Newport County Fund celebrates a decade of philanthropy and impact
$2.5 million in grants awarded throughout region
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| Newport County Fund donors, grantees, and volunteers gathered to celebrate the Fund's 10th anniversary. See more photos from the event at our Facebook photo album. | In September, 2012, the Foundation celebrated 10 years of philanthropy and impact through its Newport County Fund (NCF), a permanent endowment at the Foundation that aims to improve the lives of residents throughout Newport County. Since it was established in 2002, the fund has awarded grants totaling more than $2.5 million to programs and projects that sustain and strengthen the six Newport County communities. The Foundation hosted a celebration with NCF grantees, donors, and volunteers at the Newport Art Museum on Thursday, September 20, to mark the anniversary.
The first and only Foundation-established fund with a geographic focus, the Fund has made a total of 300 grants to 105 organizations throughout Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, and Tiverton. The annual small grants program provides support of up to $10,000 in the Foundation’s six key funding areas: arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environment, health, and human services. Additionally, year-end unsolicited grants are awarded to support community organizations that provide emergency assistance to Newport County’s neediest residents.
“For the past 10 years, the Newport County Fund has played a critical role in this corner of Rhode Island, from creating job training opportunities to expanding arts programming, preserving local history to serving the homeless population,” said Neil D. Steinberg, President and CEO of The Rhode Island Foundation. “The Foundation appreciates all of the generous donors over the past decade who have made this work possible and is grateful for the volunteer advisory committee that keeps the Newport County Fund closely connected to the communities it serves.”
The NCF is guided by a volunteer advisory committee of residents and community leaders. Chaired by James Wright of Jamestown, the NCF advisory committee includes Cheryl L. Abney, Elizabeth Finn, Kristen Humphrey, Mary C. Johnstone, Leland R. Merrill, Jr., John Murphy, Esq., Trish Sylvester, and William E. West.
“Ten years is a young organization by Newport standards, but in our 10 years we’ve accomplished a great deal including funding millions of dollars of grants, helping expand communication with The Rhode Island Foundation, and establishing ourselves as a truly county-wide fund. We have a lot to be proud of and to celebrate,” said Wright.
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