WSFS Cares to donate $250K to Delaware organizations

WILMINGTON – The WSFS CARES Foundation, the charitable arm of WSFS Bank, announced it will donate $150,000 to Delaware Prosperity Partnership and $100,000 to the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank over the next three years.

“The mission of the WSFS CARES Foundation is to support nonprofits that are invested in improving communities and fostering a spirit of inclusion and diversity,” Patrick J. Ward, executive vice president, Pennsylvania market president at WSFS Bank and chairman of the WSFS CARES Foundation, said. “We’re proud to support each of these great organizations, which share our focus on investing in and strengthening their communities through revitalization, business economic empowerment, education, leadership development and affordable housing.”

Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) is the nonprofit state economic development agency leading Delaware’s economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses, build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem, and to support employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent in Delaware. The WSFS grant will support key programs promoting Delaware’s economy throughout 2024-2026.

The Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank (WNCLB) works to return vacant, dilapidated, abandoned and delinquent properties back to productive use, while strengthening and revitalizing its neighborhoods and inspiring economic development. The WSFS grant will allow work to begin on the rehabilitation of 10 additional units for homeownership and for the acquisition of 18 strategic properties in private ownership.

“Delaware Prosperity Partnership is grateful to the WSFS CARES Foundation for investing in our efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses throughout Delaware,” Kurt Foreman, DPP president and CEO, said. “This grant will help support DPP’s Global Advisors Program, which furthers our efforts to promote Delaware as a first-choice location for foreign direct investment by European, Asian and other international companies seeking to expand to the United States. WSFS was one of our founding investors, and we thank them for their continued investment in DPP. With such support, we are able to maintain our momentum and impact on Delaware’s economy as we work to advance prosperity for all those living and working in Delaware.”

“The Wilmington Land Bank is proud to join forces with WSFS Bank in the transformative revitalization of the Lower Hilltop neighborhood,” Rick Gessner, board president, Wilmington Land Bank, said. “This once-neglected community has experienced significant investment in the past two years, and with the generous support of WSFS, we will continue this important work. Over the next three years, our collaboration will assist in the rehabilitation of 10 units for affordable homeownership and the strategic acquisition of 18 privately-owned properties. We are grateful to WSFS for their investment in the revitalization of this Wilmington, Delaware community.”