Village Improvement Association

The Village Improvement Association, founded in 1909, is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the Cape Henlopen community through volunteer service and financial support.

About Village Improvement Association

Mission: The Village Improvement Association, founded in 1909, is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the Cape Henlopen community through volunteer service and financial support.

Vision Statement
It is the vision of the Village Improvement Association (VIA) to shape the future by providing caring volunteers and funding, as well as ensuring positive impact for people and organizations in need.

In 2023, our members volunteered 23,204.5 hours to our projects and donated $41,825.05 of their own money as Gifts in Kind. Members collected over $2,000 for gift cards and clothes to donate to high school students and seniors in nursing facilities. Thanks to our fundraising events and the public’s support of those events, we were able to donate $57,703.46 to our charities.


Delaware Gives

The Village Improvement Association of Rehoboth Beach has a long history of
assisting our local community. The members have accomplished this by raising
money through specific events, such as sponsoring festivals, fashion shows,
designer showcase homes, and member donations of time, talent, and treasure.
With the money the members raise and donate on their own, they have
contributed over 23,000 hours in the past year alone to assist those in our
community who are vulnerable. These include helping homeless veterans in
locally-run homes for men and women with meals, small gifts, toiletries and
necessities; preparing and serving meals for the homeless; volunteering and
supporting the local food bank; supporting displaced students and the elderly
through an annual holiday gift giving campaign; knitting and providing hats and
blankets for children in hospice; assisting a local charity to provide clothing,
diapers and formula for infants and young children; and volunteering at a local
soup kitchen.

VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION OF REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE, INC.
The Village Improvement Association of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware (VIA) is a
501(c)3 women’s civic and charitable organization dedicated to community
improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. Since its
founding in 1909, members have been making enduring personal and financial
contributions to the town and the surrounding Cape Henlopen District.
Membership: There are approximately 230 members.
Historical references: The founders provided services for the city of Rehoboth
Beach such as mosquito control, they set up the Red Cross in our clubhouse
during WWII, started well baby clinics and children’s day care, founded the
Rehoboth Beach Public Library and were instrumental in establishing the
Rehoboth Art League, just to mention a few. There are five Delaware Historical
Markers in Rehoboth Beach identifying the work of the VIA over the past 113
years. An example is the Children’s Fishing Pier rebuilt through VIA support
following a devastating hurricane in 1962.

Today: The VIA is working toward providing 115 different community
contributions as the club’s 115th Anniversary approaches in 2024.
Examples include:
  • Services such as food and clothing initiatives for infants, children and adults. Many         served are homeless
  •  Health related education to the community and for members
  • Scholarships for graduating high school seniors
  • Annual scholarships for both Beebe School of Nursing and Advanced Nursing           Scholarship
  • Literary and art services for children and adults
  • Charitable contributions, made possible by extensive fundraising initiatives, are given quarterly to local non-profit organizations.
  •  2023 YTD total: $57,703.46

County Served: Sussex

Office Location(s): Rehoboth Beach

Sector: Community Improvement; Volunteerism