RI Foundation announces grants to local groups
PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Foundation awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to organizations in Central Falls, Cumberland, Pawtucket and Woonsocket on the way to a record-breaking year in 2015.
“We are indebted to our committed donors for joining with us for 100 years to address on the state’s challenges and opportunities,” said Neil Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “Their extraordinary generosity made it possible for us to make investments in Rhode Island as never before.”
The grants targeted eight key sectors: arts and culture, basic human needs, children and families, education, economic security, environment, health and housing. The Foundation awarded funds to dozens of local organizations.
In Woonsocket, Riverz-Edge Arts Project received $60,000 to expand its expanded opportunity learning program, which offers Woonsocket High School (WHS) students academic credit for independent study, private instruction, internships, community service projects, apprenticeships or other out-of-school experiences that are overseen by a faculty advisor.
The Woonsocket School Department received $25,000 to train 10 teachers on digital media tools for learning, including Genius, a social media annotation tool that enables learners to comment on and annotate rap and pop music, movies, videogames, news and popular culture to promote research, reading, writing and critical thinking skills.
St. James Episcopal Church received $15,000 to support the Woonsocket Protein Collaborative, which provides protein-rich products through seven local food pantries. An estimated 3,600 families will be served by the grant.
The Stadium Theater Foundation received $10,000 to cover architectural and engineering fees for the restoration of the former Stadium Building. In 2014, the Stadium Theatre Foundation purchased the 30,000-square-foot building to accommodate the rapid growth of the theater’s entertainment and educational programming.
In Cumberland, the Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy received $75,000 to support the addition of a Director of Culture and a special education teacher. The school enrolls a student body from Lincoln, Cumberland, Pawtucket and Central Falls. Sixty percent of students identify as students of color and 62 percent of students are eligible for free and reducedpriced lunch.
Statewide, the Foundation awarded $41.5 million in grants, the most in the organization’s 99year-history, while raising $43 million in new gifts from individual, family, organizational and corporate donors last year.
“From investing in programs that ensure young people can have productive lives to helping people lead healthier lives, our grants take on the issues that will move Rhode Island forward,” said Jenny Pereira, director of grant programs.
In addition to grantmaking and fundraising, community leadership is central to the Foundation’s activities and business. In 2015, the Foundation raised a record $354,247 in the fourth year of its annual Civic Leadership Fund (CLF), which enables the Foundation to go beyond traditional grantmaking to provide leadership and a forum for dialogue on critical community issues. Among CLF’s ongoing projects are the Buy Local RI economic development initiative and Community Conversations, a series of presentations on crucial issues.
“Our Civic Leadership donors recognize that change can require many different approaches. Having the resources to take advantage of opportunities enhances the work that our nonprofit partners already do,” said Jessica David, the Foundation’s senior vice president of strategy and community investments.
Founded with a $10,000 gift from Jesse Metcalf in 1916, the Foundation’s assets have grown to $790 million. To celebrate its centennial, the Foundation plans a full year of activities highlighted by awarding communitybuilding grants of up to $15,000 to organizations in every city and town in Rhode Island.