BOARDS
TRULY, UNITING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
BOARD MEMBERS ON OUR MISSION
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
Senior Vice President/Partner
CBRE/New England | Brokerage
Vice Chair, Board Governance, Ethics,
and Nominating Committee
Marcela Betancur
Executive Director
Latino Policy Institute
Secretary
Brian Carroll
Senior Managing Counsel & Senior Vice President
Citizens Capital Markets
Barbara Chernow
Community Volunteer
Treasurer
Wes Cotter*
Director, Corporate Communications
Gilbane, Inc.
Joanne Daly*
First Vice President, Financial Advisor
Morgan Stanley
Jayne Donegan
Executive Counsel
Textron, Inc.
Vice Chair, Audit Committee
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 and CEO
Banneker Supply Chain Solutions, Inc.
Vice Co-Chair, Strategic Planning Committee
Dolph Johnson
Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Hasbro, Inc.
Board Chair
Wendy Kagan
Executive Vice President, Director of Employee and Community Engagement
BankNewport
Vice Chair, Compensation and Benefits Committee
Robert R. Kent
Senior Vice President and Team Leader Commercial Banking
The Washington Trust Company
Dr. Barbara A. Mullen
Assistant Superintendent
Cambridge Public Schools
Cortney Nicolato**
President and CEO
United Way of Rhode Island
Gregg Perry**
President
The Perry Group
Vice Chair, Resource and Engagement Committee
Joseph Pierik
Vice President, Retail Leasing & Acquisitions
Carpionato Group, LLC
Betsey A. Purinton**
Managing Partner and CIO
StrategicPoint Investment Advisors
Vice Co-Chair, Strategic Planning Committee
Ramona Royal*
Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Christopher A. Sabitoni
International Representative
Laborers’ International Union of North America
New England Regional Office
Rena Sheehan*
Vice President, Clinical Integration
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Suresh Swaminathan*
President
Teknor Apex Company
*New Board member
**Re-elected member
Community Advisory Board
Donna Sowa Allard
Tomas Ávila
Denise Barge
Elizabeth Burke-Bryant**
The Honorable Sandra Cano
Ainsley Morisseau Cantoral**
Claudia Cardozo
Michelle Carr
Elizabeth Catucci
Amanda Cantrell
Patrick Crowley*
Erin Donovan-Boyle
Lisa Guillette**
MaryClaire Knight**
Linda Lulli**
Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos
Margaret A. Holland McDuff
Kelly Nevins*
Ray Nuñez*
Ashley Gingerella O’Shea
Nina Pande*
Laura Pedrick
Alexandra Pezzello
Yahaira “Jay” Placencia
Kelly Ramirez*
Lisa Ranglin
Lucy Rose
Genevieve Schultz
Nancy Serpa**
John (JJ) Silvia, III
Susan Stenhouse
Ed Tavarez
Rev. Chontell N. Washington
Kasim Yarn
*New member
**Re-elected member
How you can save money amidst Rhode Island Energy rate hike
ABC6
With rates rising starting Oct. 1, Rhode Islanders have many ways to save money and energy this fall... [For] anyone... need[ing]... financial assistance... United Way of Rhode Island’s 211 service may help... 'We’re here to help the community navigate resources,' said Courtney Smith, director of... 211... The service is available online at 211 United Way of Rhode Island or over the phone.
Program aims to reverse learning loss
WPRI
For 30 hours a week for six weeks, the Summer Learning Initiative gives students the opportunity to learn in fun and out-of-the-box ways... "There’s ways to be able to explore and be creative without feeling like they are falling farther and farther behind, which I think a lot of youth are feeling right now because of the pandemic," [Marlene] Guay said.
Summer energy bill assistance is available
The Westerly Sun
The Rhode Island Good Neighbor Energy Fund is open to all eligible Rhode Island households experiencing financial difficulty and [needing] assistance with energy expenses, even in the summer. The fund is sponsored by Rhode Island Energy, Block Island Utility District, Ocean State Power, Pascoag Utility District, Petro Home Services and RISEC LP and administered by United Way of Rhode Island.
Fellows Selected for United Way’s Deputy Director Learning Circle
A cohort of eight nonprofit staff from a diverse group of local organizations has been selected by United Way of Rhode Island to participate in its inaugural Deputy Director Learning Circle. The new leadership development series was designed specifically to strengthen the competencies of individuals who aspire to become executive directors.
United Way and Secretary Gorbea Launch 211 Voter Hotline
Building off the successful use of 211 as a voter information hotline in 2020, United Way of Rhode Island today announced a partnership with Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea to establish a new, multilingual 211 Voter Information Hotline… By dialing 211 and selecting prompt 5, users connect with a trained… 211 call specialist able to answer a range of questions.
United Way Launches Nonprofit Leadership Development Series
United Way of Rhode Island is launching a new leadership development series for staff of local nonprofits with annual budgets of $5 million and under and is currently accepting applications from interested participants. The no-cost program is the Deputy Director Learning Circle, and it was developed specifically to strengthen the competencies of nonprofit staff who aspire to become executive directors.
UPCOMING EVENTS
United Way of Rhode Island’s 96th Annual Celebration
Join United Way of Rhode Island for our 96th Annual Celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Farm Fresh Rhode Island in Providence.
Together, we'll celebrate the positive impact we've made this year, thanks to you — our donors, partners, and volunteers — and honor the heroes among us.
This event is free and open to all. Registration is required.