BankNewport Grant Helps Jamestown Community Farm Secure Farmland, Feed RI Families
Left to Right: BankNewport Senior VP/Director of Community Relations & Charitable Giving, Kathleen Charbonneau; BankNewport Charitable Foundation Board Chair and BankNewport Board Member, James Wright; BankNewport Chairman of the Board of Directors, Peter Capodilupo; Jamestown Community Farm (JCF) Founders Lynda Sutton and Bob Sutton; JCF Intern, Ceriana Carnevale; BankNewport VP/Residential Loan Officer and JCF One Chance Campaign Committee Member, Mark Carnevale; JCF Farm Manager, Maia Ashley; JCF Board President, Dick Steinbach; BankNewport President & CEO, Jack Murphy; and BankNewport VP/Jamestown Branch Manager, Brian Cunningham.
BankNewport Charitable Foundation Awards $50,000 Grant
to Jamestown Community Farm
to Jamestown Community Farm
Funding supports the One Chance Campaign to secure farmland and sustain year-round food access for Rhode Islanders in need
The BankNewport Charitable Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to Jamestown Community Farm (JCF) in support of its One Chance Campaign, an initiative to acquire 15 acres of farmland in the center of Conanicut Island. The grant will contribute to the farm’s long-term land acquisition efforts and ensure the continued delivery of fresh produce to food-insecure families across Rhode Island.
“Jamestown Community Farm has become a vital food source and a model of grassroots community resilience,” said Jack Murphy, President and CEO, BankNewport. “We’re proud to invest in a project that not only protects essential farmland, but also guarantees a steady supply of healthy, local produce to Rhode Islanders who need it most.”
Founded over two decades ago by Bob and Lynda Sutton, Jamestown Community Farm has grown from a dream into a thriving nonprofit that delivers between 11 and 14 tons of vegetables annually to local food pantries. The farm operates year-round with the help of interns, volunteers, and sustainable farming practices that avoid pesticides and commercial fertilizers. Weekly harvests are delivered to trusted partners including McAuley House (Providence), MLK Community Center (Newport), Johnny Cake Center (South Kingstown), and the Jamestown Community Pantry.
The One Chance Campaign is a transformative effort to permanently secure and preserve the land the farm has stewarded for 23 years. The total campaign goal of $4.45 million will fund the land acquisition and establish an operational endowment. The BankNewport grant will be used to help meet annual payment obligations under the purchase agreement, which guarantees JCF future ownership of the farmland.
In addition to delivering produce, JCF fosters community connection through its weekly farm stand, holiday programs, and educational opportunities for young people. Many volunteers and interns return year after year, building a sense of shared purpose through service.
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.
