Who We Are

Since 2006, a small group of volunteers have been quietly working to create and support some of Milton’s most iconic events, causes, and landmarks. The Milton Community Foundation has no paid staff and no office. It is run entirely by a 15-member volunteer board of directors and is fueled by the generosity of the town’s residents and businesses. Despite this small and scrappy structure, the Milton Community Foundation has had an outsized impact on the town’s look, traditions, and quality of life.

The statue of John Milton in Milton’s Mill Park was MCF’s first project. In 2006, we commissioned a bronze likeness of the English poet in whose honor the town was named. The statue immediately became one of Milton’s most visited landmarks. Countless photographs have been taken of park visitors chatting with Mr. Milton, and an unknown local artist has created another town tradition: dressing the statue to celebrate holidays with revolving changes of hats, scarves, and accessories.  
 

In downtown Milton, MCF supported the street clock and the “Welcome to Milton” mural, both of which have become iconic parts of our town center. Nearby, at the Milton Historical Society, with support from Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, MCF erected a commemorative plaque to honor Milton native and civil rights attorney, Bryan Stevenson. Down the road, MCF supported a less visible but vitally important addition to Milton’s built infrastructure: a new freezer and large food scale at the Milton Community Food Pantry.

In addition to significantly contributing to the town’s built environment, MCF has supported several projects to protect the natural environment. In 2013, we managed a $50,000 DNREC grant to create three stormwater gardens. We also paid most of the cost for a water bottle filling station to reduce the use of plastic bottles. 

Advancing the foundation’s mission, “to serve the future,” several MCF programs focus on youth. We support the Gladys Wilkins “Seeding the Future” scholarship for students majoring in agriculture and the H.O. Brittingham Scholarship Fund for students planning to become teachers or work in medicine. The foundation has also donated funds to H.O. Brittingham Elementary School’s robotics team and to purchase books for its K-2 leadership program. 

Perhaps the program that touches hearts most is the Noble Prettyman Cap and Gown Fund. When MCF founder, Joanie Martin-Brown, learned that students who couldn’t afford cap and gown fees could not participate in their graduation ceremony, MCF established this fund to honor lifelong Milton resident and longtime Cape Henlopen School District school board member Noble Prettyman. Each year, when MCF reaches out to the public to support this work, the response has been so generous, we’ve been able to pay for the cap and gown rental fees for every graduating Cape student in need. To date, the Prettyman fund has donated more than $18,000 so that every graduating Cape student can participate in their high school commencement ceremony.
 

Because MCF board members are deeply connected to the community, we are able to respond quickly when needs arise. When the Covid-19 pandemic caused unprecedented job losses and plunged many into economic distress, MCF appealed to the local community and raised $19,000 to purchase and distribute grocery gift cards. When a fire in downtown Milton displaced three local businesses, MCF was able to donate funds to help defray recovery expenses.
 

When MCF learned that the droppings of a greatly increased local goose population were threatening public health in Memorial Park and increasing bacterial levels from runoff into the Broadkill River, MCF paid the full cost of a “poop scooper” for the town’s public works department.

Milton residents and visitors often benefit from MCF’s largesse without even knowing it. The ice-cold bottles of water distributed free of charge at the annual Milton 4th of July celebration are compliments of the foundation. So too are the cookies handed out at the town’s annual Christmas tree lighting. The Adirondack chairs folks settle into for a view of the Broadkill River are gifts of MCF and Irish Eyes. Quietly and ongoingly, 

MCF makes contributions to local organizations, including the Garden Club, Lions Club, Women’s Club, and Eagle Scout projects. 

Whether physically enhancing the town, sponsoring activities, escrowing funds for citizen-led initiatives, or protecting Milton’s natural environment, MCF remains flexible and ready to serve. We do this because of the kindness of the generous folks who support us. To them, we offer our most sincere thanks and our promise to continue to serve the community on their behalf. 

Steve Crawford, President

Tom Arkinson, Vice President

Allen Benson, Secretary

Claire Porterfield, Treasurer

Jackie Brisco 

Bill Byrnes 

Barry Goodinson

Marie Mayor

Melanie R. Oliver 

John Potocki

Mike Rowe

Darlene Wade

Beverly White

Honorary Advisor

Joan Martin-Brown