27 nonprofits benefit by BankRI awards

More than two dozen Rhode Island nonprofits have been awarded grants by Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) as part of the bank’s most recent charitable initiatives. In total, $105,500 in funding has been donated to 27 community organizations to support education programs and a range of human services that assist low-income children and families.

“We are committed to making a positive impact in our community, and that begins by supporting nonprofits whose work helps our fellow Rhode Islanders when they need it most,” said Will Tsonos, BankRI’s President and CEO. “Investing in the critical areas of education and basic needs support not only strengthens individuals and families, but it also helps to create a stronger community for everyone.”

College Visions, which empowers low-income and first-generation students to realize the dream of higher education, is among the nonprofits to receive BankRI funding. The organization was awarded $5,000 to support its college prep and planning programming for students in Providence and Woonsocket.

With its grant from BankRI, College Visions is expanding its offerings available to students within Woonsocket High School and growing its summer program in the city. In 2023, the organization launched a pilot program making Woonsocket the first high school in the state where it had a full-time presence thanks to an on-site College Visions advisor. Being embedded in the school has allowed College Visions to begin college and career exploration with students as early as their freshman year. The number of students participating in the program tripled from year one to year two, prompting College Visions to introduce an intensive 5-week summer program featuring college campus visits, career presentations, mock interview workshops, and sessions to practice applying to college. BankRI also helped to fund the launch of the pilot program.

“In Woonsocket, we’re building a college-going culture by enabling students to envision themselves on a college campus when that previously felt out of reach, and that’s extremely powerful,” said Lamont Gordon, Executive Director, College Visions. “When you have a vision for meaningful and impactful work, it makes all the difference when partners like BankRI work with you to bring that vision to life.”

The full list of organizations to receive a grant from BankRI is:

• Academic Decathlon of Rhode Island
• Adoption Rhode Island
• Back to School of Rhode Island
• Books Are Wings
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Newport County
• Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Warwick
• Bryant University
• College Visions
• Community Care Alliance
• Community College of RI Foundation
• Entrepreneurship for All, Inc.
• Gateways to Change, Inc.
• Gallery Night Providence
• Junior Achievement of Rhode Island
• Learning Community
• Pawtucket Central Falls Development
• Potter League for Animals
• Rhode Island Business Competition
• Rhode Island College Foundation
• Rhode Island PBS Foundation
• Scholarship Foundation of East Providence, Inc.
• South Eastern Economic Development Corporation
• SquashBusters
• St. Philip’s Church Corp. – Saint Philip School
• The Church of Saint Michael
• The Miriam Hospital Foundation

About Bank Rhode Island

Bank Rhode Island, a wholly owned subsidiary of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:BRKL), is a full-service, FDIC-insured financial institution headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.  The bank operates 22 branches and more than 30 ATMs throughout Providence, Kent, Newport and Washington Counties.

For more information, visit www.bankri.com.