Funders hear first-hand how their dollars make a difference

“This is one of those times when I feel a hope for the future,” said Al Wallis, executive director of the Brown Rudnick Center for Public Interest, after hearing members of the R2LP AmeriCorps team explain their work and their reasons for joining the program.

The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation has helped support the R2LP AmeriCorps program since its inception six years ago. On September 21, Al and Ed Pare, a partner with the Brown Rudnick law firm in Providence, came to R2LP to present this year’s check.

“My mother was an AmeriCorps member,” Gregory Wright explained when asked what attracted him to the program. “I saw how much she loved what she was doing. I was in telemarketing and I hated making the calls as much as people hated receiving them. I’m doing something now that is really changing lives.” Gregory has been assigned to Beautiful Beginnings, a child-care center in Providence.

“I needed a break before going on to graduate school,” said Abby Burkland, who has been assigned to the R2LP offices. “I like that I’m working in a much more diverse community than I was in college. What R2LP does is important. It’s just not fair if kids are behind before they even go to kindergarten.”

“This program has changed my life,” said Rosario Rodriguez. “I was an accountant before coming to the United States, but working with young children is what I love now.” Rosario is at The Mariposa Center, one of seven classrooms in the state’s Pre-kindergarten Demonstration Project.

“I can’t imagine Ready to Learn Providence without an AmeriCorps program anymore,” noted Pat McGuigan, executive director of R2LP’s parent program, The Providence Plan.  “The 35 members extend our reach in the community enormously. It is our goal to touch as many kids as possible before they enter kindergarten."

R2LP AmeriCorps members are assigned to early-care settings, libraries, pediatric clinics, Head Start/WIC, and the R2LP offices for their year of service. Click here to see a list of this year's members and their assignments.

From top: Al Wallis and Ed Pare; Rosario Rodriguez, Abby Burkland and Sherley Fleurima; Patrick McGuigan; Gregory Wright, Magda Ortiz (assistant director of AmeriCorps) and Patricia Castillo.