BankNewport Charitable Foundation Awards $396,000 in Spring Grants

Newport, RI – (May 28, 2024) – The BankNewport Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce that it has awarded $396,000 in grants to over 40 organizations throughout Rhode Island to support their work in the areas of basic human needs and food insecurity, education and workforce training, healthy lives, and arts and culture.

“Since our founding more than 200 years ago, BankNewport has been committed to supporting Rhode Island,” said Jack Murphy, President and CEO, BankNewport. “It’s a true honor and privilege to extend grants to those organizations that are doing the incredible work of providing resources and care for those most in need.”

Among the recipients, the BankNewport Charitable Foundation also recommended a $100,000 grant to support the Newport County YMCA Childcare Renovation and Expansion Project in Middletown to meet an increased need for safe, quality childcare that will positively impact generations of families on Aquidneck Island.

Recipients of the Spring 2024 grants are:

• Back to School Celebration, annual backpack/school supply distribution at 12 community sites
• Beautiful Day, to purchase equipment for refugee job training program
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of RI, Family Empowerment and Investment Fund
• Bike Newport, expand equitable bike access, safety education, and community programming
• Central Falls Children’s Foundation, for the City of Central Falls Education Strategy Initiative
• College Visions, expand college access and success programs, including its Woonsocket Schools partnership and Black and Latino Male Fellowship
• DESIGNxRI for its Newport County Design Catalyst program supporting micro-design businesses
• Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County, for safe home, transitional and permanent housing for women and children

• MLK Community Center, hunger relief and wellness programs for Newport County
• East Bay Food Pantry, hunger relief for East Bay residents
• East Greenwich Interfaith Food Cupboard, for the Stock the Shelves and Freezer program
• FAB Newport, summer program and food security for under-resourced youth
• Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Bonus Buck grocery match for SNAP users
• Federal Hill House Early Learning Center resources
• FirstWorks, expanded arts education in Central Falls, Pawtucket, and Providence
• Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation, SheRose multi-faceted Patient and Survivor Engagement Program
• Hope & Main, expansion of “Nourish Our Neighbors” emergency meal program
• International Yacht Restoration School, need-based scholarship fund
• Looking Upwards Aquidneck Island Day Camp for children in Newport County
• Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island Home Delivered Meal Program
• Newport Art Museum, support for “Free for All” Saturday Community Arts Programming
• Newport Contemporary Ballet, Dancing Through Boundaries comprehensive in-school and after-school programs at Pell Elementary School in Newport
• Newport Hospital Foundation Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit
• Northern Rhode Island Food Pantry, support a second food distribution day to meet increased demand
• ONE Neighborhood Builders, pre-development costs associated with The Avenue, 39-unit affordable housing/mixed use development in Federal Hill
• Potter League for Animals, Community Navigator Program
• Project Goal, coeducational after school initiative for youth to receive academic enrichment while building a foundation of social responsibility, teamwork and collaboration in the classroom and on the field through the reward of soccer training
• Project Weber/RENEW, harm reduction and recovery services
• Providence Public Library, Technology Career Pathway workforce programming
• Rhode Island Slave History Medallions, to support the Newport Black History Walking Tour and medallion installation
• Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education, mentoring and wrap-around support for children in Providence County
• San Miguel School of Providence, student sponsorship program for families in Providence, Central Falls and Pawtucket
• South County Health Foundation, support for Men’s Heath Aquablation therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
• Southern Rhode Island Volunteers, Independent Aging Support Program
• Vincent DePaul Society, St. Joseph Conference in Newport, emergency financial assistance for individuals and families facing crisis

• Stadium Theatre Foundation, “Imagination Series” school time theatre performances
• Star Kids Scholarship Program, education program for disadvantaged children and youth through scholarships and wrap around supports
• The Children’s Workshop, for its Central Falls sensory room for diverse needs of students
• The Learning Community, for its Exploratorium STEAM after-school and summer programming for students from Central Falls, Pawtucket, and Providence
• Tides Family Service, for its Hardship Fund for families to access food, utility, and rent assistance
• Visiting Nurse Home and Hospice, Maternal Child Health Program