NEWSROOM
ARPA a payment on bills long overdue
The Providence Journal
"The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) isn’t unexpected good fortune. It’s a past bill that’s overdue after decades of underfunding our communities," shares United Way of Rhode Island's president and CEO, Cortney Nicolato. "It’s also an opportunity to get things right and position our state to thrive for generations to come."
Balancing Accountability & Empathy At Work
Forbes Nonprofit Council
"Striking a balance between accountability and empathy is crucial for creating a work environment where employees can thrive... Here, 13 members of Forbes Nonprofit Council, including United Way of Rhode Island's president and CEO, Cortney Nicolato, share their expert tips on maintaining accountability and empathy in the workplace."
MolinaCares donates $105K to RI nonprofits
Providence Business News
"United Way of Rhode Island received $50,000 from the MolinaCares Accord for its Nonprofit Innovation Lab, designed to promote innovation within nonprofits to create programs focused on housing, health equity and solutions to racial disparity."
Reading Reaps Rewards celebrates 20 yr.
What's Up Newp
"The Reading Reaps Rewards Summer Learning Initiative welcomed 199 Newport students this summer at three learning sites... Students have daily literacy and math activities taught by certified teachers, engage with peers in learning activities, and enjoy field trips and guest presenters from local partnering organizations."
15 Ways Nonprofits Can Entice New Talent
Forbes Nonprofit Council
"As employees… embrace new ways to work, certain industries have suffered a recent labor shortage... To make sense of this shift in hiring practices, a panel of Forbes Nonprofit Council members, including United Way of Rhode Island’s president and CEO, Cortney Nicolato, laid out some practices nonprofits can weave into their hiring efforts to entice new talent."
Summer of STEM
Cranston Herald
"Summer and STEM? It might not be the combination most students have in mind when the school year ends. But for students in the STEM Advantage program, the two went hand-in-hand over the past several weeks."
Summer Learning Initiative lets kids catch up
The Westerly Sun
"'The biggest piece of the Summer Learning Initiative is... the social emotional growth for many of these kids who haven't left their homes because of the pandemic,' said Rebecca Trebisacci, the initiative's education coordinator... 'If the kids aren’t socially and emotionally ready then they are not ready for classroom learning.'"
Women United awards $124K in grants
Providence Business News
"United Way of Rhode Island['s]... Women United group [has] awarded $124K in grants to three local nonprofits to support increased access to experiential learning for underserved K-3 students, as well as [expanding] out-of-school programs for minority youth."
Discussing the 2021 Nonprofit Innovation Lab
The Bartholomewtown Podcast
"Bill Bartholomew welcomes United Way of Rhode Island President/CEO Cortney Nicolato, Social Enterprise Greenhouse Senior Manager for Strategic Initiatives Constance Ferber, Destenie Vital of What Cheer Flower Farm and Brent Runyon of Providence Preservation Society to discuss the 2021 Nonprofit Innovation Lab."
United Way Invests $175,029 in Olneyville
United Way of Rhode Island has sent a total of $175,029 in grants to 12 nonprofits for their work to create long-term change in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence. The community investments were awarded from United Way’s special Olneyville Fund and… [support] the Lift United goals of its LIVE UNITED 2025 strategic plan to create opportunities for all Rhode Islanders.
2021 Summer Learning Initiative Recap
“A year after COVID-19 turned summer learning programs upside down, youth in five communities reveled in a full return to engaging, in-person activities this summer — with recommended safety guidelines in place and the support of dozens of partners.”
Women United Invests $124K in OSTL
“Women United… has awarded… $124K in grants to three local organizations in support of increasing access to experiential learning for underserved K-3 students and to expand out-of-school time programs for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) youth.”
Uber, R.I., and 211 Partner for Vaccine Rides
“The partnership supports the State’s goal to vaccinate as many Rhode Islanders as possible by the end of summer by providing free rides to all R.I. vaccine sites for those with limited access to transportation.”
United Way Welcomes New Staff to Leadership Team
Robert Bush, Roshni Darnal, and Rob Hancock to play vital roles in delivering on organization’s LIVE UNITED 2025 plan to build racial equity in Rhode Island.
7 Leaders Selected for Second-Ever Nonprofit Innovation Lab
Fellows will spend the coming months developing and honing new solutions to pressing social issues, culminating in a “Shark Tank-like” presentation to secure funding to bring their ideas to life.
United Way Kicks Off Children’s Book Drive
“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.”
United Way Awards $4.5 Million in Grants
“Three months after unveiling its LIVE UNITED 2025 strategic plan, United Way of Rhode Island is putting $4.5 million in grants to work in the community to create transformational change in the Ocean State. The funding, the first in a two-year grant cycle, was awarded to 72 organizations in support of programs targeting the root causes of… racial inequities.”
401Gives raises $2.2M for R.I. nonprofits
“[April 1] has been officially rebranded 401Gives in the Ocean State… Throughout yesterday, thousands of donors from Rhode Island and beyond came together to raise a total of $2.2M [$2,200,477] for local nonprofits during what’s become the state’s largest single day of giving. The generosity of the community helped the effort far surpass its $1.5 million goal.”
Second Nonprofit Innovation Lab Announced
“United Way of Rhode Island and Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) are launching the next iteration of the Nonprofit Innovation Lab and are inviting local executives to apply to the unique program that offers seed funding and much more. Applications open on March 18 and can be completed online; the deadline is April 23.”
401Gives Returns April 1 with $1.5M Goal
“Rhode Islanders will have the opportunity to support… more than 300 local nonprofits when 401Gives, the state’s largest… day of giving, returns on April 1. After exceeding the $1 million mark for the effort’s first-ever year, United Way of Rhode Island has upped the ante, setting a goal to raise $1.5 million for nonprofits across the… state in… 24 hours.”
United Way to Hold 21-Day Equity Challenge
“In alignment with the goals of its recently released LIVE UNITED 2025 strategic plan, United Way of Rhode Island today opened registration for its 21-Day Equity Challenge that kicks off February 24. All Rhode Islanders are invited to commit 15 minutes a day to equity with the goal of understanding how inequity and racism affect our lives and our communities.”