East Bay Community Action Program 14th annual Seaside Gala

“Follow the Yellow Brick Road”, from the popular The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was the theme of East Bay Community Action Program’s (EBCAP) 14th annual Seaside Gala on June 8th at the beautiful Castle Hill Inn in Newport. Youth actors from the Newport Children’s Theatre were a highlight of the event as they greeted the event’s 200 guests in character costumes.
Bright yellow floral arrangements, designed by Water’s Edge Flowers, adorned each table, and theme decorations, including the Emerald City, the Yellow Brick Road, and the Haunted Forest helped to set the stage for the evening’s activities. A successful paddle raise resulted in over $6,000 in donations for EBCAP’s East Bay Coalition for the Homeless Program, and there was lively bidding before and during the Gala on over 125 auction items including a Holland Cruise and Costa Rica vacation. The Mike Moran Band entertained the crowd with a repertoire of popular songs.
Colleen Burns Jermain, Superintendent of Newport Public Schools served as the Honorary Chair for the event, and Neighborhood Health Plan of RI was the leading sponsor.
Receiving 2017 Vision Awards for helping EBCAP in an outstanding way were: staff member Susan Schenck, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at East Bay Community Action Program; The Newport Public Schools; Katie Mulligan, of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program of the University of Rhode Island, and The Institute of Real Estate Management, Greater Rhode Island Chapter No. 88. Senator Louis DiPalma was also recognized with EBCAP’s 2017 Public Service Award.
Susan Schenck was presented with a Staff Vision Award in recognition of her 40 years of service to the agency and in honor of her dedication to its clients, staff, board of directors and collaborators.
The Newport Public Schools was recognized for its many partnerships with East Bay Community Action Program over several decades which have provided education, dental health, social services and employment services to enhance the well-being of the children and families of the City of Newport.
Katie Mulligan, Program Director, for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program of the University of Rhode Island, was recognized for her collaboration with EBCAP’s Even Start Program. Katie is responsible for overseeing the implementation of URI’s food and nutrition education program which she especially designs to fit the needs of the participants in the Even Start Program.
The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM),T Greater Rhode Island Chapter 88, an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors, is a source of education and professional recognition for managers of all types of properties. IREM was recognized for its outstanding service to EBCAP’s East Bay Coalition for the Homeless Program (EBCH), including fundraising efforts through its annual golf tournaments, a backpack drive for school-age children in the EBCH Program, and a landscaping project at one of the EBCH properties.
Senator Louis P DiPalma was recognized for his outstanding service to Rhode Island residents and his strong support of East Bay Community Action Program and Rhode Island’s Community Mental Health Centers including the East Bay Center. He has served the people of Senate District 12 - Little Compton, Middletown, Newport and Tiverton - since 2008. He is the First Vice Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and he is also a member of the Senate Education Committee.
For the past fourteen years the annual Seaside Gala has been EBCAP’s primary fundraising event and awards ceremony. EBCAP is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation that provides a wide array of health and human services to the residents of Rhode Island’s east bay including the municipalities of East Providence, Barrington, Warren, Bristol, Little Compton, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport and Jamestown. The services provided by EBCAP include: Baby Steps Newport; An Even Start in Newport (family literacy program); Head Start, Early Head Start and Child Care services; integrated health care including family health, behavioral health and dental services; family development case management services, including social service information and referral and basic human needs; family home visiting programs including Parents as Teachers and Healthy Families America; Victims of Crime Act victims fund; youth programs; the East Bay Coalition for the Homeless; East Bay Skills Alliance (job training); Housing and Energy Services; the Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Feeding and Nutrition Program (WIC); and senior services, including case management, senior employment, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Foster Grandparents and the Ocean State Senior Dining Program (meals in a social setting).