Outgoing UWDE Board Chair Rick Deadwyler and Michelle A. Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer of UWDE, share a discussion at our recent Annual Celebration.
United Way of Delaware bids farewell to Rick Deadwyler, a remarkable leader who has served as the Board Chair of United Way of Delaware for the past three years and whose term ends on June 30, 2024. Rick’s tenure has left an indelible mark on UWDE and the communities we stand for.
Rick’s involvement with UWDE has spanned over ten years as he began his journey on the nominating committee, identifying key leaders of the community to serve on the board. When he moved into the leadership role as Board Chair, it was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which closed all the schools throughout Delaware and required students to access their teachers and assignments remotely via the Internet. Many Delaware students did not have access to computers or the internet at home, which meant that thousands of students could not continue their schooling. Through his connections within the Delaware business community, Rick was able to help obtain over 10,000 Chromebooks and over 7,000 tablet computers through some of our partners that UWDE could distribute to students who needed them.
Another area that Rick impacted has been racial equity and social justice. The Delaware Racial Justice Collaborative (DRJC) started in 2015, but Rick, in light of the 2020 racial justice protests related to George Floyd’s death, helped to reinvent and reinvigorate the DRJC and recruit hundreds of volunteers to join and support the DRJC. He also supported the start of our Black Student Summit and then our Latinos Unidos Student Summit, events that grew considerably under his tenure as Chair. The Student Summits have significantly impacted the Black and Latino student communities in Delaware, giving each community a day of being together, learning, and celebrating. Rick also oversaw our first-ever Minority Small Business Expo, highlighting Delaware’s minority-owned small businesses and providing a day of workshops, training, and networking.
Over the years, Rick has consistently demonstrated his unwavering support for the UWDE staff, volunteers, and partners. He has made it a priority to engage with the organization by frequently visiting the office to check on staff and actively participating in various community and UWDE events. His hands-on approach has not only benefited the organization directly but has also served as a source of inspiration for other board members, encouraging them to match his level of involvement in advancing the mission. Rick holds dear the meaningful moments spent collaborating with Michelle and her leadership team, fostering genuine friendships that have evolved through collective efforts to better the community. Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of UWDE, expresses gratitude for Rick’s outstanding leadership, mentorship, and guidance during his tenure as Board Chair over the past three years.
As Rick transitions from his role as Board Chair, he will continue to contribute his expertise and dedication as the Immediate Past Board Chair of UWDE. While passing the baton to Brian Nourie, Rick expresses confidence in Brian’s forward-thinking approach, noting that his enthusiasm and energy will greatly benefit the organization. Rick acknowledges Brian’s strategic leadership and anticipates his valuable input during his upcoming tenure with UWDE.
In addition to his involvement with UWDE, Rick is engaged with other partner organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware and the Food Bank of Delaware. With his new responsibilities at UWDE, Rick aims to allocate more time to his foremost roles as a husband and father to his three sons.
The entire United Way of Delaware family extends our gratitude to Rick for his service to UWDE and the communities it supports. They appreciate his continued presence and wish him the very best in all his future endeavors.
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