Selbyville, DE – The Carl M. Freeman Foundation has announced the 2025 recipients of its FACES (Freeman Foundation Assists Communities with Extra Support) Sussex grants, awarding $107,500 in funding to 13 local nonprofit organizations and schools that are making a direct impact in communities across Sussex County.

The FACES Sussex program is designed to support grassroots organizations that are often doing the most critical and hands-on work—whether it's helping families stay in their homes, offering mental health resources, distributing fresh food, or enriching the lives of local youth through education and engagement. The program prioritizes small organizations with deep community ties and a commitment to serving those most in need.

What sets FACES apart is its community-driven approach. A volunteer advisory board made up entirely of Sussex County residents reviews all applications and recommends funding based on the most pressing needs they see in their neighborhoods. The board includes educators, business owners, students, nonprofit leaders, and other local voices who help ensure the grants reflect community priorities.

This year’s grantees are: Bridgeville Public Library, Cancer Support Community Delaware, Clothing Our Kids, Down Syndrome Association of Delaware, Family Promise of Southern Delaware, Historic Lewes Farmers Market, John M. Clayton Elementary School, Milton Community Food Pantry, New Hope Recreation and Development Center, Read Aloud Delaware, St. Vincent de Paul Society at Our Lady of Lourdes, Sussex Community Crisis Housing Services, and The ARK Educational Resource Center.

Grant awards range from $2,500 to $10,000 and will support projects that promote wellness, literacy, food access, housing stability, youth engagement, and more.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with these organizations that are doing such powerful and personal work in our communities,” said Michelle Freeman, Chairman and President of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation. “These are the people and programs that show up every day to support their neighbors, and we’re honored to stand beside them.”

The Carl M. Freeman Foundation commits its time, talent, and treasure to facilitate, support and promote innovative community-based leadership and giving. We seek to honor our founders’ legacies and passions by endorsing excellence and leveraging resources. Generally, we limit donations to communities where the customers, employees, and vendors of Carl M. Freeman Companies work, live, and play. To learn more about the FACES grant program or the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, visit www.carlmfreemanfoundation.org.