100 children from the greater Long Neck and Oak Orchard communities. As a result, Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club put its program on hold.

Fast forward to this fall and The Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club is now able to accept up to 70 children, and Long Neck Sunrise Rotarian Cathy Cardaneo was able to drop off the cupcakes,juice boxes, balloons  for the celebration as well as the gift cards for the 11 children celebrating birthdays in (what months?). Although Rotary Club members were not able to attend, the staff at the Boys and Girls Club set up the socially distanced party at the facility’s outdoor pavilion and a great time was had by all.

“We can’t thank the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club enough for the wonderful birthday bash items for the kids!“ noted Club Executive Director Erica Kennedy. “They absolutely loved it!”

As part of its mission to change lives in the greater Long Neck community, the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been celebrating children at the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club with regular birthday parties every month from September to May since the fall of 2017. The first celebration was funded by a Rotary District grant, but  the program has continued with proceeds from the Club’s annual golf outing at The Peninsula Golf Club.

“Our partnership with the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club is an integral part of our community mission,” remarked Lucille Cavan, President of the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club.  “It’s wonderful that our club is able to continue supporting the children during these difficult times.”

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been working to support the youth of the Long Neck region for years. They have worked with the Boys & Girls Club on an annual MLB Pitch, Hit and Run Competition as well as the Birthday Bashes, provided dictionaries annually to the third graders attending Long Neck Elementary School and supported the annual book fair at Long Neck Elementary by supplying two free books to each child at the school.

Pictured above: The birthday celebrants left to right: Brooklyn, Keysha, Ellie, Gracie, Logan, Tyson, Jacoby, Jace, Noah, Kimberly, Lilly

(Millsboro) (May 26, 2020) — The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has a long history of supporting the work done by the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club. When recently notified that the Boys and Girls Club were having difficulties getting certain supplies needed for its arts and crafts activities, Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club member, and Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Dover International Speedway, Mark Rossi, leveraged a relationship with Staples to obtain the needed supplies.

By partnering together, Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club and Staples were able to donate over $400 worth of supplies to the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club. The donation included needed items like glue, construction paper, crayons, washable markers, colored pencils, watercolors, and giant glue sticks. Staples also donated 25 COVID Time Capsules to the Boys and Girls Club at no charge.

“Social limitations aside, we are still able to leverage our relationships within the community to address a need,” remarked Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club President, John Berner.  “We are delighted that Staples joined with us to help the work of the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club which ultimately helps the children of our community work through this difficult time.”

Pictured above: Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club partnered with Staples to provide Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club much needed supplies. Pictured here are Club President, John Berner (left) with Erica Kennedy, Director Boys and Girls Club – Millsboro and Demaris Miller, Director Boys and Girls Club – Rehoboth Beach.

(Millsboro) (May 18, 2020) — As part of its ongoing mission to change lives within the community, The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club virtually presented a $2,000 donation to Harry Keswani, President/Founder, The Harry K Foundation, to support the Foundation’s work in providing food to hungry children in Delaware. Funds for the donation were part of the proceeds raised at the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club’s popular golf tournament held last June at The Peninsula on the Indian River Bay and funds contributed by Club member, Steve Grossman.

Harry Keswani updated the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club at their virtual meeting on April 28 about the increased difficulties of serving the nutritional needs of children due to the result of school shut downs in Delaware and how the Foundation was working to meet that challenge. The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Board of Directors voted at its next meeting to double its initial pledge made to the Foundation to $1,500 and Board Member, Steve Grossman donated an additional $500 to bring the Club’s total donation to $2,000.

“Despite social restrictions, our Club is working diligently to support those suffering the most from this crisis,” noted Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club President, John Berner.  “Children are at the heart of our mission and we are delighted that we are able to help an organization like the Harry K Foundation continue on its mission of serving children’s nutritional needs.”

Once restaurants are again open, The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club maintains a donation box for the Harry K Foundation food pantry at the front door of the Ocean Grill II Diner on Long Neck Road, where the Club normally meets when social distancing is not an issue.

