DFRC, the Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens with intellectual disABILITIES, was born in 1956 when two Delaware sports enthusiasts, Jim Williams and Bob Carpenter, Jr., decided that an all-star football game would be a popular opportunity for high school students to compete and, at the same time, raise funds for services to support people with intellectual disABILITIES. There were nationwide fundraising drives for other causes, but not much was being done for people who were intellectually challenged. From that simple beginning, Mr. Williams and Mr. Carpenter could not have dreamed this cause would expand and develop into all it is today, altering the thoughts and attitudes of people throughout Delaware. The DFRC family is dedicated to our mission to enrich the lives of Delawareans with intellectual disABILITIES. We are dedicated to raising funds and consciousness through quality events to support enrichment programs so that all Delawareans with intellectual disABILITIES can maximize their potential, independence, and enjoyment of life.
Today, 66 years strong, we have learned a great deal, most significantly recognizing that we are people first, and our ABILITIES and disABILITIES are merely a part of who we are. We are all differently-abled and each life that comes into the world has great meaning and purpose. Over time, the objective of the DFRC Blue-Gold Football Program has evolved to include, not only raising funds, but also focusing on awareness about ABILITIES. We all want to be recognized for whatever our ABILITIES allow us to accomplish. We all want to have friends and be involved, included, and respected. DFRC strives to provide opportunities to learn from each other and translate those lessons into ways that create a meaningful impact in the world.
In the DFRC Blue-Gold Football Game Program, each high school in Delaware is asked to select exceptional individuals in their school community who are upstanding citizens with integrity and good character to represent their school. These participant football players, ambassadors, cheerleaders and band members are offered the opportunity to be paired with a child or young adult who has an intellectual disABILITY, their buddy. This matching, the DFRC Blue-Gold Hand-in-Hand Program, was added to the DFRC Blue-Gold All★Star Football Program in 1974, and it is truly the heart of everything we do. The Hand-in-Hand Program helps raise awareness about ABILITIES and also enriches the DFRC Blue-Gold experience for participants, buddies, and their families by providing them an opportunity to nurture relationships. We’ve learned that while seeking to provide for people with intellectual disABILITIES, our buddies shine through and teach us all valuable life-lessons of love and dignity for everyone. The DFRC Blue-Gold All★Star Football Program involves more than 150 volunteers, 250 participants, and 125 buddies and their families who come together from across the entire state to celebrate one of Delaware’s finest traditions.
In addition to funds raised by DFRC’s Blue-Gold Football Game, DFRC sponsors six other awareness and fundraising events: the Blue-Gold Northern Golf Classic, Blue-Gold Southern Golf Classic, Blue-Gold Sussex Auction, Blue-Gold 5K Run/Walk, Blue-Gold Bash, and the Blue-Gold Online Auction. In our 66-year history, DFRC has distributed $6.3 million to support programs and services throughout Delaware involving advocacy, research, education and training for people who are intellectually challenged. DFRC receives grant requests annually, which the Beneficiaries Committee reviews and makes funding recommendations. The Board of Trustees considers those recommendations and determines final grant funding awards. The DFRC family is very proud of the work being accomplished throughout the state of Delaware by our efforts and those of our beneficiaries.
The endeavors of DFRC are led by our Executive Director and supported by the DFRC Trustees, office staff and dedicated volunteers who embody a profound sense of family.