Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

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Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization awarding college scholarships and mentoring to women in Delaware.

The Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is the charitable arm of Wilmington Women in Business. We award annual scholarships and mentoring to women in Delaware, based on need, academic record, and potential for success. Since 1996, the foundation has awarded more than $830,000 in scholarships to more than 180 women!

10/03/2026

We Did More, Together! We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible generosity and support shown during Do More 24 Delaware! Thanks to 22 amazing donors, we raised a total of $4,670 in just 24 hours! Your donations get Delaware women one step closer to reaching their goals - by pursuing their “fresh start” and enriching their lives and communities through the power of education.

Spur Impact
United Way of Delaware

06/03/2026

Let’s continue our momentum as we near the end of Do More 24 Delaware! The clock is ticking, and as the deadline approaches at 6:00 p.m. today, we need your support to make a real and lasting impact on Delaware women.

For many of the women Fresh Start serves, a degree isn’t just about earning a diploma—it’s about creating opportunities, breaking barriers, and setting a new course for their lives. Many of our scholars are single moms and first-generation college students, working hard to build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

By donating, you’re investing in their future and helping us provide them with the education and resources they need to succeed. Even the smallest gift can have a lasting impact.

Time is running out—please donate today and help us create a lasting impact for Delaware women. The campaign ends at 6 p.m. today!

👉Donate here: https://www.domore24delaware.org/fundraisers/fresh-start-scholarship-foundation

Spur Impact
United Way of Delaware

05/03/2026

Are you ready for 24 hours of giving? 6 p.m. marks the first hour of , let’s get off to a great start!

Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation provides college tuition as well as one-on-one mentoring to adult Delaware women facing financial and personal challenges. These women desire to extricate themselves from these challenges to join the ranks of college graduates, thereby opening doors to new opportunities and setting a positive example for their family, neighborhood and wider community. With degree in hand, our graduates acquire upward economic mobility and a "fresh start" in life through the power of education.

🌐Donate here: https://www.domore24delaware.org/fundraisers/fresh-start-scholarship-foundation

Spur Impact
United Way of Delaware

02/03/2026

Mark Your Calendars! Do More 24 Delaware is Almost Here! 📅

Delaware’s statewide day of giving, Do More 24, kicks off March 5th at 6pm. This 24-hour fundraising event is a game-changer for nonprofits like Fresh Start, helping us continue our mission of empowering Delaware women to succeed.

As an all-volunteer female board, we put everything we’ve got into supporting women seeking college degrees — because education changes lives. Your gift will make all the difference for our scholars, many of whom are single mothers and first-generation college students.

Mark your calendars & be ready to give on March 5th & 6th! Let’s make 2026 another year of impact.

🔗Donate here: https://www.domore24delaware.org/fundraisers/fresh-start-scholarship-foundation

Spur Impact
United Way of Delaware

10/11/2025

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the outpouring of support we received at this year’s annual event: A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction.

We listened with teary eyes as Kristine Blake, a former Fresh Start scholar and current mentor, recalled the trials of juggling marriage, motherhood, and a full-time job all while pursuing both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees.

We heard from an inspiring panel of special guests, including Dr. Jill Biden, Dr. Laura Carlson, Tracey Quillen Carney, and Paula Swain, on the importance of perseverance and overcoming obstacles, facing our fears, building meaningful partnerships, and maintaining authenticity.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of this year’s sponsors and donors, our incredible special guests and moderator Temeka Easter Rice, our dedicated all-volunteer planning committee, and this year’s event attendees. You showed up, you engaged, and you supported the Fresh Start scholars - and for that we are eternally grateful. THANK YOU!

For 29 years, the Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation has been dedicated to empowering women in Delaware to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through the generosity of our community, we’ve awarded nearly 800 scholarships since 1996 totaling more than $1.85 million — helping women build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

Our hearts are full. Our scholars were celebrated. Authentic connections were made.

As our special guest Dr. Laura Carlson reminded us, “Be open to possibility” and your future will start to take shape.

Thank you again for supporting Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation and we hope to see you at next year’s 30-year anniversary celebration!

📸: ERROL E - Tell A Better Story

27/10/2025

✨ Meet Dr. Jill Biden, a Special Guest for "A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction"✨

We're honored to introduce Dr. Jill Biden as a special guest for Fresh Start’s annual event: A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction!

Jill Biden, Ed.D, served as First Lady of the United States from 2021-2025. She also served as Second Lady of the United States from 2009-2017. She worked as a full-time community college professor as Second and First Lady, making her the first presidential spouse to maintain a career while living in the White House.

She was a leading messenger for the Biden-Harris Administration’s most urgent priority of navigating out of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic: urging communities to get vaccinated, safely reopening schools, and supporting President Biden’s agenda to rebuild a shuttered economy.

