Difference Makers Gala 2025
Join us for our 2nd annual Difference Makers Gala honoring Matt Haley Trust, The Lewes Library, Hattie Bull, and Waynne Paskins.
We are looking volunteers if you are interested please apply below. You can also sponsor the event.
Looking Back to 2024
Last year we hosted our first annual Difference Makers Gala where we honor those making a difference in the community. The 2024 honorees included Charlotte King, Preston and Kathleen Schell, and Ryan’s Beach Shop of Rehoboth Beach. In addition, there was a silent auction, a DJ, dancing and a gourmet buffet dinner by Executive Chef Phil Lambert.
Scroll to read about this year’s honorees and Gala details.
“The 2024 Difference Makers Gala was an affirmation of our efforts and the fact that people are pleased with what the alliance has done,” – Charlotte King
The 2025 Honorees:
Matt Haley Trust
The mission of the Matt Haley Trust is to make our world a little bit better and kinder and to further Matt Haley’s legacy by removing the establishment hurdles that keep individuals from reaching their full potential. The Trust offers second chances to individuals, questions the unjust status quo, and lifts others up.
The Lewes Library
The Lewes Public Library prides itself on providing consistent and reliable equity of access in all they do for the community and beyond. The opportunity to freely access information should be a right and not a privilege and the library works to ensure resources, spaces, and programming are accessible and available to everyone regardless of race, religion, beliefs, socioeconomic status and ability. It is a place where everyone is free to be who they are and have an equal opportunity to learn, live, grow and strive for their personal goals.
Hattie Bull
Hattie Bull grew up in Quitman, Georgia where racism was rampant and unapologetic. Her lifelong work has been to change the impact of racism on children and families. Her passion is to make sure all children are treated fairly and equally. Ms. Bull holds an undergraduate degree in Business Education and a master’s degree in Education Curriculum and Instruction. She works with the Cape Henlopen School District Minority Community Liaison Committee which focuses on increasing minority hiring, addressing the disparity in discipline, and closing opportunity gaps for all children.
Waynne Paskins
Waynne Harmon Paskins is a native of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. A retired educator from Cape Henlopen School District, Ms. Paskins co-founded and/or chartered several local organizations, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Organization of Sussex County, Sisterhood Book Club, and Sussex County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She continues to volunteer with church and other service groups locally.
Sponsor the Gala
To sponsor the 2025 Gala please complete the form below or mail your check to P.O. Box 306, Lewes, DE 19958 make payable to Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice. Include your organization’s name. address, phone, and email to receive your invoice.
All sponsors will have their name/logo on the SDARJ webpage, press releases and social media. Sponsor names and logos will appear in a full page “Thank You” ad after the event in the Cape Gazette. Sponsor Deadline: 10/10/2025.
- You can also mail your check to P.O. Box 306, Lewes, DE 19958 make payable to Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice. Include your organization’s name. address, phone, and email to receive your invoice.
- To submit artwork please complete this form.
Sponsorship Levels
Diamond Sponsor $10,000
10 Seats at the Gala
Front Inside cover Gala Program
Formal recognition at the event
Platinum Sponsor $6,000
6 Seats at the Gala
Back Cover Gala Program
Formal recognition at the Gala
Gold Sponsor $4,000
4 Seats at the Gala
Full page ad in the Gala program
Formal recognition at the Gala
Silver Sponsor $2,000
2 Seats at the Gala
Full page ad in the Gala program
Formal recognition at the Gala
Bronze Sponsor $1,000
½ page ad in the program
Formal recognition in the Gala program
Supporter Sponsorship $500
¼ page ad in the Gala program
Congratulations Listing $250
Listing as part of the congratulations page in program
You can also “make a difference” by directly donating to these SDARJ programs.
- High School Senior Scholarships: We plan to increase the number of scholarships we give to at least 10 scholarships per year at $1500 each.
- Black Voices Magazine we publish four times a year and hope to expand to six ($7500 per edition)
- Academic Recognition: We want to increase the number of students we recognize to at least 25 students per year ($100 per student)
- SDARJ Book and Film Club we plan to add screenings at the Cinema Arts Theater ($1000)
- Dialogue Toward Ending Racism (“safe space to talk” multi-week seminars) we plan to add two bus trips to our curriculum at $1800 each.
Your sponsorship helps fund:
- Scholarships for high school seniors
- Academic Achievement Awards for high achieving African American youth
- Delaware’s only Black newsmagazine, Black Voices
- Free Dialogue Toward Ending Racism- a 6 week seminars to educate citizens about how to fight racism
- Community Town Halls on racial justice issues
- Ongoing legislative advocacy on issues such as voting rights
- Programs to help returning citizens and to reduce recidivism
Thank You to those who volunteered!
We are no longer accepting applications to volunteer at the 2025 Gala. Please visit our Volunteer page if you’d like to volunteer for future events or a committee.