(Millsboro) (April 28, 2020) — This year’s high school graduating class of 2020 are experiencing a reality that no one could have predicted just a few short months ago. Yet, the fact remains that their senior year will be remembered for far different reasons than most remember. For four graduating seniors, they have something to rejoice – a $1000 Service Above Self Scholarship award from the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club.

Last year the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club began the Service Above Self Scholarship to award a $1000 scholarship to the Indian River and Sussex Central high school graduates demonstrating the combination of a solid academic record, financial need and a strong resume of community service. Those students who were members of the Rotary’s Interact / Enviro-Act clubs would also be given preferential consideration all other elements being equal. This year the Club has awarded $1000 scholarships to Sussex Central seniors Christopher Lombardi and Emma Evan and $1000 scholarships to Indian River seniors Maddison Olley and Kaila McCabe. Their scholarships can be sent to the college they will be attending for tuition costs or used to defray expenses the student might incur for computers and books.

“We had such a difficult time making our selection,” remarks Judy Hall, Long Neck Sunrise Rotarian managing the application and award process. “We had seven candidates from Indian River and four from Sussex Central, all of whom exhibited outstanding characteristics. We are very happy to be able to help these students pursue their dream.”

The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club is currently meeting virtually and three club members worked with blinded applications and a ranking system to reach a decision. Students were notified within the past two weeks of the decision.

Award winner Christopher Lombardi was captain of the football team at Sussex Central and volunteered for Delaware Autism. He plans to attend Salisbury University with becoming a state police officer or a fish and wildlife officer.  Sussex Central Student Athlete Emma Evan plans to attend Clemson University in the fall where she will major in psychology and accounting with a goal of becoming a criminal psychologist with the FBI. In addition to her participating in track and cross country, Emma is an Altar Server and Lector at St. Ann’s Church, serves on the Sussex County Philanthropy Board, and works with Athletes Serving Athletes and Best Buddies among other activities.

Indian River graduating senior Maddison Olley is a member of the Enviro-Act Club  and will attend The University of Tampa Honors Program or The University of Maryland where she will study neuroscience with the ultimate goal of becoming a physician with the specialty of pediatric neurology. Maddison has been a varsity cheerleader,  member of the concert / marching band, participated in Academic Challenge among other school endeavors in addition to volunteering with several organizations and activities including The Night to Shine and the Annual Toy/Food Bank Christmas Drive.  Kaila McCabe is also a member of the Enviro-Act club at Indian River High School, and plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh or the University of Delaware with the goal of becoming a physician’s assistant in emergency medicine. A member of the swim team and cheerleading squad captain, Kaila also includes volunteer work with the children’s ministry at High Tide Church, being a Buddy at the Night to Shine Special Needs Dance and a volunteer assistant cheer coach at Shore Pride All-stars among her many activities.

Millsboro) (February 4, 2019) — As part of its ongoing mission to change lives within the community, The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club presented a $1,000 donation to Kevin Gilmore, Executive Director, Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, to assist in the organization’s home repair and home building programs. Funds for the donation were part of the proceeds raised at the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club’s popular golf tournament held last June at The Peninsula on the Indian River Bay.

The Sussex County Habitat for Humanity organization has built 106 homes in Sussex County since 1991, and hopes to build an additional 94 homes over the next seven years.

Gilmore pointed out that the Sussex County Habitat for Humanity organization has built or rehabbed and sold 144 homes since its founding in 1991.It has served 539 people through homeownership (187 adults and 352 children) and helped over 240 homeowners with small repairs to help them stay in their homes. In the past three years, the organization has provided one-on-one financial literacy coaching to over 600 people.

At the presentation, Gilmore noted: “Thank you to Long Neck Sunshine Rotary Club for its faithful support of the work of Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. There are two primary concerns around housing affordability in Sussex County. The first is that there is a lack of inventory and the second is that too many people are paying too much of their income on housing. One in seven households in Sussex County are paying more than 50% of their income on housing.  Every dollar that is given to Habitat helps combat the affordable housing shortage by helping another family with an opportunity to build and buy a home they can afford.”

