March 28, 2024

Scholarship Phone-A-Thon Tops $100,000

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Volunteers reached a milestone in this year’s scholarship phone-a-thon. Scholarship Foundation of East Providence’s recent fundraiser topped their $100,000 goal. Thanks to the support of local families, businesses and organizations, more than 100 students from East Providence will receive $1000 scholarships this year.

Volunteers spent two evenings in March making calls to East Providence residents and raised $57,000. The Carter Fund matched the first $45,000 received. The total current amount of $102,000 will be awarded as scholarships to high school and college students living in East Providence.

Students from East Providence High School and La Salle Academy, as well as college students who were past scholarship recipients and their families took part in the fundraising event. Representatives of community groups and board members of Scholarship Foundation of East Providence joined in contacting thousands of East Providence residents.

“We can’t thank everyone enough for the tremendous response”, stated Phone-a-thon Chairman Louise Paiva. The volunteer scholarship group had to delay the event because of a mid-March snowstorm, she noted, but it didn’t affect the results. “We appreciate the support of so many families, organizations, schools and businesses in our community to assist East Providence students,” she said.

New scholarships of $200 or more were established through the phone-a-thon, including:

The Alice Fontes Memorial Scholarship, in memory of the past Scholarship Foundation of East Providence Enrolled Scholarship Chairman; Barbara and Edward Cronan Sr. Memorial; East Providence High School Class of 1940; EPHS Class of 1966; A. B. Hennessey School PTA; Geisser Engineering; Lois Carlson; and T-Max/C-Max. A number of new scholarships were established by families of past scholarship recipients, including the Chalmers Family; Cook Family; Joe Phillips; Sophie Fredrick Memorial; and Raymond and Jeannette Goulet. New book awards (donations of $100-$150 which supplement scholarships) this year include: the East Providence Career and Technical Center; and the Mackevich Family, a past scholarship recipient family.

Six East Providence schools, from elementary to high school, continued to participate in Dress Down Days and made their contributions during the phone-a-thon. In addition, employees of East Providence City Hall and School Department Central Office took part this year. Eight school PTAs also supported the phone-a-thon effort. Together, the school-related organizations raised more than $10,000.

A number of reunion classes contributed or sent volunteers to the phone-a-thon to make calls to increase the amount they award. Alumni from East Providence High Schools Classes of 1940, 1950, 1955, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1974 and 1985 collectively raised more than $17,000 in scholarships.

“We are grateful to Nordson EFD for their continuing support,” stated Scholarship Foundation’s President Peter Barilla. The phone-a-thon is held at their Catamore Boulevard facility and the company provides phone access, postage and refreshments for volunteers.

Contributions to the phone-a-thon are still welcome. Local residents who have not yet sent in their pledge or who did not receive a phone call can send their check payable to SF of East Providence to P.O. Box 154438, East Providence, RI 02915.

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