As First Lady, Dr. Biden championed the causes that have defined her public life: supporting military families like her own; advocating for workforce development programs, community colleges, and the teaching profession; ending cancer as we know it through the Biden Cancer Moonshot; and galvanizing overdue investments and structural changes to women’s health research.

She traveled to more than 40 states, 200 towns and cities, and 19 countries. By adding interactive technology and educational content to the White House public tour route, Dr. Biden reimagined the visitor experience and made the People’s House open and accessible to more Americans than ever before.

While reservations for this event are now closed, you can still support Fresh Start scholars by purchasing tickets for our fantastic raffle!
https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E348463&id=37

24/10/2025

✨ Meet Paula Swain, a Special Guest for "A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction"✨

Adding even more brilliance to our evening is Paula Swain, a special guest for Fresh Start’s annual event: A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction!

Paula Swain is the Executive Director and Founder of the Incyte Charitable Giving Foundation, which she established in 2016 to advance philanthropic initiatives and support nonprofits in the State of Delaware.

Prior to this role, Ms. Swain served as Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Incyte, where she also led Facilities, Environment, Health & Safety, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting from 2002 to 2025.

A dedicated community leader, Ms. Swain is actively involved with numerous nonprofit and civic organizations throughout Delaware. She currently serves as Board Chair for Kind to Kids, is Member at Large for Cancer Support Community Delaware, and First Vice President of The Committee of 100. In addition, she serves on the Boards of ChristianaCare Health System and Easterseals Delaware & Eastern Shore, and Delaware Bio, and sits on the Advisory Board of Fresh Start. Paula was appointed to the Prosperity Partnership Board and the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Counsel.

Ms. Swain’s commitment to service and her passion for making a positive impact have been recognized throughout her career, and she continues to champion causes that strengthen and uplift the Delaware community.

To hear more about Paula's commitment to community impact, reserve your tickets today! Reservations close at midnight this Sunday, October 26th!

📅 Date: October 30, 2025
⏲️ Time: 6:00pm
📍 Location: DuPont Country Club
🌐 Registration and Fantastic Raffle Prizes:
https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E348463&id=37

22/10/2025

✨ Meet our Keynote Speaker for "A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction"✨

A voice of inspiration joins our celebration with Kristine Blake as the keynote speaker for Fresh Start’s annual event: A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction!

Kristine Blake (pronounced Kristin) is a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health in Delaware and a Nationally Certified Counselor. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science and a Certificate in Child Advocacy, followed by a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wilmington University.

Kristine currently serves as a School-Based Counselor with the Return to Learn Program, where she provides supportive and therapeutic services to students who are out of school for various reasons. Her work helps young people successfully transition back into the academic environment while addressing their emotional and behavioral needs. Additionally, Kristine works as a therapist with Grow Therapy, offering virtual counseling services to individuals across diverse backgrounds seeking support for mental and emotional wellness.

Beyond her professional work, Kristine is committed to empowerment, serving as a mentor with the Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation, where she supports women pursuing higher education and personal growth. A proud mother of three, Kristine understands the importance of balance, faith, and perseverance, which she weaves into both her personal and professional life.

In her downtime, Kristine likes to binge-watch Netflix, recharging with a cozy blanket and a good show, or spending time with her children. She attributes all of her success to God, whom she acknowledges as the head of her life.

Kristine embodies compassion, resilience, and authenticity—encouraging others not only to heal from their past but to boldly embrace the fullness of who they are becoming.

To hear more about Kristine's inspiring story and journey, reserve your tickets today! Don't wait - reservations close at midnight this Sunday, October 26th!

📅 Date: October 30, 2025
⏲️ Time: 6:00pm
📍 Location: DuPont Country Club
🌐 Registration and Fantastic Raffle Prizes:
https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E348463&id=37

20/10/2025

✨ Meet Tracey Quillen Carney, a Special Guest for "A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction"✨

Let us introduce Tracey Quillen Carney, another one of many amazing special guests for Fresh Start’s annual event: A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction!

As First Lady of Delaware, 2017-2025, Tracey worked to support efforts that, in a foundational way, help give children a chance to succeed. With funding and operational support from Casey Family Programs, she coordinated those efforts under the umbrella of the First Chance Delaware initiative.

First Chance had three pillars — ending childhood hunger in Delaware; promoting early language skills toward healthy brain development and school readiness; and advancing effective recognition of, and response to, childhood trauma. Tracey sought to use the convening and outreach powers of the First Lady’s office to bring organizations together to work collaboratively toward those goals.

