BOARDS
TRULY, UNITING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
BOARD MEMBERS ON OUR MISSION
Paola Fernandez
Board Member
SVP, Community Development Officer, 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
International Representative, Laborers' International Union of North America, New England Regional Office
"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, SVP/Partner
CBRE/New England | Brokerage
Vice Chair, Board Governance, Ethics & Nominating Committee
Marcela Betancur,** Executive Director
Latino Policy Institute
Secretary
David Bonenberger,* President
Rhode Island Energy
Anthony Botelho,* SVP Commercial Banking
The Washington Trust Company
Brian Carroll,** Senior Managing Counsel & SVP
Citizens Capital Markets
Barbara Chernow, Retired EVP, Finance & Administration
Brown University
Treasurer
Wes Cotter, Director, Corporate Communications
Gilbane Inc.
Joanne Daly, SVP, Financial Advisor
Morgan Stanley
Jayne Donegan,** Executive Counsel
Textron, Inc.
Vice Chair, Audit Committee
Paola Fernandez, SVP, Community Development Officer
Centreville Bank
Vice Chair, Community Impact Committee
James Galloway, EVP, EMEA/AP Operations & AFM
FM Global
Courtney Hawkins,* Chief Operating Officer
City of Providence
Junior Jabbie, President & CEO
Banneker Supply Chain Solutions, Inc.
Vice Co-Chair, Strategic Planning Committee
Dolph L. Johnson, Jr., Retired EVP & Chief Human
Resources Officer
Hasbro, Inc.
Board Chair
Wendy Kagan,** EVP, Chief Engagement Officer BankNewport
Vice Chair, Compensation & Benefits Committee
Dr. Barbara A. Mullen, Assistant Superintendent
Cambridge Public Schools
Cortney Nicolato, President & CEO
United Way of Rhode Island
Gregg Perry, President
The Perry Group
Vice Chair, Resource & Engagement Committee
Yahaira “Jay” Placencia, SVP, Private Client Advisor
Bank of America Private Bank
Betsey Purinton, CFP, Managing Partner & Co-CIO
StrategicPoint Investment Advisors
Vice Co-Chair, Strategic Planning Committee
Ramona Royal, Assistant VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Christopher Sabitoni, International Representative
Laborers’ International Union of North America,
New England Regional Office
Rena Sheehan, VP, Clinical Integration
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Suresh Swaminathan, President
Teknor Apex Company
*New member
**Re-elected member
Community Advisory Board
Tomás Ávila, Associate Director, Office of Diversity
Rhode Island Department of Administration
Jillian Balzano,* Community Relations Officer
The Washington Trust Company
Denise Barge, Business Assistance Advisor
Commerce RI
Kathleen Burke,* Executive Director
Newport Partnership for Families
Elizabeth Burke-Bryant, Executive Director
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
The Honorable Sandra Cano
Senate Committee on Finance
Ainsley Morisseau Cantoral, Co-Owner
Rancho de las Tres Potrancas
Michelle Carr,** Executive Director
Leadership Rhode Island
Elizabeth Catucci, President & CEO
Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce
Patrick Crowley, Secretary/Treasurer
Rhode Island AFL-CIO
Rilwan Feyisitan,* President & CEO
Community Action Partnership of Providence County
Lisa Guillette, Executive Director
Foster Forward
Robert Hughes,* Retired CEO
Missouri Foundation for Health
Maryclaire Knight
Knight Consulting
Linda Lulli, Strategic HR Consultant & Leadership Coach (SHRM member)
Kerci Marcello Stroud,* Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Rhode Island School of Design
The Honorable Sabina Matos, Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor
Margaret A. Holland McDuff, Executive Director
Family Service of Rhode Island
Kelly Nevins, Chief Executive Officer
Women’s Fund of Rhode Island
Ray Nuñez, Partner & Community Director
Nuñez, The People’s Agency
Ashley Gingerella O’Shea, Director, Community Investments
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Nina Pande, Executive Director
Skills for Rhode Island’s Future
Dorca Paulino,* Director, Office of Equal Opportunity
University of Rhode Island
Alexandra Pezzello, Esq.**
Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP
Yahaira “Jay” Placencia, SVP, Private Client Advisor
Bank of America Private Bank
Community Advisory Board Chair
Kelly Ramirez, Director
Donald Ryan Incubator for Entrepreneurship in the Arts & Sciences, Providence College
Lisa Ranglin,** Founder and President
Rhode Island Black Business Association
Lucy Rose,** Chief of Talent & Learning
Children’s Friend
Genevieve Schultz,** Principal
Paul Cuffee Charter School
Rena Sheehan, VP, Clinical Integration
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Vice Chair, Community Advisory Board
John Silvia, III,** President, CHB
International Manufacturing Services, Inc.
