PROVIDENCE — City Year Rhode Island celebrated its 15th anniversary in the Ocean State last night by honoring 15 individuals, organizations and companies that have supported the nonprofit over the years.
The group marked the milestone at a fundraising dinner at the Rhode Island Convention Center that brought together business leaders and politicians with executives and volunteers for the service organization. More than $150,000 was raised over the course of the evening.
City Year was founded in Boston in 1988 as a way for young adults to work as tutors, mentors and role models with children. The Rhode Island office, which opened in 1993, was the organization’s first branch. Seventeen others have opened since.
At last night’s dinner, Jennie Johnson, executive director of City Year Rhode Island, said the 15 honorees were integral in the growth and development of the organization.
“To all of our honorees, thank you,” she said. “Thank you for investing in a community we all love. Your commitment to City Year is significant, but it’s your commitment to Rhode Island that is truly inspiring.”
Those honored were City Year Rhode Island board members Guy Abelson and Alden Anderson; Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian; Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline; Merle Goldstein, the wife of CVS’ founder; The Hazard family; U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy; Mary Ellen Panzini, a Providence Journal employee; and Providence Journal publisher Howard Sutton, along with Bank of America, Collette Vacations, CVS Caremark, Hasbro Inc., the Rhode Island Service Alliance and Textron Inc.
The individuals and representatives of the corporations were each given one of City Year’s signature red jackets during the ceremony.
Kennedy could not attend the event, but in a prerecorded speech shown to the attendees, he called City Year “a powerful program” that “accomplishes great things.”
In Rhode Island, City Year runs afterschool programs for middle school students and also organizes camps during school vacations and Saturday service initiatives for young children.
Michael Brown, the cofounder of City Year, told the audience that he wants to expand the notion of service in this country. He is proposing the creation of a national program that would reward two years of service with a government-funded college education.
“This idea is important,” he said. “This idea can change the country for the better.”