“When kids and their families face foundational challenges, each adversity deepens all of the others in a geometric — and often generational — erosion of opportunity,” Tracey has said. “So to be effective — and to be efficient— the efforts to alleviate those challenges must also be interconnected and mutually reinforcing.”

First Chance Delaware received numerous awards and recognition nationally and locally.

A month after becoming First Lady of Delaware, Tracey left her job as a senior administrator at Wilmington Friends after 15 years at the School. Previously, Tracey had worked for 15 years on the staff of then-Senator Joe Biden.

A proud native Delawarean, Tracey was born at the Dover Air Force Base and grew up in New Castle. As a returning student, she graduated summa cm laude and Phi Beta Kappa from University of Pennsylvania. Tracey and John are the grateful parents of two grown sons and one daughter-in-law.

To hear more about the transformative power of education from Tracey Quillen Carney, reserve your tickets today!

📅 Date: October 30, 2025
⏲️ Time: 6:00pm
📍 Location: DuPont Country Club
🌐 Registration and Raffle Prizes:
https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E348463&id=37

16/10/2025

✨ Meet Dr. Laura Carlson, a Special Guest for "A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction"✨

We’re excited to introduce Dr. Laura Carlson, one of many amazing special guests for Fresh Start’s annual event: A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction!

Prior to her appointment as interim president, Carlson served as UD provost since 2022. As provost, Carlson focused on enhancing access, enrollment, programming and academic excellence for UD students by developing and implementing a multi-year strategy that integrates financial, enrollment and hiring plans.

Before joining UD, Carlson had a distinguished career of more than 20 years at the University of Notre Dame, where she served in several key leadership roles, including vice president, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School. She served as director of graduate studies in the psychology department and later as associate chair. Carlson joined the Notre Dame faculty in 1994 as an assistant professor of psychology, becoming a full professor in 2008.

A fellow of the Association of Psychological Science, she has received several teaching awards, including the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce C.S.C. Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

Carlson’s primary research interest is spatial cognition — how we mentally represent the places and objects around us — and her work has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. She takes an interdisciplinary approach to her work, publishing with scholars across the fields of computer science, engineering, architecture and linguistics.

A cm laude graduate of Dartmouth College with a special major in psychology of language, she received a Master of Arts degree at Michigan State University and earned her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

To hear more leadership insights from Dr. Laura Carlson, reserve your tickets today!

📅 Date: October 30, 2025
⏲️ Time: 6:00pm
📍 Location: DuPont Country Club
🌐 Registration and Raffle Prizes:
https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E348463&id=37

14/10/2025

✨ Meet our Moderator for "A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction" ✨

We’re thrilled to introduce Temeka Rice, the moderator for Fresh Start’s annual event: A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction!

Temeka Rice is an award-winning marketing executive and recognized thought leader in social and digital media. With a proven track record of driving brand engagement for Vanguard, Sallie Mae, and Edward Jones, she is known for pioneering authentic storytelling and innovative strategies across social media, influencer marketing, and digital engagement.

Temeka has architected enterprise-wide programs in employer branding, executive visibility, DEI marketing, and social advocacy—mobilizing thousands of employees and amplifying brand equity. Her work reflects a deep commitment to leadership development, mentoring, and cultivating high-performing teams.

She serves as an honorary Board Member and past Board Secretary of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware, Board Chair of Girl Scouts of Chesapeake Bay, and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Temeka is dedicated to strong governance and strategic planning in nonprofit spaces.

She holds dual BS degrees in Accounting and Business Administration, a MA in Human Resource Management, a graduate certificate in Digital Marketing, and the Certified Diversity Professional (CDP®) designation—an internationally recognized accreditation.

Temeka resides in Wilmington, DE with her husband and two German Shepherds, and is the proud mom of two adult children.

To hear more from Temeka, reserve your tickets today!

📅 Date: October 30, 2025
⏲️ Time: 6:00pm
📍 Location: DuPont Country Club
🌐 Registration and Raffle Prizes:
https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E348463&id=37

07/10/2025

Join us for Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser: A Conversation with Delaware Women of Distinction.

This inspiring evening celebrates leadership, resilience, and the transformative power of education. Enjoy cocktails, dinner, and an unforgettable program featuring some of Delaware’s most distinguished women.

Special Guests:
Dr. Jill Biden, Former First Lady of the United States
Laura Carlson, Interim President at the University of Delaware
Tracey Quillen Carney, Former First Lady of Delaware
Paula Swain, Executive Director, Incyte Charitable Giving Foundation

Be part of this powerful night dedicated to empowering Delaware women through the power of education. Purchase your tickets today and help change lives through opportunity and education: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E348463&id=37

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(302) 397-3440

Website

https://www.freshstartscholarship.org/

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