PROVIDENCE – Bank Rhode Island has awarded $115,000 in charitable grants to 31 local organizations that help families in crisis meet their basic needs, provide educational opportunities for students in urban areas, improve access to the arts for underserved communities and more.
“It is important to BankRI that we prioritize giving back to the community and support organizations that are making a difference in the lives of others,” said William C. Tsonos, BankRI CEO and president. “When Rhode Islanders need an extra hand during a difficult time, they often turn to their local nonprofit. We want to help ensure those organizations have the resources they need to deliver their services.”
Facing the Holidays with a Cancer Diagnosis
The holidays are often painted as a time of joy, tradition, and togetherness. But for…
Learn More
Among the nonprofits is Feed RI, which received $2,500 for statewide hunger relief and food rescue efforts. What began as a two-person operation 15 years ago has grown to a group that feeds 3,500 Rhode Islanders monthly through three distinct initiatives, the bank said.
Feed RI operates Hope Market in its 23,000-square-foot facility, which is open daily for people to select nutritious food items. The group also runs Feed the Future, a program that stocks food pantries in 16 Rhode Island schools to ensure students have reliable access to food. And Feed RI offers Hope on the Rhode, delivering pallets of food weekly to partner organizations across the state that distribute to their communities.
“Each week we’re seeing new families shocked to be in the position of seeking food assistance – the face of hunger has changed; they are our neighbors, co-workers and the families of our kids’ classmates,” said Johanna Corcoran, Feed RI’s executive director. “It is only thanks to support from the community and companies like BankRI that we’re able to maximize the number of people we can serve, especially at a time of growing need.”
Other organizations that received a BankRI grant included:
- Beacon Charter Schools
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island
- Childhood Lead Action Project
- City of Cranston
- City of Pawtucket
- Good Neighbors Community Kitchen and Food Pantry
- Local Initiatives Support Corp.
- Nonviolence Institute
- Operation Stand Down Rhode Island
- Providence Animal Rescue League
- Providence Children’s Film Festival
- Reach Out and Read Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness
- Rhode Island College Foundation
- Rhode Island Free Clinic
- Rhode Island Hospitality Association
- Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School
- Rhode Island Public Expenditures Council
- Rhode Island Senior Games
- Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education
- Salve Regina University
- School One
- Southside Community Land Trust
- Stages of Freedom
- Teach for America Rhode Island
- The Prout School
- The Steel Yard
- Trinity Repertory Company
- West Elmwood Development Corp.
- Youth Pride