“We are very happy to be able to support the work of Habitat for Humanity with the proceeds of our annual golf tournament,” noted Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club President, John Berner.  “The work they do is truly needed in our community.”

Pictured at top: Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club presents to Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. Standing left to right: Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club President, John Berner; Past President Mike Hall; and Sussex County Executive Director Kevin Gimore.

(Millsboro) (February 22, 2020) — The Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club is a happening place on any given day, but on one Friday afternoon a month, the noise level and exuberance take on a whole new dimension when Long Neck Sunrise Rotarians arrive for a “Birthday Bash” with balloons, cupcakes, juice boxes and $25 VISA gift cards for those children having birthdays within that month. As part of its mission to change lives in the greater Long Neck community, the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been celebrating children at the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club with regular birthday parties every month from September to May since the fall of 2017.

Originally part of a district grant program procured by the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club to Celebrate the Lives of Youngsters at the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club, the program now is being run with proceeds from the Club’s annual golf outing held in June each year at The Peninsula Golf Club.  There are currently 96 children attending the programs at the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club who have received or will be receiving their $25 gift card and balloon.  All children are treated to the cupcakes and juice boxes at each event.

“We are so grateful that the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been able to continue these birthday celebrations,“ noted Club Executive Director Erica Kennedy. “The children really look forward to having this special day and they love the icing.”

“Our partnership with the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club is an integral part of our community mission,” remarked Lucille Cavan, Chair of the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Youth Projects Committee.  “We are delighted to be able to make an impact on the lives of these young people, and even more delighted when the children recognize us outside of the Club.  We truly know we are spreading the good works of Rotary.”

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been working to support the youth of the Long Neck region for years. They have worked with the Boys & Girls Club on an annual MLB Pitch, Hit and Run Competition as well as the Birthday Bashes, provided dictionaries annually to the third graders attending Long Neck Elementary School and supported the annual book fair at Long Neck Elementary by supplying two free books to each child at the school.

Captions:

At Top:  Olivia W. enjoys her icing as Jace S looks on!Top left:

Above Left:  Khy’Jay Lucian T, Jace S, Marley W, Olivia W  and Daemon D. enjoying the Birthday Bash.

Above Middle: Alexandria A. gets ready to blow out a candle on her cupcake being lit by Long Neck Sunrise Rotarian Cathy Cardaneo, while fellow celebrators (from left to right) Isaiah C., Brooklyn D and Trenton P. look on

Above Right:  Rotarians prepare to award gift cards and balloons to children having birthdays that month. Students seated at table: Josiah L, Tyion L, Sophia R, Lilyana C.

(Millsboro) (February 2020) — This month, the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club completed donating the fund proceeds from its fall 2019 Flags for Heroes fund raising program to local agencies serving veterans. At its February 4^th meeting, The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club presented a $1,500 donation to Toni Bergfelder, from Home of the Brave’s Women’s Shelter. The agency has two homes located on Sharps Road outside of Milford to serve the needs of homeless men and women who served in the military. The Rotary check was earmarked for use by the women’s shelter.

At an earlier meeting, an $800 check was presented to the officers of the American Legion Post 28 to assist their work with area veterans. Another check for $800 was sent to Warriors Community Connect, formerly known as Operation Second Chance. American Legion Post 28 and Warriors Community Connect partnered with the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club in its fall Flags for Heroes Fund Raiser, and hopes are to continue this partnership to build a bigger fund raising effort to better impact the lives of local veterans.

Pictured at top: Flags for Heroes co-chairs, Fred Gibbs (left) and Sarah Cha Cha (right) present a check generated from the proceeds from our Flags for Heroes project to American Legion Post 28 Officers 3rd Vice Commander – Russell E. Bufflap (center left) and Commander Jim Beattie (center right). The $800 check will be used to assist the Legion in their work with area veterans.

Service Projects Committee Chair, Dan Reed and Club President John Berner present Toni Bergfelder of Home of the Brave II a check for $1500 to support the Home’s women shelters for Veterans.