Yesterday some Copeland booster posted Charlie’s “Challenge Program” email in the comment section. It reads in part…
In the late 1990s, I co-founded a non-profit organization called the Challenge Program. The Challenge Program’s construction apprenticeship program allows youth in New Castle County the opportunity to learn construction skills and provides many youth with tangible skills that they can use for years after they leave the program.
Recently, the Challenge Program was featured in a News Journal article entitled, “Youths help build a better life for others just like them.” I wanted to share this story with you because it is critically important that we provide our children with the education and the experiences they need to be successful in life. The Challenge Program is just one example of a program that has been successful at doing just that. (emphasis added)
That’s awesome right? Good for Charlie for having “co-founded” such a worthy program in the late 1990’s. Except wait a second…from the Challenge Program’s web site we learn the following:
Challenge Program History
The Challenge Program originated by offering small craft workshops to at-risk youth in 1995. Since then over 700 students have built and learned to paddle small boats at our Wilmington boat shop. Once a part of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, the Challenge Program obtained a separate 501(c)3 designation and a dedicated board of directors in 1999.
So in the mid-1990’s the program existed as part of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, but Copeland later “co-founded” it as a stand alone program in the late 1990’s. Was Copeland part of the Kalmar Nyckle Foundation that founded it? Maybe. But if so, why not say so?
I mean it is all good that Charlie helped get 501(c)3 status in 1999 for a program that had be going since ’95 – but c’mon, saying you founded it – when you just inherited it? That’s a bit much.
Then again taking credit for things they inherit is part of the GOP culture. What did Anne Richards say about George Bush? He was born on third base and thought he hit a triple.