When Adam Fedale, of G Fedale Roofing and Siding witnessed far too many families – and one American veteran not being able to repair or replace their home’s roof, he became inspired to have his family’s business tackle this issue firsthand: with literally a hammer and nails and the family’s roofing expertise.
Roofs from the Heart Foundation, a now 501c3 tax-exempt organization, was established, a Delaware charitable nonprofit that provides repairs or new roofs for disadvantaged homeowners in dire need of, but unable to afford the expense. A new roof averages around $13,500, according to Kate Domanski, the organization’s executive director.
Not so surprisingly, finding and upkeeping affordable housing is a perennial problem in some parts of Delaware. Roofs from the Heart, which only provides repairs or replacement for substandard home conditions, which the University of Delaware’s (UD) Center for Community Research & Service Home Repairs Needs Assessment report defines as a condition that “poses a risk to the health, safety or physical well-being of occupants, neighbors, or visitors.”
And as Domanski emphasizes, a faulty roof can cause substantially more damage elsewhere in the house. The psychological benefits of having a safe roof, especially the importance of having dignity, cannot be overestimated.
Glenn Fedale, Jr., founded Roofs from the Heart in 2016, along with brothers Adam and Allen, and their father, Glenn Fedale, Sr., who serves as president of the organization’s board of directors. It is a very generous family, indeed. Kate Domanski, with a background in various business developments, joined the foundation in 2022 overseeing all operations now that the nonprofit continues to grow. The organization is also governed by a board of directors with an impressive philanthropic and community service roster.
Funding for Roofs from the Heart comes from private foundations and donors, and of course from the family’s business, G Fedale Roofing and Siding, its largest corporate sponsor. Several other industry partners have also donated supplies in kind or at cost to keep the overhead costs for the nonprofit down.
Other nonprofit organizations, including Milford Housing and Development Corporation and Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility offer affordable housing for clients of Roofs from the Heart, including modular homes.
Many of the foundation’s beneficiaries are single women or veterans. There is a nomination and application process, and there are other partners involved such as ECA, Milford Housing Development Corporation. Applicants are prequalified based on financial need, followed by an onsite assessment before a decision is made. Nominees must also have paid their property taxes. Domanski remarks that these homeowners have an income at 80% or below average of the median income in the state of Delaware.
Domanski estimates that G Fedale, the sole contractor, replaces one to two roofs per quarter for Roofs from the Heart, and has provided well over 25 roof repairs or replacements for disadvantaged homeowners in Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania. That number is expected to consistently grow.
When asked what other Delaware residents can do to support Roofs from the Heart, Ms. Domanski suggested making a tax-deductible donation, or even running in their annual 5K in October 2025. It takes place in Wilmington, but of course any kind of donation or sponsorship will go a long way to supporting the organization, as well as the generous Fedale family that gives so much back to the Delaware community.
By Bridget Fitzpatrick