How a dream to support women became a reality.

In 1996, Mary E. Maloney had a vision to help others. Over 25 years and $1.46 million later, a community of women-supporting-women has flourished.

Discover Fresh Start through the years.

1996

Mary and Joyce Hayes (the 1996 WWB board president) started the program with a small group of women. Soon, the first scholarship was awarded to Delia, an accounting major. After leaving an abusive marriage, she was living in her car with four children. With the Fresh Start scholarship, she graduated with an Associate's Degree in accounting with a 4.0 average and started a new career.

2002

What was then known as the WWB Foundation changed its name to the Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation. An advisory board was established. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, and E.I duPont de Nemours became inaugural founders.

2002

What was then known as the WWB Foundation changed its name to the Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation. An advisory board was established. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and E.I duPont de Nemours became inaugural founders.

2003-04

An annual campaign was designed to increase donations. In the same year, we established a formal mentoring program, received a $5,000 grant from the Fund for Women, and also began hosting our Signature Event. We established key performance indicators to measure success and impact.

2003-04

An annual campaign was designed to increase donations. In the same year, we established a formal mentoring program, received a $5,000 grant from the Fund for Women, and also began hosting our Signature Event. We established key performance indicators to measure success and impact.

2006

Over 300 guests attended our Tenth Anniversary Luncheon held at the DuPont Country Club.The Fresh Start Awards program was formed, and we showed a video featuring three scholar success stories.

2006

Over 300 guests attended our Tenth Anniversary Luncheon held at the DuPont Country Club.The Fresh Start Awards program was formed and we showed a video featuring three scholar success stories.

2008

Amended our vision to, “Create an all-volunteer sustainable foundation to continually grow the number and size of scholarships and mentoring strengthen services for women in need,” and established strategies to ensure our vision.

2008

Amended our vision to, “Create an all-volunteer sustainable foundation to continually grow the number and size of scholarships and mentoring strengthen services for women in need,” and established strategies to ensure our vision.

2009

Fresh Start established an endowment fund at the Delaware Community Foundation to ensure financial sustainability.

2009

Fresh Start established an endowment fund at the Delaware Community Foundation to ensure financial sustainability.

2016

Fresh Start celebrates its 20th anniversary.

2016

Fresh Start celebrates its 20th anniversary.

2018

A new milestone reached: $1 million in scholarships were awarded since our founding. New bylaws were adopted to accommodate the official dissolution of WWB.

2018

A new milestone reached: $1 million in scholarships were awarded since our founding. New bylaws were adopted to accommodate the official dissolution of WWB.

Today

Your support helped change the lives of nearly 300 women in Delaware.

Today

Your support help change the lives of nearly 300 women in Delaware.

Meet the faces behind the Fresh Start foundation

Our all-volunteer board is passionate and committed to supporting women of Delaware.

Betty Sweeny
President

Betty founded business Development Associates in 1998 and has held senior positions with some of the nation’s top financial institutions. Now retired, she additionally serves on the boards of the Bayad House, the Delaware Chapter of the MS Society, and the Forum of Executive Women. She joined the Fresh Start board in 2019.

Betty founded business Development Associates in 1998 and has held senior positions with some of the nation’s top financial institutions. Now retired, she additionally serves on the boards of the Bayad House, the Delaware Chapter of the MS Society, and the Forum of Executive Women. She joined the Fresh Start board in 2019.

Barbara Buckley
Chair, Scholar Database

After a 30-year career in advising and development, Barbara is an avid member of several non-profit outreach activities with her church. She strongly believes in the Fresh Start mission and finds great fulfillment in her interactions with scholars, members, and board members during her tenure. She became a part of Fresh Start in 1997.

After a 30-year career in advising and development, Barbara is an avid member of several non-profit outreach activities with her church. She strongly believes in the Fresh Start mission and finds great fulfillment in her interactions with scholars, members, and board members during her tenure. She became a part of Fresh Start in 1997.

Kelsey Callaghan
Assistant Treasurer

Kelsey brings her experience as a tax planner and CPA to the Fresh Start Scholarship. She believes women are the strength and backbone of our families and community, and that an investment in a woman’s education has an exponential effect. She has been a proud board member since 2019.

Kelsey brings her experience as a tax planner and CPA to the Fresh Start Scholarship. She believes women are the strength and backbone of our families and community, and that an investment in a woman’s education has an exponential effect. She has been a proud board member since 2019.

Marisa Facciolo, JD
Chair, Governance

Marisa is active in the Delaware community and holds several positions across various boards, including the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware, the Christiana Care Hospital, and Archmere Academy.

Marisa is active in the Delaware community and holds several positions across various boards, including the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware, the Christiana Care Hospital, and Archmere Academy.

Lisa-Marie Jackson
Chair, Digital Marketing

Lisa-Marie Jackson is an award-winning digital marketing trailblazer with a broad background in creating, implementing, and managing impactful marketing programs for corporate and nonprofit clients in a variety of industry sectors. Prior to launching Sociable Consulting, Lisa-Marie was a strategic business consultant at Trellist Marketing, a Delaware-based firm that integrates data with marketing, design, and digital services.

Lisa-Marie Jackson is an award-winning digital marketing trailblazer with a broad background in creating, implementing, and managing impactful marketing programs for corporate and nonprofit clients in a variety of industry sectors. Prior to launching Sociable Consulting, Lisa-Marie was a strategic business consultant at Trellist Marketing, a Delaware-based firm that integrates data with marketing, design, and digital services.

Kelli Kilbride
Chair, Administration

Kelli joined Fresh Start board in 2015. Her passion for Fresh Start stems from her own personal experience of raising a family while working and going to school. She strongly believes in the Fresh Start mission and the importance of working toward educational goals. Kelli's career is in higher education compliments her commitment to the program.

