Kingston Hill Academy & Villa Nova Middle Win Kindness Challenge

NARRGANSETT-SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI - From Family Service of Rhode Island: In celebration of its 125th anniversary, Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI) earlier this year offered the "#125Kindness School Challenge" to all Rhode Island schools.

Today FSRI, a statewide non-profit social service and education agency, announced the winners.

"There is a lot of division across our country right now - and that affects people of all ages. FSRI hopes to change some of that narrative by rewarding children across the state for being kind and compassionate - for being good citizens and good neighbors. FSRI wants our anniversary year to be the Year of Kindness," said FSRI Chief Executive Officer Margaret Holland McDuff.

All schools finishing in the top five will receive financial prizes for student enrichment opportunities. They include: The Juanita Sanchez Education Complex in Providence, which came in first place in the competition for their "Kindness Wave" project (watch their video at: https://youtu.be/qh18VjJuB2I); Blessed Sacrament School in Providence, which came in second, for their "Kindness Across Blessed Sacrament" initiative; and Woonsocket's Villa Nova Middle School for their "Kindness Garden," which won third place.

Judges also recognized the remarkable achievements of Central Falls' Segue Institute for Learning, for their "Kindness@Segue" project; and Saunderstown's Kingston Hill Academy for their "Buddies Teach Kindness" project.

On World Kindness Day, Monday, November 13th, FSRI will be holding award ceremonies at a number of the schools. The schedule for those ceremonies will be announced later this week.

Judges for the #125Kindness School Challenge span government, philanthropic and corporate sectors and include: Margaret Holland McDuff, FSRI's chief executive officer; the Honorable Teresa Paiva-Weed, former state senate president and currently the Hospital Association of Rhode Island president and a member of FSRI's board of directors; Arianne Corrente, the Rhode Island Foundation's communications director; Sybil Bailey, director of human resources for the City of Providence and an FSRI board member; Daniel Rossignol, managing director of Denwood Capital; Carolyn Belisle, managing director at Blue Cross & Blue Shield Rhode Island; and FSRI's chief advancement officer Stephen Hourahan who noted that "The judges were delighted by the amazing submissions that came from across the state."

The "125Kindness School Challenge" is only one part of the 125 Acts of Kindness FSRI is acknowledging throughout 2017. More information about the FSRI Kindness Campaign is available at https://www.familyserviceri.org/campaignforkindness.

About FSRI: FSRI is a comprehensive non-profit social service agency and essential part of the Rhode Island community. FSRI provides support to children and families-from birth to adulthood-through services focused on three general areas--physical and mental health, education, and overall well being. Every program or service FSRI offers is geared towards promoting healthy families and strong communities.

Photo courtesy of Family Service of Rhode Island