BOARDS
TRULY, UNITING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
BOARD MEMBERS ON OUR MISSION
Michele Lederberg
Board Chair
Interim CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island
"I want Rhode Island to be a place where all of its residents have the opportunity to succeed with the right supports in place. Only then will we be a thriving and healthy state that others want to emulate."
Roberta Butler
Board Member
FM Global (Retired)
"As a native Rhode Islander, my wish is that all my fellow citizens have access to affordable housing, education and jobs without distinction for their race, gender, ethnic origins or other factors. United Way of Rhode Island will help us lead the way!"
Paola Fernandez
Board Member
VP Community Development, Centreville Bank
"Because United Way is about community first, leveraging its resources and partners to do everything possible to advance justice and guide positive change."
Chris Sabitoni
Board Member
Laborers' International Union of North America
"The mission of this strategic plan aligns with everything that our Union stands for. As in our motto, Justice, Honor & Strength for all individuals."
Board of Directors
Alden Anderson, Jr.
Senior Vice President/Partner
CBRE/New England | Brokerage
Vice Chair, Board Governance, Ethics and Nominating Committee
Marcela Betancur
Executive Director
Latino Policy Institute
Brian Carroll
Senior Managing Counsel & Senior Vice President
Citizens Capital Markets
Barbara Chernow
Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration
Brown University
Jayne Donegan
Executive Counsel
Textron
Paola Fernandez
Community Development and Charitable Foundation Officer
Centreville Bank
Vice Chair, Community Investment Committee
James Galloway
Executive Vice President, EMEA/AP Operations and AFM
FM Global
Junior Jabbie
President & CEO
Banneker Supply Chain Solutions, Inc.
Dolph Johnson
Executive Vice President, Chief Global Human Resources Officer
Hasbro, Inc.
Wendy Kagan
Executive Vice President, Director of Employee and Community Engagement
BankNewport
Robert Kent
Senior Vice President and Team Leader, Commercial Banking
The Washington Trust Company
Michele Lederberg
Interim President and CEO
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Board Chair
Terri Monjar
VP, Senior Relationship Manager, Global Commercial Banking
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Secretary
Dr. Barbara A. Mullen
Chief Equity and Diversity Officer
Providence Public Schools
Cortney Nicolato
President & CEO
United Way of Rhode Island
Gregg Perry
President
The Perry Group
Vice Chair, Resource Development and Engagement Committee
Joseph Pierik
Vice President, Retail Leasing & Acquisitions
Carpionato Group. LLC
Betsey A. Purinton, CFP®
Managing Partner & CIO
StrategicPoint Investment Advisors
Dr. R. Anthony Rolle
Dean, College of Education and Professional Studies
Professor, Education Finance and Economic Policy
University of Rhode Island
Christopher A. Sabitoni
International Representative
Laborers’ International Union of North America, New England Regional Office
Dr. Frank Sanchez
President
Rhode Island College
Terence Sobolewski
President, Rhode Island
National Grid
Lysa D. Teal
Principal
ldt CONSULTING
Treasurer
Community Advisory Board
Tomas Avila
Tomás Ávila Consulting
Milenio Latino Institute, Inc.
Denise Barge
Business Assistance Advisor
Commerce RI
Elizabeth Burke-Bryant
Executive Director
KidsCount RI
The Honorable Sandra Cano
Chairwoman
Senate Committee on Education
Member
Senate Committee on Finance
Claudia Cardozo
Community Development Manager
HarborOne Bank
Co-founder
InnateFive Strengths Coach
Michelle Carr
Deputy Director
Leadership Rhode Island
Elizabeth Catucci
President and CEO
Northern Rhode Island Chamber
Amanda Clarke
Director of Innovation and Planning
Rhode Island Community Food Bank
Erin Donovan-Boyle
Executive Director
Newport County Chamber of Commerce
Ashley Gingerella O’Shea
Director of Community Investments
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Lisa Guillette
Executive Director
Foster Forward
Margaret A. Holland McDuff
CEO
Family Service of RI
Petra Jenkins
Account Manager
General Mills
MaryClaire Knight
Knight Consulting
Linda Lulli
Strategic HR Consultant and Leadership Coach (SHRM member)
Frances Mantak
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Sabina Matos
Lieutenant Governor
State of Rhode Island
Ainsley Morisseau Cantoral
Strategic Initiatives Advisor
Providence Housing Authority
Laura Pedrick
Director of Development
Aquidneck Island Land Trust
Alexandra Pezzello, Esq.
