Scholarship Foundation of East Prov. Awards More than $158,000

Thanks to the generosity of local residents and businesses, Scholarship Foundation (SF) of East Providence awarded scholarships totaling more than $158,000 to East Providence residents this year. More than 100 businesses, organizations, families and individuals sponsored this year’s awards. Members of the scholarship group distributed checks to 150 recipients at Weaver Library in August.

The event marked the 48th scholarship presentation by the all-volunteer organization. Scholarship Foundation of East Providence has provided more than $3 million in scholarships to more than 3,000 local students in the more than four decades since its founding.

SF of East Providence is one of the few local organizations that offer scholarships to students from the time they graduate from high school through their senior year in college. This year, 71 graduating high school seniors from 6 public, parochial and private schools, and 79 students enrolled in college, all East Providence residents, received scholarships.

Using a standardized application process, SF of East Providence administers scholarships based on merit and financial need to students who will be attending college, career or technical school. The group also sponsors events, such as a community-wide phone-a-thon in March and a Holiday Breakfast the Saturday after Thanksgiving, to raise additional funds for scholarships and to ensure that each recipient is awarded a minimum of $1,000.

Businesses, local organizations, families or individuals who are interested in initiating a scholarship through Scholarship Foundation of East Providence or who would like to learn more can contact Joan Kent at 401-431-1675 or at P.O. Box 154438, East Providence, RI 02915.

Photo caption: Among the 150 recipients of scholarships administered by Scholarship Foundation (SF) of East Providence are Sydney Vilardi, an East Providence High School graduate attending Assumption College to study biology/patient rehab science, William Fontes and Kiwanis Club of East Prov. Scholarships; Carly Pereira, a LaSalle Academy graduate, attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute to study computer science, Noella Paiva Memorial Scholarship; and Brian Grace, East Prov. High School graduate, attending University of New Haven to study graphic design, SF of East Prov. Past Recipient and Florence Perry Memorial Scholarships.