BankNewport Awards Over $400,000 in Spring Grants to Rhode Island Nonprofits

BankNewport Charitable Foundation Awards 
More Than $400,000 in Spring 2025 Grants

Funding supports over 60 nonprofit organizations throughout Rhode Island

The BankNewport Charitable Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its Spring 2025 grants. More than $400,000 was awarded to over 60 nonprofit organizations across Rhode Island, reflecting the Foundation’s continued commitment to strengthening communities and supporting programs across a wide range of focus areas including arts and culture, basic needs and food security, education success and healthy lives.

“BankNewport is committed to creating lasting impact in the communities we serve,” said Jack Murphy, President and CEO, BankNewport. “It’s a privilege to extend grants to those organizations that are doing the incredible work of providing resources and care for those most in need.”

Among the recipients, the BankNewport Charitable Foundation also recommended grants to Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England for Camp Rocky Farm outdoor site improvements, the Central Falls Children’s Foundation for the Central Falls Education Strategy Initiative, the Jamestown Community Farm for the One Chance Campaign, the Newport Hospital Foundation for Therapeutic Outdoor Space at Vanderbilt Rehabilitation Center, and the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation for the Cancer Survivorship and Wellbeing facility in Lincoln.

Recipients of the Spring 2025 grants include:

• AccessPoint RI, to support sensory room equipment.
• Amos House, to support its soup kitchen.
• Aquidneck Community Table, for its Food Explorers Learning Program and youth outreach efforts.
• Beautiful Day, to support kitchen equipment needs for their Afghan Women’s Food Entrepreneurship Program.
• Benjamin Church Senior Center, to support fitness and recreational programs for seniors in Bristol.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island, for its Family Empowerment and Investment Fund.
• Blithewold Mansions, Gardens and Arboretum, to support the Water and Rock Garden Preservation Project.
• Capital Good Fund, for its Financial and Health Coaching Program.
• Centro de Innovación Mujer Latina, to help furnish and equip its new office in Providence.
• Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic, to support its Emergency Room Diversion initiative.
• College Visions, to support the College Success Program and College Access Program.
• Community String Project, for string music instruction and instruments for under-resourced youth.
• Comprehensive Community Action Program, to purchase food for its pantry serving food-insecure households.
• DESIGNxRI, for Newport County Design Catalyst and Launch programs.
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, to support hunger relief and wellness programs for Newport County residents.
• East Bay Food Pantry, to expand hunger relief programs in the East Bay.
• FAB Newport, for its wellness and financial literacy initiatives.
• Federal Hill House, for their senior services support program.
• FirstWorks, to deliver accessible arts education for under-resourced students in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Newport.
• George Hail Free Library, to support a new ADA-compliant book drop.
• Good Neighbors, to support its community kitchen and supplemental food pantry.
• Hope & Main, to support the Main Street Meals program.
• International Yacht Restoration School, to provide need-based student scholarships.
• Jewish Collaborative Services, to expand mental health and wellbeing services for all community members.
• Local Return, to support the Choose Indie Local Rhode Island Campaign.
• Looking Upwards, for its Aquidneck Island Day Camp.
• Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, for its home-delivered meal program.
• Newport Art Museum, to support “Free for All” community arts programing. 
• Newport Partnership for Families, to support the Reading Reaps Rewards summer literacy program.
• Newport Restoration Foundation, for the A Matter of Truth exhibition at Vernon House.
• Northern Rhode Island Food Pantry, to support expanded food distribution.
• ONE Neighborhood Builders, for pre-development activities at Sheridan Village in Providence.
• Pawtucket Central Falls Development, to support its Homeownership Program.
• Potter League for Animals, for its Community Navigator Program.
• Project GOAL, to support academic tutoring and mentoring programs that combine soccer with educational enrichment.
• Project Weber/RENEW, to support its basic needs provision program.
• Providence Public Library, for its Technology Career Pathway workforce program.
• Refugee Dream Center, for its Financial Literacy Program.
• Rhode Island Slave History Medallions, to support the Newport Black History Walking Tour program and a Juneteenth cultural program.
• Rhode Island School for Progressive Education, to expand accelerated teacher certification and multilingual learner programs.
• Rhode Island SPCA, to support the Paws to Learn program for teens with disabilities.
• Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education (RISE), to provide mentoring and wrap-around educational support for children.
• San Miguel School of Providence, for its student sponsorship program.
• Sophia Academy, to support its 3D technology-based marine science curriculum.
• South County Health Foundation, to help fund cardiac and interventional radiology lab equipment.
• South County Museum, to support its Textile Traditions and Sustainability preservation project.
• St. Vincent de Paul Society – St. Joseph Conference, Newport, to provide emergency financial assistance.
• Star Kids Scholarship Program, for scholarships and wrap-around support for disadvantaged youth.
• The Learning Community, for its Exploratorium STEAM-focused after-school and summer program.    
• The Salvation Army – Providence Corps, to support their basic needs emergency assistance program.
• Tides Family Services, to support its Pathways to Stability hardship fund for families.
• Trinity Repertory Company, for arts education and community engagement program.
• Turning Around Ministries, for its Helping Hand program.
• YMCA of Greater Providence, for after-school academic tutoring, leadership training, and career readiness programming.
• Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice, for its maternal child health program.

About BankNewport:

Founded in 1819 and headquartered in Newport, BankNewport offers a full suite of loan and deposit products and services for families and businesses throughout Rhode Island. BankNewport is one of the oldest banks in the United States and, as a mutual organization, is committed to the financial success of its customers, employees, and the community for 206 years. BankNewport has nineteen branch locations, a community lending center in Central Falls, and a commercial lending office in Providence. OceanPoint Marine Lending, a business line of BankNewport, specializes in consumer marine and recreational vehicle financing programs.

Through its All In Giving program, BankNewport is committed to supporting nonprofits with areas of impact focused on basic human needs, children and families, education, economic security, healthy lives, arts and culture, and the environment. BankNewport has awarded over $7.7 million in grants, sponsorships, and donations over the past five years to a wide range of nonprofits to help strengthen and enrich lives and communities throughout Rhode Island. Financial education and community service performed by employees totals 10,000 hours annually. For more information, please visit www.BankNewport.com.