Lieutenant Governor Candidate Wants Social Agencies To Get Assistance With Grants And Available Federal Money

Wilmington – Matt Denn, the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, on Tuesday proposed dedicating state government staff to help faith-based organizations obtain grants and federal funds to deliver services to Delaware’s citizens.

The staff would assist organizations finding and getting funds already available, but of which Delaware may not be receiving a fair share, said Denn, who began his career as an attorney providing free legal aid out of church basements and community centers. Around the country, 35 states have offices to help faith-based organizations providing social services in a constitutionally appropriate way, but Delaware is not one of them.

“From 2002 through 2007, the federal government operated what it called a Compassion Capital Fund, that was designed to help faith-based and community organizations expand their capacity. During the life of the program, Congress funded it to the tune of $289 million,” Denn said. “Of that amount, Delaware programs received just $100,000.”

Denn said he would ask the next Governor to dedicate staff in the executive branch to helping faith-based organizations and, barring that, would do it himself as Lieutenant Governor.

“I will ask our new Governor to follow the lead of a number of other Governors and designate a person in his office to provide this assistance to faith-based and community organizations. If the Governor doesn’t think it is appropriate, I will assign one of the few staff people dedicated to the Lieutenant Governor to fill this role,” Denn said. “One way or another, we will make sure that faith-based organizations have the help they need.”

Denn was joined in his announcement Tuesday by Rev. Christopher Bullock of Canaan Baptist Church and Bishop Thomas W. Weeks of New Destiny Fellowship, two Wilmington churches that provide a number of services to residents.

Denn noted that while Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama recently pledged to support faith-based organizations around the country in a way that President Bush promised but never fulfilled.

“We in Delaware need to be positioned to take advantage of a renewed federal focus on faith-based initiatives,” Denn said. “And those organizations, in turn, will work with us to help us with the whole range of issues facing kids in Delaware: safe, educational after-school activities and mentoring, counseling and assistance to families in distress, the whole range of issues that are so critical to the welfare of kids in our state. Together, we will make this state one where every child can go as far as his talent and determination will take him.”

Denn has centered his campaign – and will focus in his term as Lieutenant Governor – on issues affecting children, including education, health care, environmental issues and improving services to children who are abused, neglected, living in foster care, or fighting to overcome disabilities.

To learn more about Matt Denn and his campaign, go to www.MattDenn.com.