Community Hope of Delaware was established in 2003, and was formally recognized as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) in June, 2006. Its board is composed of business and civic leaders and has served the Newark, DE community well in its short history. - It has helped develop licensed Amtrak land and build soccer and baseball fields in a partnership with Community Athletic Assn for use by more than 1000 kids, ages 5-15. - It has trained more than 40 care-givers for people in crisis through the Stephen Ministries program. -It runs a discount store making food and household goods available to low-income familes at reduced prices. - This store also trains 12-15 autistic people/week in a partnership with the Christina (DE) School District. -It donates food to help prepare two meals/week (plus clothing and bedding) for the homeless in Wilmington, DE. - It has opened a performing arts school and hires instructors from the University of Delaware to teach low-income children group lessons in violin, guitar, percussion, dance and drama. - it operates Project Crossroad, a program to reach at-risk youth with pointed mentoring in detention centers, middle and high schools. - In February, 2010 it will open Raising Hope Childcare Center, with pre-school instruction at affordable rates for low-income families. -More projects are planned to further "strengthen families" as funding and opportunities become available.