PROVIDENCE – Fifteen local nonprofits became beneficiaries of a combined $150,000 in grants Tuesday from the state of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Foundation and the R.I. Commerce Corp. in the latest round of the RI Gives Vax Challenge vaccine incentive program.
The initiative, launched July 6, selects eligible nonprofits that are on the frontlines combating the ongoing pandemic through a lottery system, with each one receiving $10,000. The challenge announces a new round every time the state reports 5,000 new COVID-19 vaccinations administered.
“Over the last few weeks, we continue to see increases in demand for vaccinations – that’s great news for our collective public health and great news for our nonprofits in the RI Gives Vax Challenge. We know that vaccines are our best tool to keep our communities healthy,” Gov. Daniel J. McKee said in a statement. “If you haven’t yet, get your shot.”
The nonprofits that received grants in this round are:
- American Red Cross – Rhode Island Chapter
- Better Lives Rhode Island
- Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center
- Conexion Latina
- DaVinci Center for Community Progress
- Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County
- East Bay Food Pantry
- Higher Ground International
- Housing Network
- Man Up Inc.
- Mathewson Street United Methodist Church
- Newport Community School
- Oasis International
- Project Undercover
- Rhode Island Center for Justice
Read here about which nonprofits received grants in the program’s first and second rounds. The next round will award 18 nonprofits $180,000.
James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on Twitter at @James_Bessette.
