Foundation names 2013 Rhode Island Innovation Fellows

2013 Rhode Island Innovation Fellows Lynn Taylor, MD, and Adrienne Gagnon flank Philanthropists Letitia and John Carter. See more photos from the Innovation celebration.

Two original ideas focusing on expanding “design thinking”and eradicating Hepatitis C have been selected as winners of the 2013 Rhode Island Innovation Fellowship, an annual program in its second year designed to stimulate solutions by Rhode Islanders to Rhode Island challenges. Made possible through the generosity and vision of philanthropists Letitia and John Carter, the Fellowship provides two individuals with up to $300,000 over three years to develop, test, and implement innovative ideas that have the potential to dramatically improve any area of life in Rhode Island.

The two winners, Adrienne Gagnon and Lynn Taylor, were chosen from a pool of 180 original proposals by a selection panel chaired by President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation Neil D. Steinberg.

“We congratulate Adrienne and Lynn on their forward-thinking and creative approaches to addressing challenges and creating change in Rhode Island,” said Steinberg. “The Foundation is grateful for Letitia and John Carter’s dedication to and passion for Rhode Island and is proud to have transformed their dreams into one of the Foundation’s boldest programs.

In addition to the two winners, the selection panel also named five finalists, recognized for their merit and potential.