Inspiration - Anthony Landi
Anthony shared with us that the reason he loves being part of Rotary is that we are able to directly influence the lives of others. He gave our relationship with the students of San Miguel School and the recent Providence Friars outing that we sponsored as an example. He shared a “thank you” letter to us from one of the students at San Miguel, affirming his inspiration!
Guests
Kelsey Mc Keon from Miguel College in Canada joined us via zoom.
Diane D’Errico, Director of Fundraising and Development at Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts who is interested in becoming a member.
Announcements:
The club sends well wishes to Alex David in California for a speedy recovery from recent surgery.
Tent suppers for Ukraine - To raise money for Ukraine, several club members are hosting dinners. Please support by selecting one of the following dinners to attend: April 9, 22, 23 or 30th. The cost is $50 per person. Make your reservation by emailing Mary Brewster.
Next week a fellow Rotarian, Yulia Yelle will be attending with information about a friend of hers sheltering refugees from Ukraine.
Cap Willey reminded us to give to Rotary’s Rescue Plan for Ukraine - donate online - average donation has been $230. Please let Cap know if a donation has been made to track our total giving.
Rotary After Dark
April 14th Game Night at Rob Black’s. Cost $10 Sign up online.
May 19th - Save the Date! An Evening at The Players - Reception and Musical Production of “Putting it Together” by Stephen Sondheim. More info to come.
Happy Bucks
- Margaret Kane -is happy for the Providence Friers win.
- Pete Brock -is happy for the beautiful day as spring is upon us!
- Cap Wiley - is happy that his granddaughter was accepted at Syracuse University - 4th generation to attend - and he shared a fun story about Elaine Carroll, first woman President at Rotary, receiving a drawing on a napkin from a budding artist who turned out to be Andy Warhol!
- Diane D’Errico is happy she is cancer free and happy to be visiting our meeting
- Jim Gilcreast -gave a happy buck to continue Sy Weiss’s tradition of giving just because “He’s Happy!”
- Steve Hug - Cap’s happy buck reminded him of musician Lou Reed who attended Syracuse U and had the famous quote: “One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.”
- Nondas Voll gave a happy buck for our speaker, as The Champlin Foundation gave the Non Violence Institute their first grant towards their new building many years ago
- Walter Adamowicz gave a happy buck for PC’s recent win and because he has high aspirations for the Friars this coming Friday!
Speaker:
Nina Stack - Executive Director of The Champlin Foundation
Nina became Executive Director of the Champlin Foundation in June of 2018. She brought to the position more than 25 years of experience serving private, government and nonprofit sectors, most recently serving more than thirteen years as president of the Council of New Jersey Grant Makers.
Nina began by saying that she always says “Yes” when asked to speak to a Rotary Club. Her father was an active Rotarian and both she and her brother, Tim, got to travel abroad for Rotary Exchange, her brother to France for a summer exchange and in 1977 she went to Wales. She described her Rotary Exchange experience as “transformational.” She has remained in touch with friends she made in Wales to this day.
The Champlin Foundation is a private, independent foundation working in perpetuity. They are in the business of Philanthropy. A 5013C nonprofit, the IRS requires that they award grantees 5% of their endowment each year. It all started with Stanton B. Champlin who was only twelve years old when he ran away from his family farm in South Kingstown, RI. It was 1838 and he was shoeless and alone. A grocer on Dorrance Street in Providence took pity on the boy and let him sleep in the back room of his store. That simple act of kindness started a journey that would span generations and create a legacy of generosity that would improve the lives of untold thousands. Through the leadership of Champlin, his son, George Byron Champlin, and grandson, George Stanton Champlin, this vast conglomerate became a powerful economic engine that employed thousands and helped drive the economy of Rhode Island and the nation.
Champlin’s investment in Rhode Island’s nonprofit community for the past nine decades has been almost entirely for capital projects. These investments have enabled better medical care, improved educational outcomes, expanded access to social services, fostered economic impact, conserved open space, preserved historic buildings, cultivated creativity and artistic expression, safeguarded care for animals, and more.
Since 1932, the Foundation has awarded nearly $600 million dollars. Many of our Rotarian members currently belong or belonged in the past, to organizations that have been the recipient of these philanthropic grants.
