All Entries Tagged With: "community service"
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island Associates Give 3,970 Volunteer Hours to Thirteen Community Projects
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – They built a sunporch at a safe haven
for behaviorally challenged adults. They packed boxes of shoes for 712
homeless schoolchildren. They transformed the walls of a community center
with fresh coats of paint and an intricately designed mural.
Nearly 700 volunteers – all employees of Blue Cross Blue & Shield of Rhode
Island (BCBSRI), fanned out across the state today for a fourth year
running as part of the company’s Blue across Rhode Island day of service.
Collectively, in 13 teams, including one on-site at company headquarters,
BCBSRI donated 3,970 hours to 13 community projects statewide, and provided
$65,000 in grant funding and in-kind gifts.
Blue across Rhode Island stands as the largest single-company volunteer day
in the state, and more than 72% of BCBSRI associates participate.
All of the 13 projects align with the company’s push to create a healthier
Rhode Island. The headquarters project team was hard at work for eight
hours assembling “Flu Fighter” kits that were distributed to 18 agencies
statewide. The kits included “cough spot” temporary tattoos to encourage
children to cough into their elbows, along with information on free flu
clinics.
“During the past four years, Blue Cross team members participating in Blue
across Rhode Island have given more than 10,000 hours of service and more
than $65,000 in grant and in-kind funding to community agencies working
tirelessly to support Rhode Islanders in need,” said Michele Lederberg,
executive vice president and chief administrative officer, BCBSRI.
“Together, we’ve demonstrated the power of teamwork to make a difference in
the lives of our neighbors.”
Company President and CEO Peter Andruszkiewicz was among nearly 700 BCBSRI
employees who participated in Blue across Rhode Island, which featured the
following projects (see full list below):
· Sorting and assembling emergency infant and toddler hygiene kits for
families in crisis throughout Newport County at The Changing Table,
and packaging footwear for homeless RI children with Gotta Have Sole
· Providing upgraded spaces for disadvantaged and LGBTQ youth at sites
including the Boys & Girls Club of East Providence, Youth Pride,
Inc., Newport County YMCA, YMCA of Greater Providence and Boys Town
New England
· Supporting adults with developmental disabilities through greenhouse
updates at The Groden Network and teaching classes and beautifying
space at the J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center
Project sites by location:
Cranston
– Gotta Have Sole
Newport
– The Changing Table
– Newport County YMCA
Pascoag
– Community Care Alliance
Portsmouth
– Boys Town New England
Providence
– Boys & Girls Club of East Providence
– Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation
– The Groden Network
– YMCA of Greater Providence
– Youth Pride, Inc.
Warren
– Highlander Charter School
Warwick
– J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center
Flu Fighter Kit recipient agencies:
Boys & Girls Club of Cumberland/Lincoln
Boys & Girls Club of Newport County
Boys & Girls Club of Providence
Boys & Girls Club of Woonsocket
Boys & Girls Club Warwick – Norwood Section
Boys & Girls Club Warwick – Oakland Beach Section
Federal Hill House
Highlander Charter School
Newport Community School
Paul Cuffee (Lower School)
St. Mary’s Home for Children
The Learning Community
YMCA Bayside
YMCA Cranston
YMCA Kent County
YMCA Pawtucket
YMCA South County
YMCA West Bay
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is the state’s leading health
insurer and covers more than 450,000 members. The company is an independent
licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more
information, visit www.bcbsri.com, follow us on Twitter @BCBSRI, and like
us on Facebook at fb.com/bcbsri.
The Heavy Hitter proud supporter of the MAE Org. for the Homeless
Local attorney Rob Levine, a.k.a. The Heavy Hitter, proud sponsor of the MAE Organization for the Homeless 2nd annual Gala fundraiser
(Providence, RI) — Rob Levine & Associates is committed to supporting community based initiatives, such as the non-profit MAE Organization for the Homeless. MAE’s 2nd annual Gala fundraiser was this past Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick. MAE provides hot meals, toiletries, shoes, bikes, tents, etc… to over 300 homeless and at risk individuals on the streets of Providence each year. They are very “boots on the ground” and out in the community with many outreach programs assisting homeless individuals by providing on-site services or taking them to shelters. They are also focused on helping homeless moms get into more permanent apartments and housing situations, improving job skills, teaching healthy eating habits, etc…thus ending the homeless cycle for themselves and their children.
“We are dedicated to giving back to our community and have developed several programs this year to help us with this mission. As a paramedic, and after having been a police officer for many years, I’ve seen first hand the importance of community based initiatives. We are trying to do our part to keep our community safe by offering our own programs like the new Free Ride & Safe Ride App programs, as well as will continue to support great organizations and programs like MAE.” said Rob Levine. See Rob’s recent appearance on The Rhode Show talking about the Safe Ride App: http://wpri.com/2015/08/26/free-ride-program-helps-community/
About Rob Levine & Associates
Rob Levine & Associates specializes in Personal Injury throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, as well as Social Security Disability and Veterans Disability throughout the country. As “The Heavy Hitter” Rob Levine not only works hard on your case, but also believes in making a positive impact in the communities he serves. Through internal resources, education and volunteerism, Rob Levine & Associates strives to help prevent accidents, as well as raise awareness around the needs of our elderly and returning veterans. For more information visit www.roblevine.com , call 401.529.1222 or toll free at 800.529.1222.
Save The Bay announces collaboration with National Grid to support volunteer programs
PROVIDENCE, RI – Save The Bay Executive Director Jonathan Stone is pleased to announce a new relationship with National Grid, supporting Save The Bay’s robust and dynamic volunteer program. The collaborative effort kicked off yesterday with National Grid’s generous support of the Rhode Island International Coastal Cleanup, which drew more than 2,000 volunteers to pick up trash and debris on nearly 60 miles of Rhode Island coastline.
In addition to shoreline cleanups, Save The Bay’s volunteer program includes habitat restoration efforts, education of families at the Exploration Center and Aquarium and South Coast Center, assistance with summer camps, special events, professional office needs and more. In 2014, 3,403 dedicated volunteers contributed 29,525 hours to Save The Bay, adding an in-kind value to the organization of $676,602.
“The strength of Save The Bay and our talented staff is multiplied exponentially by the dedication of thousands of volunteers every year. We applaud National Grid’s clear commitment to Narragansett Bay and the environment through a relationship that will not only help provide supplies and equipment to support the work of our volunteer projects, but will further amplify our volunteer base by providing National Grid employees to participate as volunteers in shoreline cleanups and habitat restoration projects,” Stone said.
“National Grid, our employee volunteers and Save The Bay share a common commitment to work for a cleaner environment,” said Timothy F. Horan, president of National Grid in Rhode Island. “We can think of no better way of doing this than by assisting organizations like Save The Bay through our financial backing and the work of our employees.”
Moving forward, National Grid employees will join Save The Bay in events that will provide for hands on experiences with Narragansett Bay and an introduction to the organization’s initiatives. They will embody the Save The Bay mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay by participating as volunteers in shoreline cleanups, habitat restoration projects, and other opportunities specifically focused on such coastal communities as Providence, Warwick, Newport, and Westerly.
“Donations and working relationships like this one with National Grid are truly invaluable,” said Save The Bay Volunteer and Internship Manager July Lewis. “They enable us to engage so many more volunteers and are essential to our volunteer projects, providing trash bags for cleaning up, storm drain markers, outreach for our volunteer opportunities and so much more. People love volunteering, and to have National Grid’s support in engaging more volunteers is a tremendous gift.”
