Innovation In Action: Videos Win RiverzEdge Students Scholarships From Provider Insurance

Two kids park a SUV and walk off talking as the vehicle slowly drifts backwards down a hill. A teenager declares he "just got his license" and drives off recklessly singing and dancing before crashing off the side of the road.  

When youth at were given the opportunity to create a video for a local insurance company for a chance to win scholarship money, they came through with funny, original and creative work to meet the challenge.

Provider Insurance awarded prizes for the top three submissions in the contest, which involved creating a short music video/commercial for the award-winning company to be posted on YouTube.

"The videos were very good," said President/CEO of Provider Bill Darcey. "We've done this contest several times and the first-place winner might be the best video we've ever gotten."

The insurance agency partnered with RiverzEdge,  the social enterprise that provides talented underserved teens hands-on work experience in the arts, for the project and viewers were given the opportunity to vote on the best submission.

Grand prize winner Michael Bailey Gates won a $1,000 scholarship for his video portraying a young girl who is busy dancing while a burning dinner gradually fills her kitchen with smoke. "We cover smoke and fire damage - Provider Insurance," the piece ends. The  video will be used for marketing purposes on the Provider website, providing fame and glory both to the young filmmaker and the generous company. Bailey will be attending the School of Visual Arts in New York next year.

The second place prize of $500 was awarded to Jalizza Ramos for a professional looking piece portraying a young girl (herself) looking for a new insurer. Ramos will be using her scholarship money at University of Rhode Island next year.

Runner-up Andre Olivera won a $50 Itunes gift card for his submission.

"Woonsocket is a city without a lot of positive outlets for youth. We struggle with high teen pregnancy and high school drop-out rates, and pervasive poverty. RiverzEdge works to combat a myriad of problems and issues in the lives of our youth and it’s great to have a dedicated and creative local partner," said Executive Director of the RiverzEdge Arts Project, Rebekah Greenwald Speck.  "We are especially proud that our insurance agency cares so much about our kids, and we are grateful to Provider for seeking innovative ways to support our work.”

President/CEO, Bill Darcey said, “It’s so fulfilling to be in a position where we can give back to our clients as well as help our local community.  These teens are looking to better themselves and get some real world experience and we are happy that we can help them in a small way.”

The two top video submissions are attached above.