February 19, 2022

Wayne C. Wilson, 71, of Chadds Ford, died peacefully Tuesday, Feb. 15. He was surrounded by his family.

He is survived by his beloved partner, Debi Moore, his two children Graham Wilson (Elizabeth) and Hilary Wilson (Jered), and two grandchildren Liam and Rosemary Wilson.

Wayne was a graduate of Upper Darby High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University and a master’s degree from Drexel University. Wayne was a brilliant businessman. His entrepreneurial insight and determination were evident in every business venture. Wayne was CEO and chairman of the Board for Accelerated Fire Protection.

Wayne had an explorer’s heart. He was an alpine enthusiast, having climbed mountains on six continents including Antarctica. Wayne was also an avid scuba diver and completed several marathons including the Philadelphia Marathon. He was an exceptional cook with a keen appreciation for French and Italian cuisine and culture, setting out to transform each mealtime into an event.

Wayne was a 30-year contributor and participant in the Landmark Worldwide education program, dedicated to personal and professional betterment. He was known by all as a warm and caring mentor and friend, committed to helping those he loved and cared about to find contentment and excellence in achievement.

Wayne was a generous champion of the arts, supporting local organizations such as Opera Delaware, Curtis Institute of Music, Astral Artists, and Chester County Choral Society. He hosted fundraising events in support of local artists and organizations and was a past member of the Opera Delaware board.

Visitation is Monday, Feb. 21, 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Nolan Fidale Funeral Home, 5980 Chichester Avenue, Aston. The funeral service will be held immediately following at 12:30. The burial service will be at the Edgewood Memorial Park in Glen Mills. In lieu of flowers, Wayne’s family asks that donations be made to Opera Delaware www.operade.org. Condolences may be made to www.nolanfidale.com

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Kennett teen earns $5K in new program

School & Education

Isabella Hanson, 16, a junior at Kennett High School, was named a 2022 Prudential Emerging Visionary for bringing powerful vision and meaningful change to her community.

As one of 25 young people from across the country selected in this year’s inaugural class, Isabella will receive $5,000 in funding as well as an invitation to participate in an awards summit from April 23-26. The summit will include a lively agenda packed with skills development workshops, coaching sessions, networking opportunities, and special recognition events. Select winners will also have an opportunity to participate in a pitch-off where a grand prize winner will receive an additional $10,000 in funding. What’s more, Prudential employees will vote to name an Employees’ Choice Award winner, who will receive an additional $5,000.

Hanson started “I Matter” to give young people a platform to advocate for social justice and equality through creative expression. The project runs poetry and art contests, Juneteenth events, and workshops for students of all backgrounds, creating a place for their voices to be heard and inviting them to share powerful messages about racial justice.

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Isabella wanted young voices to be part of the national conversation. “I Matter came from pain, but I am working with youth to advocate for change,” she says. So far, the initiative has reached young people in over 42 states and 30 countries, and more than 800 students have participated in the contests.

Prudential Emerging Visionaries recognizes young people ages 14-18 whose fresh perspectives and innovative solutions address the pressing financial and societal challenges in their communities. It is a collaboration between Prudential Financial and Ashoka, a leading social impact organization, with advisory support from the Financial Health Network, an authority on financial health, and longtime partner of The Prudential Foundation. The program is an evolution of the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, the country’s largest youth recognition program, which for 26 years honored more than 150,000 outstanding youth volunteers.

“Emerging Visionaries is another way Prudential is demonstrating its commitment to our purpose: to make lives better by solving the financial challenges of our changing world,” said Chairman and CEO Charles Lowrey. “The students we’re honoring have a sense of possibility that drives them to look beyond themselves. Their vision and dedication are key to creating fully inclusive communities, and we are humbled and inspired by their work.”

That work includes addressing needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic, combating economic inequality, advocating for inclusion, and closing the digital divide. This inaugural group of young leaders was selected based on four main criteria: their solution is innovative; it can create meaningful impact in the future and can scale to a wider community; it demonstrates a deep understanding of the issue, and it inspires the visionary to lead or take action and motivates others to do the same.

To read the names and stories of all of this year’s Prudential Emerging Visionaries, visit prudential.com/emergingvisionaries.