Susan Stenhouse, Chief of Staff, Rhode Island House of Representatives Republican Office
Edward Tavarez, VP/Team Manager, System Engineering
Bank of America
Rev. Chontell N. Washington, Interim Executive Minister
Rhode Island State Council of Churches
Juan Wilson, Jr.,* Founder & CEO
MUSE Foundation of Rhode Island
Kasim Yarn,** Director
Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs
*New Community Advisory Board member
**Re-elected Community Advisory Board member
All Board of Directors members are Ex-Officio members of the Community Advisory Board.
Five Qs With: Anthony Botelho
Providence Business News
Anthony Botelho serves as senior vice president of commercial banking and team leader for the commercial and industrial group at The Washington Trust Co. He was recently appointed to lead the bank’s commercial lending growth in Connecticut, where the company recently opened a New Haven commercial lending office. Anthony also serves on United Way of Rhode Island's Board of Directors.
Rethinking how one of R.I.’s largest nonprofits can grow
The Boston Globe
In October, [Idrees "Lanre"] Ajakaiye was appointed the new chief development officer at... United Way of Rhode Island where he'll be in charge of helping... United Way achieve its current strategic plan, which outlines the nonprofit's investment of $100 million over five years to help achieve racial equity.
City Council gives final approval to $10M reparations budget
Providence Business News
A two-yearslong effort to bring racial reparations to Providence achieved a milestone Wednesday... The approved funding largely mirrors recommendations set forth by a city panel based on community input, but with one major change that shifts some money into a COVID-19 Equity Fund to be managed by United Way of Rhode Island.
Final Pitch Event for Nonprofit Innovation Lab Set for Feb. 1
The stage is set. On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the latest Nonprofit Innovation Lab will culminate as 10 Rhode Island organizations make their final pitch for a chance to secure seed funding to help bring their unique program idea to life. The program showcase and pitch night will be held at The Guild in Pawtucket beginning at 5 p.m.
Local Nonprofits Can Register Now to Participate in 401Gives
After a record-breaking year that saw more than 13,000 Rhode Islanders come together to make donations totaling $3.1 million in support of hundreds of local nonprofits, 401Gives is gearing up for a return on April 1 with sights set higher than ever. Nonprofits that wish to participate and raise funds for their work are invited to register now.
Nonprofit Executives Complete United Way Learning Circle
Leaning into an innovative opportunity to better their organizations and… strengthen the ability of the state’s nonprofit sector to serve Rhode Islanders, a group of 11 nonprofit leaders recently completed United Way’s Executive Director Learning Circle… The fellows spent a year in the program, and their achievement was celebrated on Dec. 16 during a gathering at United Way’s Providence office.
UPCOMING EVENTS
EITC Awareness Day and RI VITA Program Launch
Join us on Friday, Jan. 27 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at United Way of Rhode Island in Providence to learn how the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps low- to moderate-income workers & families get a tax break. Individuals who earn under $60,000 can use the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to receive free federal & state tax return preparation. Please register by Wednesday, Jan. 25.
Nonprofit Innovation Lab Impact Showcase & Pitch Night
Join United Way of Rhode Island and Social Enterprise Greenhouse for our Nonprofit Innovation Lab Impact Showcase & Pitch Night on Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 5 - 7:30 p.m. at The Guild in Pawtucket. 11 nonprofits have been fine-tuning their innovation ideas for several months and are now preparing for the culminating pitch event, where $90,000 in prizes will be awarded to the three most compelling projects.