Kelli joined Fresh Start board in 2015. Her passion for Fresh Start stems from her own personal experience of raising a family while working and going to school. She strongly believes in the Fresh Start mission and the importance of working toward educational goals. Kelli's career is in higher education compliments her commitment to the program.

Ralandre’ Lacy
Chair, Scholar Engagement

Ralandré is a 2016 graduate of the Fresh Start program. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) and a certificate in Child Advocacy Studies from Wilmington University. Today, she is a single mother, passionate about God, and teaches kindergarten at Kuumba Academy.

Ralandré is a 2016 graduate of the Fresh Start program. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) and a certificate in Child Advocacy Studies from Wilmington University. Today, she is a single mother, passionate about God, and teaches kindergarten at Kuumba Academy.

Samanta Lopez, MPA, M.Ed
Co-Chair, Mentoring

Samanta is an award-winning educator who’s passionate about mentoring and education, and has a 10+ year involvement in community roles. As a Fresh Start Scholarship board member aligns with her passion and belief that everyone deserves access to education for the betterment of their lives and community. She joined in 2018.

Samanta is an award-winning educator who’s passionate about mentoring and education, and has a 10+ year involvement in community roles. As a Fresh Start Scholarship board member aligns with her passion and belief that everyone deserves access to education for the betterment of their lives and community. She joined in 2018.

Mary Maloney
Founder

As founder and President of the Fresh Start Board for seventeen years, Mary Maloney realized her dream of establishing an organization dedicated to helping adult women return to college to improve opportunities for themselves and their families. Ms. Maloney is a retired Sr. Vice President of an international consulting, training & development firm headquartered in Boston.

As founder and President of the Fresh Start Board for seventeen years, Mary Maloney realized her dream of establishing an organization dedicated to helping adult women return to college to improve opportunities for themselves and their families. Ms. Maloney is a retired Sr. Vice President of an international consulting, training & development firm headquartered in Boston.

Valerie Middlebrooks
CPA, Treasurer

Valerie is a CPA and Principal with Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, P.A., and serves on council with several organizations across the state. In 2012 the Delaware Society of Certified Public Accountants named Valerie a “Woman to Watch.” She joined the Fresh Start Board in July 2019 and serves as Treasurer.

Valerie is a CPA and Principal with Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, P.A., and serves on council with several organizations across the state. In 2012 the Delaware Society of Certified Public Accountants named Valerie a “Woman to Watch.” She joined the Fresh Start Board in July 2019 and serves as Treasurer.

Nanci Mayer-Mihalski
VP, Scholarship Program

Nanci Mayer-Mihalski has retired from a career in pharmaceutical consulting and research. She is currently a member of the Breast Cancer Community Research Advisory Board at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, a former Board Trustee of Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and past President of the Wilmington Women in Business. Nanci has been involved in Fresh Start since 2018.

Nanci Mayer-Mihalski has retired from a career in pharmaceutical consulting and research. She is currently a member of the Breast Cancer Community Research Advisory Board at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, a former Board Trustee of Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and past President of the Wilmington Women in Business. Nanci has been involved in Fresh Start since 2018.

Sandy Scheibe
Chair, Grants

Sandy joined Fresh Start in 2007 after retiring from the University of Pennsylvania, and a previous career in the pharma industry. She is passionate about giving back to her community, empowering women, and seeing the transformative impact Fresh Start has on scholars.

Sandy joined Fresh Start in 2007 after retiring from the University of Pennsylvania, and a previous career in the pharma industry. She is passionate about giving back to her community, empowering women, and seeing the transformative impact Fresh Start has on scholars.

Pauline Tartaglia
Chair, Scholarship Program

A longtime volunteer, Pauline Tartaglia is the principal interior designer of the kitchen and bath division for Somethings Unique. She's passionate about the Fresh Start mission and is committed to its growth and sustainability. She joined the board in 2016.

A longtime volunteer, Pauline Tartaglia is the principal interior designer of the kitchen and bath division for Somethings Unique. She's passionate about the Fresh Start mission and is committed to its growth and sustainability. She joined the board in 2016.

Sharon Mossman, Ed.D, RDH
Compassionate Educator

Sharon is a compassionate educator focused on helping students meet their goals through their academic journey. She has mentored many students throughout her career understanding their personal obstacles and encouraging them to see the value of persistence as they obtain their degree. She continues to focus on raising scholarship money to alleviate financial obstacles for her students and supports fundraising efforts in the community through various organizations.

Sharon is a compassionate educator focused on helping students meet their goals through their academic journey. She has mentored many students throughout her career understanding their personal obstacles and encouraging them to see the value of persistence as they obtain their degree. She continues to focus on raising scholarship money to alleviate financial obstacles for her students and supports fundraising efforts in the community through various organizations.

Donna Weidel
Vice President, Marketing and Communications

After a long career in advertising working for some of the world’s leading brands, Donna spends her retirement through mentoring, artistic endeavors, and giving back to the community with organizations like Fresh Start. She joined in 2021.

After a long career in advertising working for some of the world’s leading brands, Donna spends her retirement through mentoring, artistic endeavors, and giving back to the community with organizations like Fresh Start. She joined in 2021.

Advisory Board

Michele Whetzel, Ex-Officio
Colleen Perry Keith
Fred Dawson
Jan Jessup
Karen M. Ingram
LaVerne Harmon
Margo Ewing Woodacre
Paula Swain
Rita Landgraf
Rita Wilkins
Sharon Kelly Hake
Tracy Quillen Carney
Vernita Dorsey

Read our feature in Delaware Today

“We aren’t just transforming women’s lives,” Maloney says, “but also positively impacting the lives of their children, family and the community."