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The fourth annual fundraiser for Global Delaware Fund—a non-profit organization dedicated to providing goods and services to children and adults at risk in distressed situations, both in Delaware and abroad—landed $67,000, a record-breaking amount for the fundraiser. “We are amazed and humbled by the area response to Global Delaware Fund,” says Matt Haley, owner of Matt Haley Companies, who founded the fund in 2011. “We’ve already started planning for next year’s event, and it’s going to be awesome.” Held at Fish On in the Villages of Five Points in Lewes, the sold-out event attracted about 130 people, including Gov. Jack Markell. Delaware musician Paul Cullen, formerly with the band Bad Company, performed, and Bogle Vineyards donated the wine. Guests enjoyed fare prepared by Plate Catering, part of the Matt Haley Companies, which has eight restaurants under its belt, including Fish On. Popular auction items included an evening with Haley—anywhere in the world—which went for an eye-popping $12,000. Haley is personally underwriting the cost of the trip to Paris, where he and the winner will dine at Chez Janou in the artsy Marais district. Auction items also included a stay at Conti di San Bonifacio vineyard in Italy, home to a vineyard, olive oil operation and a hotel/restaurant. (Haley is an investor in Conti di Bonifacio.) “The night was a huge success that far exceeded our expectations,” Haley says. He particularly thanked the Carl M. Freeman Foundation for its support of the Global Delaware Fund. The fund provides financial support for essential needs, such as clothing, shelter and food, and for counseling and mentoring for abused, grief-stricken or disease-afflicted children. It also provides scholarships, fellowships and education grants for students in grades K-12, including children with special needs and learning disabilities. For his philanthropic work at home and abroad, Haley received the 2014 Humanitarian of the Year award from the New York-based James Beard Foundation, the National Restaurant Association’s 2014 Restaurant Neighbor Award and the International Association of Culinary Professionals’ 2014 National Humanitarian Award. For more information on Global Delaware Fund or to donate, visit theglobaldelawarefund.com.
