CRANSTON, R.I. – The Champlin Foundation has announced $10.2 million in capital funding to 95 nonprofit organizations serving Rhode Islanders of all ages across youth services, healthcare, arts and culture, and beyond. These include 15 organizations receiving grants for the first time from the Foundation.
“For so many of the smaller organizations serving historically marginalized communities, the added work they took on in response to COVID—food distribution, health and wellness education, transportation—was substantial and now it continues at rates that were never imagined,” said Nina Stack, executive director of The Champlin Foundation. “Add to this the challenges of inflation and staffing shortages that all businesses are experiencing, and we see the needs are tremendous. Many of these grants will support their efforts to fully incorporate these added services that have now become standard within their infrastructure.”
One of those first-time recipients is the MAE Organization. The Cranston-based MAE Organization provides an integrated place to connect with programs that will support, heal, and guide individuals out of homelessness, from providing basic life needs such as food and clothing to therapeutic services that focus on the wellness of each individual.
“We believe that the unhoused people of Rhode Island deserve the tools, encouragement, and time to repair the root causes of pain, self-doubt, and trauma,” said Martinha Javid, founder of MAE Organization. “Champlin’s grant will allow us to purchase a new van to meet individuals where they are—now and for years to come—to deliver food and supplies and transport clients to healthcare facilities, temporary housing, educational opportunities, and to the MAE Center for our wellness services and programming.”
Another first-time grantee is best known for producing the iconic Newport Folk and Newport Jazz Festivals. But the Newport Festivals Foundation also offers robust programming and educational opportunities throughout the year, including a growing afterschool music program for Newport teenagers.
“Seeing as we’re the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals, we take our responsibility to serve our home base very seriously. With the renovation of Building 16 at the historic Fort Adams, we are creating a musical and cultural hub for performance and music education that will draw people to Rhode Island well beyond our festival weekends. Champlin’s help with securing the building envelope moves us that much closer,” said Jay Sweet, Executive Director. “Whether it’s instrument donations to each of the Newport public schools, artist residencies for student cohorts, workshop programs from our building, or hands-on internships, our goal is to create life-changing moments through music.”
YouthBuild Providence, now in its 25th year, works to provide at-risk youth ages 16-24 with academic and hands-on vocational training combined with guidance and mentorship.
“Our focus is to disrupt the trajectory of Providence’s disconnected youth, giving them purpose and promise with hands-on skills learning and a path toward a high school degree,” said Anthony Hubbard, CEO of YouthBuild Providence. “Transporting students and supplies between our classrooms downtown to job sites across the city is always a challenge. Support for a new vehicle from Champlin makes this much easier.”
The Champlin Foundation supports capital improvements across nine key areas of focus: arts and culture, conservation and parks, education, healthcare, historic preservation and heritage, libraries, social services, youth services, and welfare of animals. This grant cycle builds on previous funding that was distributed earlier in the year, bringing the total distributed in 2022 to $20.5 million.
The first round of applications for 2023 grants will open on December 15, 2022, and close on January 15, 2023. The second cycle will begin June 1, 2023, and close on July 1, 2023.
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About The Champlin Foundation: Since 1932, The Champlin Foundation has awarded more than $665 million to fund capital projects for Rhode Island nonprofit organizations. Its nine areas of focus cover Arts & Culture, Conservation & Parks, Education, Health, Historic Preservation, Libraries, Social Services, Welfare of Animals, and Youth Services. For more information visit ChamplinFoundation.org.