In 1996, businesswoman and philanthropist Adrienne Arsht relocated to Miami to serve as chairwoman of the board for TotalBank, a position she held until 2007. Amid the palm trees and Art Deco architecture, Arsht also spent time with Miami’s vibrant Hispanic communities, whose journey toward self-determination and regional influence inspired her.
A native of Delaware, Arsht is the daughter of the Honorable Roxana Cannon Arsht, the first woman judge appointed in Delaware, and S. Samuel Arsht, who chaired the General Corporate Law council in 1976—making Delaware a favorable place for businesses to incorporate. Both of Arsht’s parents were children of Eastern European Jewish immigrants who fled to the United States for a better life. They believed strongly in service, volunteerism, and philanthropy.
The Honorable Roxana Cannon Arsht endowed the Arsht-Cannon Fund (ACF) through the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) to defend the best interests of a civil society. It was established amid the growing presence of Hispanic families in Delaware, particularly in Sussex County. Like many immigrant communities, Hispanic Delawareans found success—often working in agriculture and service industries, starting small business—despite challenges.
At the time, only a few nonprofits in Delaware had the capacity to serve the Hispanic community. As founding chair of the fund, Adrienne Arsht hoped the fund would empower newcomers to build autonomy and thrive.
“What my parents accomplished as children of immigrants I felt could be replicated for the Hispanic community,” said Arsht.
Since its founding in 2004, the fund has awarded more than $12 million to 150 nonprofit organizations across Delaware, with an increasing emphasis on supporting Hispanic communities. In 2007, Dr. Christine Cannon became executive director, playing a key role in shaping the fund’s strategic direction. The ACF has since expanded the reach of Hispanic-serving nonprofits and helped more organizations engage Delaware’s Hispanic communities by funding lifelong educational opportunities.
“We are deeply grateful to the Arsht-Cannon Fund,” said Bryant Garcia, executive director of La Esperanza, a nonprofit focused on building empowerment among Hispanic and immigrant families in Southern Delaware. “For many nonprofits, securing support for immigrant communities is a challenge. As other funders shifted their focus, the Arsht-Cannon Fund has remained a steadfast and reliable partner to Hispanic-serving organizations.”
Dr. Cannon supported the formation of La Colectiva Delaware —a collaborative initiative launched to better coordinate and amplify resources for Delaware’s Hispanic communities—to explore how the Arsht-Cannon Fund could further its efforts. In 2018, this work resulted in the formation of the ESL Network, the bilingual language navigation program at La Esperanza, and collaboration for young immigrant families through La Colectiva members.
“La Colectiva has become a place for nonprofits to discuss the needs of Hispanic families and immigrants in southern Delaware, as well as a place for Arsht-Cannon Fund grantees to partner and collaborate,” said Dr. Jennifer Fuqua, former executive director of La Esperanza.
When Dr. Cannon retired, the DCF hired Fuqua to oversee the ACF as director of partnerships and Hispanic initiatives. With the support of Dr. Fuqua and Dr. Cannon, the ACF distributed $570,000 to nonprofit organizations in 2025.
In addition to its emphasis on literacy and education, the fund has placed growing attention on fostering business development.
“We are excited to support the growth of so many new businesses in Delaware through funding educational opportunities for entrepreneurs,” said Fuqua.
In many instances, thriving enterprises have emerged to meet vital community needs, such as housing repair businesses and restaurants that specialize in traditional national dishes. Nationwide, Hispanic-owned businesses account for 36 percent of all new businesses.
“Hispanic families make huge economic contributions to the community,” said Mary Dupont, executive director for La Plaza Delaware, a partnership with nonprofit and faith-based organizations designed to build business capacity and opportunity for Hispanic businesses in southern Delaware. “They are highly employed, start businesses, buy houses, and send their kids to college. Our state should rejoice!”
To further support workforce development and the entrepreneurial ambitions of Hispanic communities, the ACF funded educational programs at the Delaware Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Delaware Restaurant Association, and West End Neighborhood House in 2025.
Contact Dr. Jennifer Fuqua at jf****@***cf.org to learn more about the Arsht-Cannon Fund at the DCF.