It’s no secret to Delawareans that Milton’s Mariah Calagione loves to give back to her local community.
The Dogfish Head co-owner’s efforts have been recognized on a national scale by Multiplying Good, an organization founded by Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis, Senator Robert Taft Jr and Sam Beard. She was among the Jefferson Awards nominees submitted by Delaware Today and Delaware Business Times in May of 2023. Calagione went on to become one of the five recipients of the 2023 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefiting Local Communities.
Multiplying Good was founded with the mission of cultivating greatness through service, and Calagione personifies this mission. Through her philanthropic work, she’s made a positive impact on Delaware
Philanthropy was part of Calagione’s upbringing in Sussex County. Her father was Tom Draper, who bought the Milford radio station that led to the WBOC-TV operation. Her mother is Rachel Grier-Reynolds, a social worker and a founder of the downstate Delaware Music School.
“It was expected that you would be involved in your community,” Calagione notes of her upbringing.
It’s no surprise that she grew to be an impressive philanthropist, founding the Red Wagon Calagione Family Foundation, a nonprofit that has granted over $3.7 million to organizations and people in the Delaware community.
The Calagiones were also among the first Delawareans to support hospitality employees when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “Mariah was out front and working with our relief fund for restaurant workers,” says Carrie Leishman, president and CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association. “She was our initial contributor.”
She joins other national recipients honored at the New York City ceremony including Leeza Gibbons, Shane Battier and Paul Dreschnack, MD, as well as youth and unsung local grassroots heroes who are making a profound impact on society.
“We believe that at the heart of every great community and society are individuals and organizations committed to service. The Jefferson Awards exemplify our core belief that service is not just a noble act but the very fabric that weaves us together as a stronger, more compassionate and resilient society.” says Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, CEO of Multiplying Good. “Honoring service at the Jefferson Awards isn’t just about celebrating individual achievements; it’s about recognizing the collective power of giving back, inspiring positive change and shaping a better world for all.”
