Little Compton community will benefit from new grants

Improvements to Wilbur McMahon School and the Little Compton Wellness Center are on their way thanks to grants from the Rhode Island Foundation.

“We’re excited about these ideas for making community happen in more and better ways at the local level. Supporting community-building will improve shared places and quality of life, promote collaboration and increase community engagement,” said Jessica David, executive vice president of strategy and community investments. “We’re grateful to have donors who invest in our work and partners like these that understand the needs of their community.”

The Little Compton School Department was awarded $10,000 to modernize the lighting and sound systems in Wilbur McMahon's auditorium.

“The improvements will enable the facility to host a wide array of cultural, educational, athletic and family-friendly activities for the entire community. As the largest public meeting space in town, our gymnasium/auditorium is in demand, but was in need of some modern amenities in order to transform it into a multi-use community center that meets the needs of all town members,” said Laurie Dias-Mitchell, school superintendent.

Little Compton Quilters received $6,790 to buy a professional quilting machine for the Little Compton Wellness Center. The device will enable the group’s members to produce larger quilts for needy families than they could using their personal machines.

“Our volunteer co-ed quilting group has provided quilts to those in need for over three years working with organizations such as Lucy’s Hearth in Middletown, McAuley House in Providence and Dorcas International. The professional machine will enable us to fulfill an increased demand for larger quilts for those in need,” said Marty Fisher, who founded the organization.

The projects are just two of seven area projects to win funding through the Foundation’s Community Grants Program. Nearly $86,000 in grants were awarded in Newport County.

The other area organizations that won funding include Bike Newport, which received $10,000 for environmentally friendly improvements to its bike barn; the Middletown Tree Association, which was awarded $10,000 to complete the final phase of a tree-planting plan for Valley Park; and Melville Elementary School in Portsmouth, which received $10,000 to support the creation of an outdoor classroom.

"We hope this will serve as a model for other communities to look to in the future. It will incorporate sustainable green infrastructure with an outdoor educational program, designed to help mitigate storm water runoff issues that involves the students and educates simultaneously. It will be a place families can enjoy as well when school is out of session," said Sara Churgin, district manager of the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, which is working with the school on the project.

Most of the projects are expected to be underway before the end of the year. The funding from the Community Grants Program is supplemented by a gift from long-time Foundation donor Anne Sage.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the Foundation raised $38 million and awarded $43 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities in 2017. 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 rifoundation.org.