Portsmouth Residents will Benefit from RI Foundation Grants

Portsmouth residents will benefit from more than $200,000 in grants, the Rhode Island Foundation has announced.

The grants, through the Foundation’s Newport County Fund (NCF), will underwrite a host of activities ranging from after-school activities to sexual violence counseling.

“From enriching arts and educational opportunities for young people to underwriting critical health and environmental programs, we are proud to work with partners that are improving lives here,” said Neil Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “We are grateful to the donors who make this assistance possible and the local advisors who keep us closely connected to the community.”

The NCF offered grants of up $10,000 in seven key funding areas: arts and culture, basic human needs, children and families, economic security, the environment, healthy lives and housing. Among the organizations receiving funding to serve Portsmouth residents are:

The Star Kids Scholarship Program received $2,500 to support after-school and summer academic tutoring for students who have the ability to be successful in school, but are struggling academically and may not have the support system at home to help with homework and projects.

“Star Kids are placed in academically competitive settings, where the level of expectations and student achievement is high. Our objective is to provide the additional supports the child may need to be successful within that competitive program,” said Matthew Netto, state director.

The tutors are certified teachers who assist with reading and comprehension skills, math facts and application, and developing sound writing techniques.

Common Fence Music received $5,000 support Connecting the Beats, which brings African and African-Caribbean drumming and dance to the youth of Newport County through collaborations with six Newport County youth organizations and schools including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newport County and Portsmouth Action for Youth.

Day One received $10,000 to expand its work serving young and adult victims of sexual violence. In 2013, the organization has served 715 individuals Portsmouth and nearby communities.

The East Bay Community Action Program received $9,040 to provide tuition assistance to 15 students in its certified nursing assistant training program.

The Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England received $5,000 for its Urban Outreach program, which introduces at-risk girls in grades K-8 from Newport County communities to scouting and the benefits of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties received $5,000 to train staff on how to work with patients with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers.

In making the funding decisions, the Foundation worked with an advisory committee comprised of Newport County residents including John Ellis, William Harvey, Kristen Humphrey, Victoria Johnson, John Murphy and John Trifero.

Since 2002, the NCF has invested more than $2.8 million in funding programs and services for residents of Middletown and other nearby communities. The NCF is one of one of several committee-advised funds at the Foundation established to fulfill the desire of donors and serving specific issues or geographic areas.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2014, the Foundation awarded $34.8 million in grants 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.