Ashley Vanderslice, a 16-year-old junior at Tower Hill School, is on a mission to bridge the educational gap in Delaware through the Tomorrow’s Leaders of Delaware Foundation, a nonprofit organization she founded last spring.

As a student-athlete who plays field hockey, track and soccer for Tower Hill, Ashley has traveled to Pennsylvania many times for sports. In doing so, she was inspired by the educational support she observed in Pennsylvania schools in comparison to the dearth of similar resources in her home state. She explains, "I've lived in Wilmington my whole life, and we're not too far from Philadelphia, PA, and I've seen all the aid that goes into some of the Pennsylvania schools, like scholarships, after-school programs, and such. I've noticed they don't really have as much of that in Delaware because it's a smaller state, so I just wanted to create something that could help people in my local community."

Although Ashley’s mom had to help file the paperwork for the foundation’s 501(c)(3) status because Ashley is still underage, a distinctive aspect of the foundation's structure is its commitment to a student-driven approach, or as Ashley puts it, "students for students." The organization aims to have a student board that understands the needs of students and the school setting, thus enabling them to provide the same opportunities to others who may not have access to them. Currently, the board includes students from Tower Hill and other schools, fostering a sense of collaboration and community. There is also a club for Tower Hill students, and Ashley would like other schools to follow suit. “Our hope would be that the different members could then reach out to their networks at other schools and get people involved,” explains Ashley. “We hope it can spread throughout all of Delaware and maybe even Pennsylvania and other states to get as many people helping as possible.”

With a focus on students and community, Ashley and her team are eager to make a lasting impact. "We're trying to raise money to create scholarship opportunities and after-school programs for students and other things that talented youth need to have equal opportunities in academics and to be able to thrive and not suffer due to a socioeconomic barrier," Ashley states. Their Annual Day of Giving has already passed, but plans for the future include volunteering at after-school programs like the Boys and Girls Club and organizing school supply drives to support their peers. “We’re going to have fundraising to make a difference, but we also want to put our own work back into the community and form those connections with different students,” she shares.

On October 29th, the Tomorrow's Leaders of Delaware Foundation will blend those fundraising and community connection goals by hosting its inaugural 5K run/walk at Rockford Park in partnership with Races2Run. The event promises not only a great run but also a festive atmosphere with music, food, and games. Ashley reflects on the choice of a 5K, saying, "I’ve run for a variety of causes over the years and I know how fun those events can be – you get some exercise, you have fun with your friends, and you get to help people in need – so I thought that would be a great thing for our foundation to do." She envisions this as the first of many annual 5Ks.

This Pumpkin Run offers participants a 5K run or walk as well as a kids' run. To get involved and support this noble cause, participants can click the QR code in this article or visit bit.ly/TLDFPR23 to register for the 5K at a cost of $30 until October 28th, with the price increasing to $35 on the day of the race. All participants will receive a free t-shirt and enjoy complimentary food. What's more, 100% of the proceeds raised through the race will go directly to supporting students in need.

Ashley emphasizes that this event is inclusive, stating, "You don't have to be a hardcore runner to come out and run three miles. You can register to walk or not run at all—just come and listen to some music, enjoy the food, play some games, and have a good time."

Looking ahead, Ashley is determined to ensure the foundation's longevity. "I plan on carrying this foundation through college and hopefully into my 20s until I can hand it off to my younger brother or someone else who's still in the Delaware community and can keep it going," she shares. By empowering young people to make a difference, she hopes to create a brighter future for all Delaware students. "I just think it's important that we're giving the same opportunities to kids in all states across the US," asserts Ashley.