Pete du Pont Freedom Award - September 22, 2022

FreedomAward

The Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2003, that is committed to carrying out the legacy of the late Gov. Pete du Pont.

Pete du Pont was one of Delaware’s most distinguished leaders. As presidentialgovernor,candidate, founder of GOPAC, a scholar at the Hudson Institute and the Council for National Policy and as a spokesman and writer, Pete du Pont was a national leader in the cause of preserving individual freedoms.

As governor, Pete du Pont led the effort to dramatically lower tax rates because he trusted individuals -- not the government -- to better manage their money. He led the effort to deregulate Delaware’s financial services industry because he trusted free markets –more than governmental controls – to provide more

opportunities, more jobs and a higher standard of living to all residents. With lower tax rates and less government regulation during Pete du Pont’s tenure as governor, Delaware rose to the forefront among states in economic growth.

Gov. Pete du Pont was a bipartisan leader in the Dover Statehouse. After significant disagreements and budget battles with his Democratic colleagues in the first year of his first term, he and they learned to work together to benefit all Delawareans. This bipartisan cooperation, combined with lower taxes and deregulation, paved the way for the Financial Services Development Act of 1981.

“Democratic capitalism is strengthened by encouraging individual as opposed to collective choice. America has not prospered over 225 years through collective action; it has prospered because people have been allowed to seize their own opportunities.”

— Pete du Pont

The Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation’s mission is to promote our country’s spirit of private enterprise, by fostering access to the marketplace for every entrepreneur and their ideas. Our vision is to support and celebrate ideas and innovators, create jobs, and promote innovation and enterprise for all.

Our core values are testaments to Gov. Pete du Pont’s life of service and are reflected in all we do every day: Free

I’m in a wonderful position: I’m unknown, I’m underrated, and there’s nowhere to go but up.

— Pete du Pont

Pete du Pont Freedom Award

The Pete du Pont Freedom Award is presented annually to an individual or organization who has championed a successful idea that led to economic growth or brought innovation to the private Wesector.are

proud to honor former credit card giant MBNA - a company that represented Gov. du Pont’s enthusiasm for entrepreneurial innovation and job growth.Key

former MBNA leaders John Cochran and Lance Weaver will accept the award on behalf of MBNA and all who contributed to its national success, positive impact on Delaware, and extraordinary era.

Mr. Weaver retired from Bank of America at the end of 2008 after eighteen years with the Bank dating back to 1991 when Mr. Weaver was part of the team that took MBNA public. Mr. Weaver served as an Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer of MBNA. He was President of the MBNA Education Foundation and managed all the bank’s community relation’s activities.

Mr. Weaver has served as an advisor to leading companies such as Virgin Money, VISA, Citigroup, TSYS, and Allied Properties. He also serves on the Boards of PRA Group, Kard and Investor Cash Management. Mr. Weaver has also taught a course in Ethics in the Honors Program at the University of Delaware.

A graduate of Georgetown University, Mr. Weaver has had previous experience at both Wells Fargo Bank and Citigroup. Mr. Weaver is a past member of the Georgetown University Board of Directors and Board of Trustees and past Board Chair of MasterCard.

Mr. Cochran started his financial career in 1973 in credit card banking for the Maryland National Corporation and was a senior member of the management team that established MBNA Bank in 1982. A graduate of Loyola University Maryland, Mr. Cochran developed the endorsed marketing concept that led to MBNA becoming one of the country’s largest direct marketers, with more than 50 million customers worldwide. He became the Chief Operating Officer of MBNA Corporation and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of its principal subsidiary, MBNA America Bank.

Mr. Cochran is a member of the University of Delaware’s Board of Trustees and has served as a Trustee since 2007. He is the recent past Chair of the Board and now serves on the Executive, Nominating, and Compensation Committees.

He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Christiana Care Health System, on the Board of Trustees of Loyola University Maryland where he was past Chairman, and as the Advisory Board Chairman of Stella Maris, Mercy Health Services, Baltimore, MD.

Lance Weaver

John Cochran

Pete to

We proudly support the ideas, innovations, and opportunities that will grow and strengthen our communities.

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

Legacy and Patriot Members are vital to our mission. They are in the forefront of creating solutions that address complex challenges for entrepreneurs and are representative of Governor du Pont’s legacy. Annual tax-deductiblecontributionsmemberareand are not limited to a donation. We welcome our members to apply their experience and desire to consultantscommitteeentrepreneurssupportasmentors,members,orvolunteers.

Legacy Members: Mrs. du Pont Ben du Pont * Thère du Pont * Gerret & Tatiana Copeland Robert Martinelli * Frank Ursomarso

Patriot Members: Patrick Callahan * Ambrose Carr III Charlie Copeland Pierre du Pont * Dan Freeman * Peggy Geisler Nora Gonzalez * Michael Houghton * Paula DerwinJanssenJohnson * Mac Macleod Scott Malfitano * Bill Manning * Robert

Member.

That’s the way it is with entrepreneurial people. You try one thing, it doesn’t work, you try another. Pont

REINVENTING DELAWARE FINALISTS

Theo Nix with DWS Drone School

The DWS Drone School aims to educate and employ Delaware teens by offering certification in drone and virtual reality technology and internships to create meaningful and high-paying andopportunitiesemploymentforurbanruralyouth.

Adam Stager with TRIC Robotics

Angela Wagner, Esq. with Delaware Creative Economy

Delaware Creative Economy will lead the charge in development, scaling, and monitoring the creative economy at large to attract filmmakers to the First State and replicate Georgia’s film and television success of the past 30 years.

Pete du Pont the Legacy of

Greetings and thanks for your continued support on behalf of Pete and Elise.