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."
Kim Barker Lee
Board Member
VP, Diversity and Inclusion, IGT
"When systems fail communities of color, we are unable to realize our full promise. I am committed to doing my part to help support a Rhode Island where today and in the future, communities of color have access to resources necessary to be safe and thrive."
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.
SVP
CB Richard Ellis-N.E. Partners, L.P.
Vice Chair, Board Governance, Ethics and Nominating Committee
Marcela Betancur
Executive Director
Latino Policy Institute
Roberta H. Butler
SVP, Marketing
FM Global
Vice Chair, Resource Development and Engagement Committee
Brian Carroll
Senior Managing Counsel & SVP
Citizens Capital Markets
Barbara Chernow
EVP, Finance and Administration
Brown University
Jayne Donegan
Executive Council
Textron
Paola Fernandez
VP, Community Development
Centreville Bank
Vice Chair, Community Investment Committee
Junior Jabbie
President & CEO
Banneker Industries
Dolph Johnson
EVP, Chief Global Human Resources Officer
Hasbro, Inc.
Wendy Kagan
EVP, Director of Employee and Community Engagement
BankNewport
Robert Kent
SVP, Commercial Banking Team Leader
The Washington Trust Company
Michele Lederberg
EVP, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Legal Officer
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Board Chair
Kim Barker Lee
VP, Diversity and Inclusion
IGT
Terri Monjar
VP, Senior Relationship Manager, Global Commercial Banking
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Secretary
Barbara A. Mullen, Ph.D.
Chief Equity and Diversity Officer
Providence Public Schools
Cortney Nicolato
President & CEO
United Way of Rhode Island
Gregg Perry
President
The Perry Group
Joseph Pierik
VP, Retail Leasing & Acquisitions
Carpionato Group
Betsey A. Purinton, CFP®
Managing Partner & CIO
StrategicPoint Investment Advisors
R. Anthony Rolle, Ph.D.
Dean, Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies
University of Rhode Island
Christopher A. Sabitoni
International Representative
Laborers’ International Union of North America
Frank Sanchez
President
Rhode Island College
Terence Sobolewski
President, Rhode Island
National Grid
Lysa D. Teal
Treasurer
Community Advisory Board
Tomas Avila
Community Volunteer
Denise Barge
Business Assistance Advisor
Rhode Island Commerce
Elizabeth Burke Bryant, JD
Executive Director
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
Sandra Cano
Vice Chairwoman, Senate Committee on Labor & Member, Senate Committee on Finance
AVP, Business and Community Development, Navigant Credit Union
Claudia Cardozo
Community Development Manager, HarborOne Bank
Principal & Gallup® Certified Strengths Coach, InnateFive
Michelle Carr (LRI ’14)
Deputy Director
Leadership Rhode Island
Elizabeth Catucci
President & CEO
Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce
Amanda Clarke
Director of Innovation and Planning
Rhode Island Community Food Bank
Erin Donovan-Boyle
Executive Director
Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce
Laura Freedman Pedrick
Development Director
Aquidneck Land Trust
Ashley Gingerella O’Shea
Director of Community Investments
Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Lisa Guillette
Executive Director
Foster Forward
Margaret Holland McDuff
CEO
Family Service of Rhode Island
Petra Jenkins
Account Manager
General Mills
Maryclaire Knight
Knight Consulting LLC
Linda Lulli, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Strategic HR Consultant and Leadership Coach
Frances Mantak
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Sabina Matos
Councilwoman & City Council President, City of Providence
Chief, Program Development, Rhode Island Department of Administration
Ainsley Morisseau Cantoral
Strategic Initiatives Advisor
Providence Housing Authority
Alexandra W. Pezzello
Partner
Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP
Yahaira (Jay) Placencia
SVP, Private Client Advisor
Bank of America Private Bank
Flora Prestipino
Community Volunteer
Lisa Ranglin, MS, PMP, CSM, CSSGB
Founder & President, Rhode Island Black Business Association
VP, Regulatory Compliance Program Manager, Citizens Bank
David Rogers
SVP, Area Director and Executive Coach & Career Transition Advisor
Lee Hecht Harrison
Lucy Rose, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CPC
Human Resources Business Partner and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lead
Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island
Randall Rosenthal
Community Volunteer
Genevieve Schultz
Upper School Principal
Paul Cuffee School
Nancy T. Serpa
Program Manager
Sensata Technologies
John Silvia, III
VP, General Manager
International Manufacturing Services
Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AIF®
Financial Advisor
Sowa Financial Group
Susan Stenhouse
Community Volunteer
Edward Tavarez
VP/Team Manager, System Engineering
Bank of America
Karla E. Vigil
Co-Founder and Chief Connector
EduLeaders of Color Rhode Island
Rev. Chontell N. Washington
Interim Executive Minister
Rhode Island State Council of Churches
Chanda Womack, MPA
Executive Director
Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education
Kasim J. Yarn
Director
Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs
IN THE NEWS
211 has received 90K+ calls about pandemic
WPRI 12
"United Way's 211 call center has been inundated with questions and concerns from Rhode Islanders regarding the coronavirus pandemic… during an interview Wednesday… [United Way of Rhode Island's president and CEO Cortney] Nicolato said the call volume increased roughly 40% from previous years, 'and [we] were already taking the most calls per capita in the country.'"
United Way pledged $100M toward equity
The Brown Daily Herald
"United Way of Rhode Island has pledged $100M to promote racial equity through accessible education, affordable housing, and employment for Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Rhode Island as part of the organization’s LIVE UNITED 2025 plan to help address systemic racism… [Brown] University has pledged… $600,000… [over] the next four years toward the LIVE UNITED 2025 campaign."
Shekarchi unveiled legislative package
WPRI 12
"House Speaker Joe Shekarchi on Monday unveiled a legislative package... that he said could go a long way toward addressing the state’s affordable housing challenges. 'Housing is a fundamental right for all humans and that’s not a reality today,' [United Way of Rhode Island's president and CEO Cortney] Nicolato said. 'We know we have to do better.'"
UPCOMING EVENTS
Forum on Economic Stability
Join United Way of Rhode Island and the City of Providence at 1 p.m. for a virtual forum on economic stability. You'll hear from policymakers and advocates about policies you can advocate for to help Rhode Island families achieve economic stability.
Community Learning Partners Series
Join Women United at 12 p.m. for the next event in their Community Learning Partners Series. You'll hear an update on the state of afterschool in Rhode Island from United Way's Ayana Melvan and Representative Julie A. Casimiro.
YLC Learn with Leaders Series
Join Young Leaders Circle at 5:30 p.m. to hear about the largest statewide giving day - 401Gives, and how you can become a champion for your favorite nonprofit.