DFRC Inc.

DFRC’s goals focus on our core message of the importance and rewards of respecting, accepting, and befriending people with intellectual disABILITIES. We hope to alleviate the sense of fear and awkwardness that is often present when we encounter someone who is different from what is familiar to us. Through our programs, we strive to build bridges between people with and without disABILITIES, eliminating barriers, fears and negative attitudes. DFRC promotes inclusion, acceptance and relationships that create a better understanding of ABILITIES and positive attitudes for all people. We strive to enrich the lives of people who are intellectually challenged, which, in turn, enriches the lives of all people. Additionally, through the DFRC Blue-Gold All★Star Football Game and six other awareness and fundraising events, we raise funding for other organizations, our beneficiaries, that provide programs and services for people with intellectual disABILITIES.

Following the leadership, passion and commitment of DFRC’s Executive Director and Board of Trustees, seven major awareness and fundraising events are planned and executed by two office staff and approximately 200 core volunteer family members. Focusing on the DFRC Blue-Gold All★Star Football Game, DFRC’s founding event, DFRC invites involvement from every Delaware high school and includes more than 350 participants, their families, and volunteers. The DFRC Blue-Gold Game involves football players, cheerleaders, band members, and ambassadors from each high school throughout the state. The high school students are given the opportunity to be paired with a child or young adult who is intellectually challenged, their buddy, in order to create a better understanding of the ABILITIES they possess. This pairing is the Hand-in-Hand Program, and it is the very heart of DFRC’s Blue-Gold Program. From February through June, the DFRC Hand-in-Hand Program sponsors planned events and encourages participation in routine activities. These interactions allow the high school students and their buddies who are intellectually challenged opportunities to interact, bond, and nurture relationships that enhance the development of understanding and compassion for each other. We encourage our participants to open their hearts and establish relationships with their buddy that we hope will remain with them far beyond the end of the Game.

We pride ourselves in the success of the DFRC Blue-Gold Hand-in-Hand Program and the positive changes our participants discover and carry with them as they move into the next phase of their lives after high school. The Hand-in-Hand Program partners more than 225 volunteer high school participants with approximately 125 children and young adults with intellectual disABILITIES as “buddies” for the All*Star season. More than just a fundraiser or special event, this community program provides opportunities for youth leadership and development. Participants are also involved in community education and awareness regarding intellectual disABILITIES, athletic competition, inclusion activities of the Hand-in-Hand Program, and community/family participation. The funds raised by this event extend the impact of the DFRC Blue-Gold All Star Football Game to the organizations, groups, and programs that receive grant monies from DFRC.

In our 66-year history, DFRC has distributed over $6.2 million into community programs and services throughout the state of Delaware. In 2021, we provided grant funding to 8 agencies totaling $50,000. DFRC is very proud to support the work of our beneficiary organizations statewide. Additionally, the DFRC Blue-Gold Committee has a continuous effort of recruitment of buddies and expanded training for the high school participants and their parents. This recruitment and training has helped develop the number of people participating in the program and the quality of their experience.
There are approximately 50 high schools involved in the DFRC Blue-Gold Program. We expect the number of high schools involved to continue to grow as new high schools open in our state. We also make a concerted effort to find additional buddies who will benefit from participating in the Hand-in-Hand Program and, in turn, expand the opportunities for high school participants to develop an increased understanding and awareness about people who are intellectually challenged. Training for the high school participants and parents is evaluated and improved on a continual basis. Follow-up on the partnerships, both during and after the Hand-in-Hand Program, is increased and strengthened. Orientation for the parents of participants and buddies with intellectual disABILITIES and the Blue-Gold Advisors from each school has successfully allowed us to share information specific to DFRC and our Blue-Gold Program. We provide one session in a northern location and another session on a different night in a southern location in order to accommodate everyone. We have received major positive feedback from the parents and advisors regarding the value of the orientation program.