2019 Awards Include 31 First-Time Recipients
CRANSTON, RI – The Champlin Foundation approved 198 grants totaling $18 million that will support mission-driven organizations across Rhode Island. The Foundation focuses its grantmaking each year on a diverse range of organizations that focus on community health, youth services and education, social services, historic preservation, conservation, arts and culture, and animal welfare. In addition, the Foundation is one of Rhode Island’s most significant and generous supporters of the state’s libraries.
“We are proud to support community-based and frontline nonprofit organizations across Rhode Island. Our state is stronger because of its tight-knit, determined, and passionate community of charities and service providers. This year is particularly exciting because we’re able to award grants to 31 first-time recipients,” said Nina Stack, executive director of The Champlin Foundation. “Since 1932, The Champlin Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to support capital projects at Rhode Island nonprofit organizations. Over that time, we’ve helped advance youth development, care for the elderly and sick, preservation of cherished buildings, protection of parkland and open space, and improved access to health care and social services.”
The Foundation awarded nearly $3.5 million to support community-oriented health organizations Including Wood River Health Services’ new Westerly satellite office, and $3 million in grants to youth service organizations supported every YMCA, six Boys & Girls Clubs, and the state’s Boy Scouts and Girl Scout organizations.
The Foundation’s reach is felt in every corner of the state, and this year’s grants will help bring stories and news from the far corners of Rhode Island to statewide audiences with a $102,000 grant to fund The Public’s Radio’s new news bureaus in Newport and Westerly.
“In the most basic sense, our public media service is not about what we want to say, but what is being said around us in our community,” said Torey Mallatia, general manager of The Public’s Radio. “With generous support from The Champlin Foundation, we are able to expand news reporting and coverage to more parts of our state. At a time when news outlets are struggling to maintain local bureaus, I’m proud that we’re opening new ones.”
”For years, Champlin has provided grants to social service providers to support capital projects, including $250,000 this year to the Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale to support the renovation of its new building. The Jonnycake Center provides assistance to people through crisis situations and works with each individual to find a path out of dependency and toward self-sufficiency.
“We are committed to helping South County residents get on and stay on a path of self-sufficiency. The services we provide our visitors and customers gives them the support and stability they need during trying times,” said Kate Brewster, executive director of the Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale. “Thanks to The Champlin Foundation, we will be able to renovate and move into a new facility and better serve the people in our community.”
In addition to capital investments for local social service agencies, The Champlin Foundation awarded $475,000 to Rhode Island Legal Services to help the organization expand its work to provide Rhode Islanders with housing services that prevent homelessness, stop foreclosures, create affordable housing opportunities, and end housing discrimination.
There is a housing and eviction crisis in Rhode Island and responding to the legal needs of our community for safe affordable housing is a priority. The Champlin Foundation’s investment in Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. will provide expanded office space for the Housing Law Center as we work to keep Rhode Islanders in homes that are safe and affordable,” said Robert M. Barge, Executive Director of Rhode Island Legal Services. “Champlin’s ongoing generous support of Rhode Island’s nonprofit and social service community is vital. Rhode Island is a stronger and better community because of Champlin’s philanthropy.”
This year’s awards also include nearly $1.5 million in historic preservation, including more than $140,000 to support the restoration of the iconic “Wedding Cake House” on Broadway in Providence. To date, Champlin has invested nearly $300,000 in that project.
“Rhode Island truly cherishes its remarkable history – from First Nations through the Industrial Revolution and beyond. The foundation is proud of its support in the successful preservation of historic sites, helping Rhode Island remain such a beautiful and interesting place to live and visit,” said Stack.
Additionally, Champlin will invest $2.4 million in Rhode Island’s libraries, including a $750,000 investment to support the renovation of Providence Public Library. To date, Champlin has invested $1.25 million in that transformational project.
Since 1932, The Champlin Foundation has awarded more than $575 million to fund capital projects for Rhode Island non-profit organizations. These investments have fostered better medical care, improved education, expanded access to social services, conservation of open spaces, preservation of historic buildings, enrichment of the arts, the advancement of animal welfare and more.
Beginning next year, the Foundation will move to an on-line application process for its 2020 grant cycle. The application period will open on March 1st and close April 30th and information will be available on the Foundation’s website in early January. A complete list of grants awards and grantees is attached.
See below for a complete list of 2019 grants.