Partner
Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP
Yahaira “Jay” Placencia
SVP, Private Client Advisor II
US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management
Flora Prestipino
Community Volunteer
Lisa Ranglin
Founder and President
RI Black Business Association
VP, Regulatory Compliance Program Manager
Citizens Bank
Lucy Rose
Human Resources Business Partner, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lead
Neighborhood Health Plan
Randall Rosenthal
Community Volunteer
Genevieve Schultz
Upper School Principal
Paul Cuffee Charter School
Nancy Serpa
Program Manager
Sensata Technologies
John Silvia, III
President, CHB
International Manufacturing Services
Donna Sowa Allard
VP, Certified Financial Planner
Sowa Financial Group
Susan Stenhouse
Community Volunteer
Edward Tavarez
VP/Team Manager, System Engineering
Bank of America
Rev. Chontell N. Washington
RI State Council of Churches
Kasim Yarn
Director
RI Office of Veterans Affairs
IN THE NEWS
United Way kicks off Children’s Book Drive
Cranston Herald
"In what's become one of the state's largest efforts in support of childhood literacy, United Way of Rhode Island and its Women United group have kicked off their annual Children's Book Drive. Throughout the month of May, local businesses, community organizations, families and individuals are invited to participate in any one of a number of ways."
Lawmakers share changes to child tax credit
NBC 10 News
"United Way and members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation spoke Monday about the expanded federal child tax credit. The lawmakers explained how... families can take advantage of the benefits before filing their taxes by the May 17 deadline… [Representative David] Cicilline said an estimated 173,000 Rhode Island children will benefit directly."
Take advantage: Expanded Child Tax Credit
Uprise RI
"'The expanded Child Tax Credit will lift millions of kids out of poverty, including 6,600… in [R.I.]', said… Representative David Cicilline… 'It's critical that… eligible Rhode Islander[s] [take] advantage'... 'If you need help with your taxes… call 211 and we['ll] connect you with assistance in your community'", shared Larry Warner, United Way of Rhode Island's chief impact and equity officer.
UPCOMING EVENTS
2021 Children’s Book Drive
From May 1 – 31, United Way of Rhode Island, Women United, and Books Are Wings are collecting gently-used and new books for our 2021 Children's Book Drive. You can run a book drive at your school or workplace, or with your friends and family. Books may be dropped off at Cardi's Furniture & Mattresses locations in West Warwick, RI, South Attleboro, MA, and Swansea, MA. For more information on drop-off locations or running a book drive, contact bookdrive@unitedwayri.org.
2021 Olneyville Community Fund Office Hours
Join us at 2 p.m. for the Olneyville Community Fund virtual office hours. We will answer your questions about the application content and grant platform for the Olneyville Community Fund. The application deadline is May 20.
Community Learning Partners, featuring DownCity Design and FabNewport
Join Women United at noon for a Community Learning Partners event featuring guest speaker Adrienne Gagnon, co-founder and executive director of DownCity Design, and Steve Heath, co-founder and executive director of FabNewport. Each organization inspires youth to use the power of design to make a positive social impact in their communities.
The Night Is Young
You’re the one that I want, ooh, ooh, honey, to join the Young Leaders Circle from 7 –11 p.m. for a drive-in movie night. We'll be showing 50’s favorite "Grease" at Misquamicut Drive-In Theater. Tickets are $50 per car (two people) and $25 for each additional passenger. All funds raised will go towards providing scholarships for Rhode Island youth enrolled in summer learning programs.