Cranston Schools a Finalist for Prestigious Federal Freedom Award

Cranston’s school district is in the running for a prestigious national honor for supporting its employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.

Cranston Public Schools is one of 30 finalists for The Freedom Award, granted by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. It’s the highest recognition given by the government to employers for their support of employees who serve.

“Despite growing support by Rhode Island civilian employers for Guard and Reserve members and their families, it’s been nearly a decade since our state has won the award at the national level” said Mike Ritz, Rhode Island State Chairman of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. “The competition is fierce.”

Cranston Public Schools is one of just 30 finalists and is in the public employer category. EGSR received 2,960 nominations nationwide.

To make it as a finalist, the district had to demonstrate “extraordinary actions in support of military personnel and their families when called for duty, as expressed by the service member who nominated them,” according to a release.

While the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA) ensures certain rights and protections for men and women in uniform, Freedom Award nominees go beyond the minimum protections of the law by providing additional extended benefits to their service member employees.

A board including Senior DoD and other officials and representatives of prior recipient organizations will now select up to 15 Freedom Award recipients to be honored at the 20th Annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony inside the Pentagon in Washington D.C. in late summer.

“These employers are serving our military and our Nation proudly through their support of our citizen warriors,” said ESGR National Chair Paul E. Mock. “They are helping to keep America strong, and we are grateful for the important role they play in maintaining the wellbeing of our Guard and Reserve members and families.”

Cranston Public Schools join Woonsocket-based CVS, a finalist in the large employer category; and Hope Valley Industries in the small employer category to make Rhode Island just one of two states with three finalists. The other state is Arizona.

The last time a Rhode Island company or institution won a Freedom Award was when Cardi’s Furniture took home the honor in 2006.