evaluate and address needs. CGR has an excellent record of successfully supporting numerous other foundations and organizations in similar endeavors.
“Excellent quality of life is essential for a thriving business community and a robust economy,” Governor Markell said. “And we can be much more effective in improving quality of life by using metrics to understand our strengths and weaknesses and monitor the impact of our collective efforts to improve.”
Community Engagement In addition to gathering, analyzing and applying data, the DCF will engage the community at large in developing and pursuing the civic agenda. The DCF is expanding its staff to create a community engagement team and has established the Delaware Community Focus Council. The council will be composed of leading stakeholders from Kent, New Castle and Sussex County. Using the data from DelawareFocus.org and knowledge gathered through statewide engagement, the council will identify high priority, systemic challenges and opportunities, and recommend leadership and action to the DCF staff and Board of Directors.
Leveraging Collaborations The DCF also announced that it will collaborate with the University of Delaware, which was recently designated as a 2015 Community Engaged University by the Carnegie Foundation. “Through our collective strengths, the University of Delaware and the Delaware Community Foundation can drive collaborative community initiatives and take innovative approaches to help raise the quality of life of our most vulnerable citizens,” UD Provost Domenico Grasso said. The DCF also is working with the United Way and currently developing relationships with the Rodel Foundation of Delaware, Delaware State University and Wilmington University. For more information about the DCF’s new initiative, contact our community engagement team at delawarefocus@delcf.org or 302.571.8004.
The chair of the Community Focus Council will be Doneene Keemer Damon, a director with the law firm Richards, Layton & Finger. The vice chair will be Cindy Szabo, a partner at the law firm Ellis & Szabo in Rehoboth Beach. The list of council members is being finalized and will be announced in 2016.
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