NEW: Taveras to Get Family Service of RI’s Brighter Futures Award

NEW: Taveras to Get Family Service of RI’s Brighter Futures Award

Family Service of Rhode Island has announced that Providence Mayor Angel Taveras is the recipient of their 2013 Brighter Futures Award, which is presented annually to an individual or organization making an outstanding contribution to the well-being of children.

The award was announced by Family Service during Taveras’ visit to his old school South Providence’s Mary E. Fogarty Elementary. While there, Taveras walked children home from the elementary school through Family Service of Rhode Island’s “Walking School Bus."

The Walking School Bus

The Walking School Bus provides routes to and from school led by volunteers. The initiative ensures each child who needs to walk to school arrives on time and returns home safely, even when a family member is unable to walk with him or her.

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It is part of Family Service of Rhode Island’s “Providence Children’s Initiative,” based at the school and providing a comprehensive, collaborative program to improve educational and social development outcomes for children and families in the South Providence neighborhood.

“The Walking School Bus is a great example of the support that Family Service of Rhode Island provides to our community,” said Taveras. “I encourage our entire community to join us in our work to ensure that children enter the classroom ready to learn.”

Family Service of Rhode Island instituted the Walking School Bus last fall. More information about The Walking School Bus is available at www.familyserviceri.org or by contacting Family Service of Rhode Island at (401) 331-1350. The Walking School Bus is recruiting adult volunteers to lead the routes.

Brighter Future Award

“We thank Mayor Taveras for his strong support of The Walking School Bus, and of our Providence Children’s Initiative program,” said Family Service of Rhode Island CEO Margaret Holland McDuff. “I am pleased to announce that for his longtime support, and for all of his work helping children, we have named Mayor Taveras the recipient of the 2013 Brighter Futures Award.”

She noted that some of Mayor Taveras’ work earning him the Brighter Futures Award includes “Providence Reads,” an initiative in partnership with more than a dozen businesses and organizations to increase grade level reading, promote school readiness, improve school attendance and support summer learning in Providence. Last year, Providence was one of 14 communities across the country to be named an All America City for Grade Level Reading.

Taveras will formally receive the award on Thursday, October 24, at a luncheon at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Tickets are available through www.familyserviceri.org or by calling (401) 519-2274.