Newport Nonprofit Wins Grant to Serve Black Residents

A Newport nonprofit is among four organizations serving the state’s African-American community that will share $24,000 in grants from the Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI), a field-of-interest fund at the Rhode Island Foundation.

“By funding initiatives that encourage equity and promote access, we will improve the lives of Rhode Island’s Black community. Inspiring long-term, systemic changes will create pathways to achievement and accomplishment,” said Linda Newton, who co-chairs BPI’s advisory committee.

Turning Around Ministries Inc. (TAM) of Newport was awarded $4,000 to provide services that will help people to become contributing members of the community. Through its A Better You program, TAM will offer mentoring, financial literacy, educational assistance, financial assistance for housing, job readiness training, clothing and transportation to low-income clients who have a criminal record, are homeless or are unemployed.

“Although we will focus on the target population, we will provide services to any who has a legitimate need. As part of our plan for the upcoming year, we hope to conduct some job readiness workshops in various public housing complexes,” said Cheryl Robinson, TAM’s president.

The other grant recipients are the Billy Taylor House, which was awarded $7,000 to provide job training and employment to Providence youth; the Boys and Girls Club of Providence, which received $6,000 for job readiness training and job skills training in science, technology, engineering and math; and the Capital Good Fund, which was awarded $7,000 for financial literacy and health coaching.

These grants come as BPI launches an end-of-the-year fund-raising appeal. The fund is a permanent endowment dedicated to advancing equity and social justice for Blacks in Rhode Island. Supporters can donate to BPI on-line at www.rifoundation.org.

“Your donation will fund more work like this that is improving the economic security of Black Rhode Islanders. With your support, BPI will grow as a perpetual source of support for the Black community,” said Newton.

Established in 2009, BPI is the first fund at the Foundation devoted exclusively to causes and issues affecting Black Rhode Islanders. Its initial round of grants targeted economic sustainability and the Black family, with a focus on housing, financial literacy and job training. In three years of grants, the fund has made nearly $100,000 in awards.

In addition to Newton, the members of the BPI advisory committee are the Honorable Edward Clifton, who is the Committee Chair; Jason Fowler, Beverly Ledbetter and the Honorable Walter Stone.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2013, the Foundation made grants of more than $31 million to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit www.rifoundation.org.

PHOTO CAPTION: (L-R) Black Philanthropy Initiative Advisory Committee Co-chair Edward Clifton, Co-chair Linda Newton and Walter Stone announce $24,000 in grants to nonprofits that serve Rhode Island’s Black community.