To the Editor:
An open letter to the community from The Providence Plan:
For more than 25 years, ProvPlan has worked with state and city leadership to develop evidence and provide advice on a wide range of public-policy issues of importance to the community we were founded to serve. Last July, we learned that we had been the victims of an embezzlement by our then-finance director, in excess of $700,000. For a nonprofit organization with a modest reserve fund, this was a devastating blow.
As we uncovered the extent of the damage, ProvPlan's board of directors committed to a set of principles that have guided us throughout this challenge:
- Protection and preservation of our four programs, allowing us to continue serving their missions and carry on their critically important work on behalf of the community.
- Repayment of all debts and fulfillment of all obligations to contracting agencies, as well as to the community we had pledged to serve.
- Complete transparency about what happened with funders and other supporters, as well as with law enforcement agencies at all levels.
As we have reached a critical point in this journey, it seems an appropriate time to update the community on our progress on these three principles, celebrate our accomplishments since last July and appreciate all those who have been so instrumental in our progress.
First and most importantly, we are thrilled that all four of our programs have transitioned into their next iteration and are on the path to thriving:
- Building Futures and Apprenticeship Rhode Island are now functioning as a stand-alone 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. These organizations create and manage apprenticeship programs in collaboration with the state and private companies and employee organizations across Rhode Island.
- DataSpark, the data collection and analysis organization that has played a major role throughout the state in promoting and supporting evidence-based policymaking, is now an operating unit within the University of Rhode Island.
- Ready to Learn Providence has become a part of the School of Continuing Studies at Roger Williams University. There it will continue and expand its important work ensuring that all children have a level playing field when they enter kindergarten.
- YouthBuild, having recently received all the legislative permissions required to create an independent, degree-granting secondary school academy, is a stand-alone 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It is well on its way toward opening its school in the fall.
Second, we are well down the path to fully reimbursing all our creditors. We are pleased and proud to say that no vendor or other creditor has gone unpaid during this time and that all commitments will be fulfilled.
Third, with the pro bono support of our longtime legal advisers at Brown Rudnick, the embezzlement has been thoroughly investigated in cooperation with state and federal authorities. All funding agencies directly affected have been informed of these findings. Last month, the U.S. Attorney's Office issued a statement specifically referencing the high degree of cooperation and support provided by ProvPlan and its legal advisers.
None of this could have ever been realized without the extraordinary efforts and commitment of some very special Rhode Island community leaders and institutions.
At the risk of leaving out many essential supporters, I would cite first and foremost the ProvPlan staff, past and present. I want also to acknowledge the many contributions of my colleagues on the board, past and present, who met on a weekly basis for much of the last eight months, working to fulfill the principles we outlined at the outset of this process. Of particular note are Ed Pare and his colleagues at Brown Rudnick, who provided invaluable pro bono legal support and wise counsel. Andy Hodgkin – a former Brown Rudnick partner and former ProvPlan board member – also pitched in on a pro bono basis at several key points in this process.
Also to be commended are the staff in the many state departments and agencies that provide funds and other support for one or more of the programs and for ProvPlan. Similarly, staff in several city departments were instrumental in this work, as were the members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation and their staff.
From within the community, we acknowledge – and appreciate – the contributions of too many partners and colleagues to name. Never was the cliché about it taking a village more on point than it has been for us over the last eight months!
Together, our community made certain that the criminal acts of one person did not diminish the impact of what we accomplished together in service to the community and the excitement we share for the future achievements of the four programs that are continuing on.
Despite the recent challenges, it is clear that ProvPlan has both "done well" and "done good" over its quarter-century of service to the community.
RICHARD R. SPIES BOARD CHAIRMAN THE PROVIDENCE PLAN