INSPIRATION
Jane Berkowitz shared a list of much-loved quotes about reading that can inspire all of us to take the next step in our reading journey.
“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on at the set. I go into the other room and read a book.” Groucho Marx
“Classic -- a book which people praise and don’t read.” Mark Twain
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go.” Dr. Seuss
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate loot on Treasure Island.” Walt Disney
“I have a passion for teaching kids to become readers, to become comfortable with a book, not daunted. Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful, and learning to be a reader gives a terrific advantage.” Roald Dahl
“Make a rule, never to give a child a book you would not read yourself.” George Bernard Shaw
“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” J.K.Rowling
ZOOM ATTENDEES/GUESTS/VISITING ROTARIANS On Zoom: Barry Fain, Emily Bernstein, Holly and Bill Applegate, Lew Hassell, Richard Applebaum, and 8arbara Harris.
Guests included Craig Koehler (husband of PP Jenny Miller Koehler), Francesca Landi (daughter of Anthony Landi) and representatives of 19 not-for-profit organizations who received grants from the Providence Rotary Charities Foundation (see list below).
NEW MEMBER INDUCTIONS
The club inducted three new members (l-r) Matt Sharrio, Christopher Stevenson and Past President Jenny Miller Koehler.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The 115th Installation of Officers and Directors for the 25-26 year will be held at the Squantum Association located at 947 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Riverside, RI. on July 1.
Following the unexpected resignation of Mário César Martins de Camargo, the Rotary International Board moved swiftly and thoughtfully, in accordance with our bylaws, to ensure continuity in our mission and leadership. Francesco Arezzo of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy has accepted the nomination to serve as Rotary International President for 2025–26.
PROVIDENCE ROTARY CHARITIES FOUNDATION GRANT PRESENTATIONS
Anthony Landi, chair of the foundation, thanked the volunteer trustees of the club’s foundation for their dedication and time. They include Vice Chair Walter Cotter, Holly Applegate, Janet Feyler, Dave Hamel, Robert Murphy, Donald Saracen, Luis Lourenco (Administrator) and Suzanne Cannon (Foundation Administrative Asst.)
The trustees manage almost $2 million and over the past five years have granted almost $500,000 to help improve our community. The Providence Rotary Charities Foundation was established over 60 years ago and is the philanthropic arm of our Rotary club.
The foundation is supported by club members and corporate sponsors of major club events including the successful “Legends for Literary Gala” which provides funds to provide innovative teaching materials through the club’s Jane Babcock Childhood Literacy Initiative.
This year, we are honoring the following 26 not-for-profit organizations whose programs enrich the lives of underserved children in and around Providence with grants totaling $57,350. Congratulations and thank you for the work you are doing to improve the lives of the children and families you serve.
134 Collaborative
To support the Out of School Jam program
Adoption RI
To support the Educational Success program
Camp Surefire
To support camper-ships for Children and Youth Living with Type I Diabetes
Clothes to Kids RI, Inc.
To support the Enhancing Dignity, One Wardrobe at a Time program
College Visions
To support the College Access program (CAP)
Community Boating Center, Inc.
To support the Eco Adventure Sailing Camp Scholarships program
Community Preparatory School
To support the Scholarship Sponsor program
Everett: Company, Stage & School
To support the After-school Performing Arts Classes program
Girls on the Run Rhode Island
To support the Physical Activity-based Positive Youth Development program
Junior Achievement of Rhode Island
To support the Financial Literacy, Work Readiness, and Entrepreneurship programs
Katie Brown Educational Program
To support the Relationship Violence Prevention Education in Providence program
McAuley Ministries
To support the Healthy Meals, Food Pantries, and Household Necessity Support program
Meals on Wheels of RI, Inc.
To support Purchasing 6,000 pounds of food, which equates to approximately 7,200 meals from the Rhode Island Food Bank
Mini Entrepreneurs of Rhode Island
To support empowering children ages 4-14 with a solid foundation in entrepreneurship education
New Urban Arts
To support the Youth Mentorship in the Arts and Summer Art Internships programs
Providence Public Library
To support the Summer at Your PVD Libraries program
Rhode Island Tutorial and Educational Services dba RITES
To support RITE’s Equitable Access to Literacy Instruction/Intervention program
Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education (RISE)
To support the Mentoring and Wrap Around Supports for Children of Incarcerated Parents program
San Miguel School
To support the Athletics Program with the purchase of uniforms
Save The Bay Program
To support the After-School Partnership with Providence After School Alliance (PASA)
School One
To support the Intergenerational Arts Learning program
Sojourner House
To support Camp Eureka, the free week-long Summer camp for children who have witnessed violence in their homes
Southside Community Land Trust
To support Nurturing the Seed, which is Southside Community Land Trust’s Youth program
The Boys and Girls Club of Providence
To support the Project Learn program
The Manton Avenue Project
To support PLAYMAKING: First-time playwrights, 3rd grade; Fall Play Festival Program
The Salvation Army, Providence Corps
To support the Food Security program
