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Dear Friends, When I wrote this New Year’s message four years ago, reflecting then on the first year of the pandemic, I applauded Rhode Island’s nonprofit leaders for their resilience and flexibility in the face of unimaginably difficult circumstances. It was a time of uncertainty, described by many as “unprecedented.” In the years since, that […]

Dear Friends, Every day, in every community across our state, tens of thousands of personnel and generous volunteers are working in service of the needs of Rhode Islanders. From distributing food and supporting those with mental illness, to providing workforce training, creating thought-provoking artistry, and nurturing well-being, these people and the organizations they support continue […]

Dear Friends, Our communities are still very much in motion as the public health crisis is now coupled with economic ones, which are often compounded by systemic racism. Never are these challenges more obvious than within the nonprofit organizations and agencies on the ground providing essential services, stronger programming, and richer experiences for people in […]

Dear Friends, As we approach two years since the start of the pandemic, I have been reflecting quite a bit on what has changed in that time. Our economy has been shaken, democracy tested, public health threatened, and our nation faced a long overdue reckoning on systemic racism and generations of racial inequity. Throughout the […]

January 4, 2021 The patriarch of the Champlin family, Stanton Browning Champlin, was nothing if not resilient. He ran away from home in 1838 at the age of 12. But thanks to the kindness and generosity of a stranger, a Providence grocer who took him in, he was able to reach his full potential. Resilience […]

We want to begin this note by simply saying thank you. The current public health crisis and economic repercussions are like nothing we have experienced before. While the rapid spread of COVID-19 has created uncertainty, it has also brought us together even as we keep our social distance. We at The Champlin Foundation are as […]

As someone who always sees the glass as half full rather than half empty, the start of a New Year fills me with hope, excitement and anticipation. This is especially true following such a dynamic year here at The Champlin Foundation. Although our 100+ site visits in 2019 took place months ago, I remain inspired […]

As this New Year begins, we at The Champlin Foundation are feeling the excitement of both a fresh start and a renewed commitment to the people and places of this beautiful state. In my first letter to the field I look to share with you some reasons for my own enthusiasm about the coming months.