May overflows with celebration and appreciation: Our preschool students being promoted, and another class headed off to kindergarten in the fall. The better-than-expected success of our annual Charity Golf Event, which supports CBH programs all year long. The impending arrival of our Youth Development Program campers, who will spend the summer building communication, interpersonal, and social-emotional skill sets (while also exploring all the things life at the beach has to offer!). And of course, the volunteers, staff, parents, and community partners who make it all possible. We are filled with gratitude for all the gifts you share with the Beach House — your time, your money, your expertise, or the most precious gift of all — the presence of your child in our halls.
Thank you!
Richard T. Garrett
A Proud and Poignant Farewell for CBH's Four-Year-Old Graduates
The end of May is a bittersweet time for students and teachers — a time of celebration and anticipation of the summer, but also a time of parting, especially for the students in the Child Development Center’s four-year-old classroom, who will be leaving the Beach House for kindergarten this fall. Their graduation ceremony was a moment of reflection and appreciation for the growth and learning they have achieved, as well as all the contributions of their parents, teachers, and the other adults who shepherd them on their journey. “The amount of family engagement we had this year was incredible!” said Ms. Stephanie Federico. “So many of you offered support, time, and snacks to keep us going. Believe me when I say that it meant so much to your children and to my fellow teachers and me.”
The children beamed with pride throughout the ceremony, performing two musical numbers and receiving their promotion certificates before cutting into the three-tier cake that Chef Paula designed to fit the event’s “Under the Sea” theme.
Some of the graduates will continue at the Beach House through the summer months, taking part in the special water and activity days our bayfront location offers. Whether the goodbyes come in June or August, our hearts are full with the joyful memories of the children we are honored to call part of the Beach House family. “I hope,” said Ms. Stephanie, “that as you grow up, you will always have a special place in your heart for the many lessons you learned here, the friends you made, and the teachers who helped guide you on your way, because I know that you will always have a special place in mine.”
Birdies, Prizes, & Trophies Abound! But the Real Winners Are the Kids.
“Days like this highlight just how much Children’s Beach House is a community organization,” said Ellison Carey, CBH trustee and co-chair of the 2024 Charity Golf Event, which took place on May 20 at The Peninsula. “Without the contributions of everyone here today, we wouldn’t be here. Today or any other day.” The Charity Golf Event is the Beach House’s longest-running fundraiser, stretching back to the early 1990s. This year the event sold out as new supporters and longtime friends rallied around the 50/50 raffle, the silent auction, and of course, the game itself. Generous sponsors added some incentives with hole-in-one prizes and other competitions. Damp weather gave way to ample sunshine as players from as far away as Cheyenne, Wyoming, wound their way through the links and finished with dinner at the club. Proceeds from the day, like CBH’s Beach Barbecue in August and Winter Wonder gala in December, fund the Beach House’s yearlong work with children and families across the state. “Every purchased ticket, every silent auction bid, along with the countless volunteer hours that make these events successful, translates to another Delaware child who knows they belong at the Beach House,” says event co-chair Bernie Polinski.
Thank you to the players, volunteers, and the amazing sponsors below for making the 2024 Charity Golf Event so impactful!
The CBH Cup Runneth Over with Gratitude for Our Volunteers!
We know that April is National Volunteer Month. But when you’re blessed in volunteer quality and quantity like Children’s Beach House is, it’s hard to fit all our appreciation into just 30 days! The CBH Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on May 16 gave us one extra opportunity to gather some of the beloved volunteers who make CBH a family and express our gratitude for the myriad ways they show up for the organization and the kids we serve. The evening was catered by Greater Good Events, the CBH-owned catering company whose profits support our programs. Dinner consisted of roast chicken with gravy, grits, caprese, and roast vegetables, with panna cotta, strawberries, and a balsamic drizzle for dessert. A peach-bourbon smash made the night feel like a fine start to a celebratory summer!
Attendees included volunteers in our Child Development Center, Youth Development Program, and facilities team, as well as CBH trustees, whose leadership of the organization is also in a volunteer capacity. A brief presentation from CBH Executive Director Rich Garrett included acknowledgements of each volunteer’s contributions and the presentation of certificates of appreciation. Brian Mengel, who began volunteering at the Beach House in 2021, was awarded the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award in absentia. Brian has touched nearly every inch of the building, said Facilities Manager Eric Krause. “He probably knows the place better than anyone else — except me,” he joked. Over the years, Brian has pitched in on landscaping, painting, power washing, and general cleaning. He even helped rebuild CBH’s low ropes challenge course this year. “I call him my ‘ace in the hole,’” said Krause. “I call him for any job that requires finesse.”
We are grateful to Brian, and to all our volunteers who work quietly and diligently to make sure the Beach House continues to be a safe, welcoming environment for every child who comes through the doors.
To find out how your talents and passion align with CBH priorities, please visit cbhinc.org/volunteer.
CBH Captains Voyage Beyond the Bay
Our neighbors on Lewes beach might be confused when the first week of summer camp starts and there are no children on site. After all, CBH sometimes gets simplified in the public mindset to “summer camp on the beach.” But the reality is that our yearlong programming is constantly adapting to our kids’ developmental needs, with the goal of offering appropriate challenges and supports to our different age cohorts. Sometimes that means thinking “outside the box” — or in this case, “off the beach.”
Summer camp officially begins on Sunday, June 16, when our oldest campers, (Captains, ages 14–18) will arrive for an evening of reconnection and fun. But they will quickly depart again on Monday for the first ever Captains’ Voyage — a four-day excursion to Washington, DC, where they will tour colleges and universities, explore museums at the Smithsonian Institution, and soak up as much culture as the capital has to offer. The concept for the field trip was born from a recognition that teenagers need the chance to explore beyond the familiar boundaries of their world; their chances of successfully navigating the transition from childhood to adulthood dramatically increase as they are exposed to as many pathways to success as possible.
The Voyage includes tours at American University, Howard University, and Washington College, as well as visits to the Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Zoo, and the high ropes challenge course at Sandy Spring Adventure Park. “Our kids are ready to spread their wings,” says Family Engagement Coordinator Nicole Van Matre, who will serve as one of the trip chaperones. “We’ve shown them what family and friendship look like at the Beach House. Now it’s time to show them what the world can look like with them in it.”
To contribute toward the cost of our Captains’ Voyage food, lodging, and cultural activities, visit cbhinc.org/donate.