United Way of RI Presents Annual Community Awards

United Way of RI Presents Annual Community Awards

The United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI) has announced the recipients of its annual community awards.

Each honoree was recognized during UWRI’s 88th Annual Meeting on October 8 at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The awards were custom made by students in the RiverzEdge Arts Project in Woonsocket, an afterschool program supported by UWRI that helps youth embrace their passion for art through job-training opportunities that lead to both advanced education as well as careers.

“The purpose of United Way is to change lives by working together, which is exactly what each of our honorees represent,” said Anthony Maione, president and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island. “We know that when Rhode Islanders help each other, we get results—we want all people to be part of the solution, and United Way is the catalyst to bring them together.”

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The first award was the Dante F. Mollo Award, which recognizes the strong partnership between the Labor Community and UWRI. Presented by Maureen Martin, a member of UWRI’s Board of Directors, and Secretary and Treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL CIO, the award was given to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 23. Accepting the award on the group’s behalf was Michael Araujo.

“I am humbled to accept this honor on behalf of my union brothers and sisters,” said Araujo. “United Way has always been there for us, so we will always be there for them.”

Anthony Maione presented the 2014 Corporate Partnership Award to National Grid. Accepting the award on the company’s behalf was Timothy Horan.

“We are proud to be a partner of United Way of Rhode Island and do our part to make Rhode Island the best it can be,” said Horan. “Our workers are in the community morning, noon and night; they can tell when something with a customer isn’t right, which is why they carry information on United Way 2-1-1 to help connect people with the services they need when times are tough.”

United Way announced its first ever Innovative Community Partnership Award. Presenting the award to Jo-Ann Schofield of Warwick 13 was Reverend Dr. Donald Anderson, a retiring member of UWRI’s Community Advisory Board.

“Innovation and collaboration form the foundation of solving social problems in new ways,” said Schofield. “Through our commitment to service integration and working with United Way, we’re able to better meet the changing needs of those we serve to build a healthier community.”

The final United Way community award was the John H. Chafee Lifetime Service Award. This year’s recipient is Herman Hillson Rose.

“I have always believed that it’s important to study and learn from the past so we’re able to do better in the future,” said Rose. “It is worth our collective efforts to do better for one another, and that is the true meaning behind United Way’s message to Live United.”