An Open Letter to Delaware: We Need a Home for Hope

Friends, neighbors, fellow Delawareans—let's be honest about what we're seeing in our communities.

It’s not just "rising violence" or "lack of resources." It’s the look on a parent’s face when they can't afford the textbook their child needs. It’s the empty lot where a safe place for teenagers should be. It’s a young person making a terrible choice on the street because they genuinely didn't know where else to go.

Every week, we hear the stories that keep us up at night: the confusion, the struggle to find direction, and the quiet desperation of families who just want a place to feel safe, encouraged, and like they finally belong.

At the Ross Pitts Family Foundation, we are just a small team with a massive, burning conviction: we cannot, and will not, let this continue. We are stepping into the gap with compassion, purpose, and a simple, fierce love for this state.

Why We Need Your Help to Reach $500,000

We are a startup organization with a big idea, and to make it last, we have to plant deep roots. We are aiming to raise $500,000 by the end of 2026 through every way possible—donations, corporate support, running fun events, selling merchandise, and asking neighbors to host their own bake sales.

We aren't just raising money; we are raising the funds needed to buy stability and dignity for our neighbors. This critical funding will allow us to start doing the tangible work you expect:

• Launching scholarships to help send local kids to college or trade school.

• Giving small grants to help aspiring entrepreneurs in our programs launch their first real business.

• Creating an emergency "help fund" for families who hit unexpected crisis and need a hand to stop them from spiraling.

• Running community programs that are relevant, powerful, and truly lift people up.

• Securing a building of our own.

This building is everything. It’s not just an office; it’s the promise of a permanent home for hope. It means we are here for good.

Confronting Violence with Love, Not Fear

Delaware is dealing with a safety issue that feels personal. That alarming rise in violence we talk about starts much smaller—it begins in the heart when a young person feels totally alone, unheard, or without opportunity. When kids don't have positive mentors, positive places to be, and positive role models, the street becomes their only option.

We are confronting this reality head-on, focusing on human connection through programs that are designed to build better futures:

• Teaching kids how to talk things out instead of fighting (conflict resolution).

• Mentoring youth and helping them find their voice as leaders.

• Providing simple, practical lessons in money management and life skills.

• Offering tutoring, career coaching, and a safe place to go after the final school bell rings.

• Focusing on mental health so everyone has the tools to process their pain and grow.

We firmly believe that you can't scare violence out of a community. You can only support, teach, connect, and love it away.

A Building That is the Community's Living Room

Getting our own facility is the heart of our entire vision. We need a permanent, accessible space where real life happens:

• A community pantry where a parent can quickly and privately grab what they need.

• Safe hangout spaces for youth—open gyms, game nights, tutoring tables, and quiet study spots.

• Rooms for local folks to attend workshops, job fairs, and support groups.

• Open doors for other local nonprofits to share space and resources with us.

• A stable home base for our staff and volunteers to plan and serve.

Imagine the noise: the sound of children laughing in the gym, the hum of a mentorship group brainstorming a new business, the quiet thanks of a family picking up pantry essentials, and the focused energy of leaders collaborating. This isn't about services; it's about creating a vibrant, everyday environment where healing and opportunity are woven into the fabric of life.

Why This Mission Is So Deeply Personal to Us

Our foundation wasn't built on a business plan; it was built on love. A profound love for this community, for our own families, and for the kids who deserve every chance we got. 

We believe that when you genuinely invest in a person, you change not only their life but the entire street they live on. When you offer real, sustained support, you reduce harm for everyone. When you give a child hope, you empower them to lift their entire family.

We are dedicated to repairing the breaches in trust and making sure that absolutely no one in Delaware feels abandoned or forgotten.

This is more than charity. This is family. This is what we have to do.

Join Our Movement Today

Our $500,000 goal feels huge, but when we work together as a community, it becomes achievable.

Will you join this movement of love and action? You can help us by:

• Donating (every single dollar matters).

• Sponsoring one of our programs or events.

• Coming out to support our fundraising events.

• Buying a piece of our merchandise.

• Hosting a small fundraiser like a lemonade stand or bake sale.

• Partnering with us through your business or organization.

• Sharing this story on social media and with your friends.

Every single act brings us closer to building that safe, supportive, empowering space that will transform lives.

Together, we will build a place of peace. A place of opportunity. A place where families grow stronger, youth find their purpose, and the whole community wins. Let's start building that future today.