Newport County Residents to Benefit by Rhode Island Foundation Grants to Local Non-Profits

Photo: Volunteers prepare meals for the Senior Lunch Program at the Little Compton Community Center

Rhode Island Foundation awards $375,000 in grants for services to Newport County residents

Dozens of nonprofit organizations serving Newport County residents will share $375,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation. The funding will support work ranging from educational programs for children and housing to food pantries and arts activities.

“We are fortunate to be able to help our partners carry out their critical work. We are grateful for the dedicated donors who make it possible for us to support nonprofits that are on the frontlines of serving the needs of their communities,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO.

Child & Family in Middletown, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport, the Jamestown Community Food Bank, the Newport County YMCA in Middletown and the Jamestown Village and Aquidneck Island Village are among the grant recipients.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County received $5,000 to support its Anchor Academy, which offers intensive leadership training and skill development to approximately 20 Middletown High School freshmen. Participants attend meetings at Middletown High School from October to April and also go through a separate eight-week essential skills training to help them build key interpersonal and professional skills. The newly-minted peer leaders then lead the rest of the freshman class in a day-long team-building retreat at the Club’s Camp Grosvenor in Saunderstown. As sophomores, the peer leaders meet with incoming freshmen to help them adjust to their new environs.

“Our program addresses the challenges many youth experience during the critical transition between middle and high school. Students’ experiences in their first year of high school often determine their success throughout high school and beyond,” said Bill Parks, interim executive director.  “We are proud to partner with Middletown High School and its guidance department to make a positive impact on students through this program.”

Child & Family received $10,000 to provide case management for families in its supportive housing program. The initiative provides parents with wraparound case management and access to a continuum of care that provides the resources necessary for them to secure permanent housing and improve the overall health and well-being of their families. The organization works with the Newport Housing Authority to provide affordable apartments for as many as 12 families a year.

“As part of their participation in the program, families may enroll in one of our evidence-based family preservation programs, in addition to our Home Stabilization program. The goal is to help them avoid contact with the child welfare system or successfully reunify parents with children who have been placed out of the home due to lack of stable housing. Our focus on connecting families to care is what makes our program successful in keeping families together and keeping children out of the costly child welfare system,” said Susan Jacobson, president and CEO.

The Jamestown Community Food Pantry received $10,000 to offset the rising cost of purchasing food, basic household supplies and personal care and pet items. The organization provides clients with meat, fish, juice, cheese, yogurt, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, in addition to non-perishables. The organization reports serving 86 households supporting 167 individuals and distributing an average of just over 1,900 items per month over a total of 467 pantry visits last year.

“Our budget continues to be challenged by the cost of stocking our shelves. We assist those in Jamestown who need emergency food help when budgets are tight,” said Deborah Nordstrom, president. “Without our services, the needy in Jamestown would need to travel across one of the bridges to another food pantry and many of our clients are shut ins or don’t have reliable transportation. In addition, given the sharp increases in food costs, our clients’ food budgets don’t go as far as they used to, so every extra dollar we can get will go a long way.”

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center received $10,000 for need-based scholarships for preschool for children from low-income, working families. The MLK Community Center expects to serve up to 45 children age 3 to 5 in three fully equipped classrooms and an outdoor play space.

“We opened a third preschool classroom in September 2024 to help meet the gap in preschool openings on Aquidneck Island. In addition to English language learning, literacy and math, our program supports social and emotional wellness,” said Heather Hole Strout, Executive Director. “Creative play inside and outdoors is part of every school day. The Children also enjoy music lessons, art, cooking classes, and lots of STEAM activities. Our in-house chef prepares a healthy breakfast, lunch, and two snacks every day.  All families also have full access to our onsite hunger relief programs. Because of this funding, parents can go to work knowing their kids are thriving at the MLK.”

The Newport County YMCA in Middletown received $7,500 to support RhodySquash, an afterschool program for area students grades four through eight that combines squash instruction and competition with mentorship, tutoring and character-building opportunities.

“We are particularly focused on enrolling those who demonstrate financial, academic, or psychosocial needs. Through this program and with the support of funders, at-risk youth develop new skills and make connections that allow for a healthier and brighter future,” said Mike Miller, the Y’s CEO. “In a community where after-school programs are lacking and often costly, RhodySquash provides a safe place for kids to play, learn and thrive at no cost to families who need financial assistance.”

The Village Common received $5,650 to strengthen its two local chapters, Jamestown Village and Aquidneck Island Village, which serves Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth. The volunteer organization helps older adults stay active, connected and independent in their own homes and communities. The Aquidneck Island Village has 57 volunteers and 64 members and the Jamestown Village has 27 volunteers and 19 members.

“The concept is neighbors helping neighbors in a formal, sustainable way. Older adults can get trusted help when they need it and also stay social, preventing the negative effects of isolation,” said Mary Alice Smith of Newport, a member of the Aquidneck Island Village steering committee. Our volunteers assist members in a myriad of ways, from driving them to medical appointments and running errands, to doing household minor repairs, to providing technology assistance, to making friendly calls and visits, and so much more.”

The Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, FabNewport, Little Compton Food Bank and Conexion Latina Newport also won grants. The full list of recipients is posted at rifoundation.org.

The grants are through the Foundation’s Newport County Fund, which awards grants of up $10,000 to strengthen or expand established programs, to support policy or advocacy efforts on behalf of community concerns, to fund new projects that focus on significant problems or opportunities, and to leverage strategic collaborations and partnerships.

In making the funding decisions, the Foundation worked with an advisory committee comprised of residents from every community in Newport County.

Established in 2002, the Fund has awarded more than $6 million in grants for programs and services for residents of Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth and Tiverton over the years.

It is just one of the grant programs that enable the Foundation to serve Newport County communities. Just since 2023, the Foundation has awarded nearly $12 million in grants to Newport County nonprofits.

About the Rhode Island Foundation:

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Through civic leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, together with neighbors and partners, the Foundation is helping to create progress that lasts. For more information, visit rifoundation.org. 

PHOTO CAPTION: Nonprofits serving Newport County residents are sharing $375,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation. Volunteers prepare meals for the Senior Lunch Program at the Little Compton Community Center, which received one of the grants.