They came. They saw. They gave.
More than 9,000 donors gave nearly $1.6 million by 8:30 p.m. Thursday to the 282 nonprofit organizations participating in the inaugural Delco Gives Day over 24 hours beginning Wednesday and ending Thursday.
“Now, we know,” Frances M. Sheehan, president of the Foundation for Delaware County, said. “This has incredible potential. We’re going to blow through our goals in Year One and we’re going to build on it from here.”
![Frances Sheehan](https://i0.wp.com/www.delcotimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Frances-2020-Corrected-Primary-Headshot.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
The foundation led the effort to have a 24-hour communitywide giving day for nonprofits in Delaware County after seeing successes elsewhere, such as Erie and Lancaster where more than $8 million was raised last year in each locale.
Fanta Bility nonprofit
On Thursday, a finale celebration was held at Rose Tree Park where most of the participating nonprofits set up a table and enjoyed music, food and interacting with the community.
“This is a beautiful event,” Siddiq Kamara, chair and president of the Fanta Bility Foundation, said. “We have over 200 organizations here. I’m walking around seeing other organizations that the resource is there that I might be able to use in the future. These organizations work so hard and it’s good to give to them. This is a really good turnout. We’re thankful and we’re grateful to be a part of it.”
![Tenneh Kromah, left, Sheila Carter and Siddiq Kamara, right, of the Fanta Bility Foundation participate in Delco Gives Day. (COURTESY of the FANTA BILITY FOUNDATION)](https://i0.wp.com/www.delcotimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DTD-L-DELCO-GIVES-0510-01-e1715302121672.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
His organization was founded on Fanta’s 10th birthday, Jan. 15, 2023, by her mother, Tenneh Kromah and Kamara, her cousin.
The foundation is focused on keeping Fanta’s legacy alive, emulating her giving personality through community service like distributing book bags before the school year and advocating for police training.
On Aug. 27, 2021, 8-year-old Fanta was shot and killed as three former Sharon Hill police officers, who were reacting to shots fired nearby opened fire. Fanta and her family were exiting the Academy Park High School football game, where they had gone to watch her sister cheer for the first time that season.
On Thursday, Kamara spoke about being able to have the foundation be a part of Delco Gives Day.
“For our new organization, it’s really important to get our name out there to advocate on Fanta’s life and on our organization and what we’ve been doing,” he said. “Delco Gives really embodied that for us and really helped us to focus on that.”
Foster families groups
Other groups agreed.
“Being newer, just to get the word out and get our name out is huge but we really do need funds to support everything,” Sarah Todd of Well Rooted said. “I think people assume (foster families and young adults aging out of the system) are supported and they are not and that, unfortunately, takes money.”
She and Katie Casey, two foster moms, founded the Haverford-based group last year after seeing the struggles themselves.
![Sarah Todd, left, and Katie Casey are foster parents who started the nonprofit Well Rooted to help families and young adults impacted by the foster system. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY - DAILY TIMES)](https://i0.wp.com/www.delcotimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DTD-L-DELCO-GIVES-0510-04.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
“Foster families? 50% quit within the first year. So if we could lower that number, keep a stable home for the child, that would be ideal,” Todd said. “Let them know they’re not alone. Same with the families who are reunifying. I think it’s 27% go back into the system. So, if we could keep the family together, that’s ideal.”
The group partners with foster and reunifying families by supporting them as families would with the arrival of a new child: making meals, providing emotional support.
They also have a one-year mentoring program for young adults aging out of the foster care system, meeting immediate short-term needs and helping them with growth experiences such as developing a talent or skill.
In its first year, nine young adults and 25 to 30 families were helped.
Fostering Hope Delco offers other support for foster families, in particular a closet where they can come to get hygiene items or clothing or toys or baby items.
Laura Cortese, volunteer coordinator, said they’re hope for Delco Gives was to get a few months’ rent for the closet location.
![Laura Cortese of Fostering Hope Delco said money raised at Delco Gives Day would support the closet they rent where foster families come to get things they need, such as clothes, toys and baby items. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY - DAILY TIMES)](https://i0.wp.com/www.delcotimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DTD-L-DELCO-GIVES-0510-02.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
“Specifically for our closet, we have rent to pay so the only way we stay open is if we get donations,” she explained. “Often times, too, parents are asking for things like car seats and strollers and we have to get those new.”
Delco Helping Hands has a community pantry open to Delco residents every Saturday at the Prospect United Methodist Church in Prospect Park.
“We do literally everything except for food,” Nina Bromley explained. “Every two weeks, it’s baby products, pet food. Once a month, you can get paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent.”
![The Delco Helping Hands team, from left, Pauline Butcher, Tina Bromley and Nina Bromley. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY - DAILY TIMES)](https://i0.wp.com/www.delcotimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DTD-L-DELCO-GIVES-0510-03.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
Butcher was ecstatic with the funds they received. Closing in the end of the 24-hour period, Delco Helping Hands had secured $1,470 with 54 donors.
“That’s pretty cool,” she said. “We weren’t expecting that.”