Scholarship Phone-A-Thon Tops $96,000

“We are elated and so grateful to East Providence residents for their continuing support of higher education for East Providence students,””

Ninety-six students from East Providence will receive $1000 scholarships this year thanks to a successful phone-a-thon by Scholarship Foundation of East Providence that topped their $90,000 goal.

Nearly 100 volunteers spent two evenings in March making calls to East Providence residents and raised more than $51,000. The Carter Family Charitable Trust matched the first $45,000 received. The total amount of more than $96,000 will be awarded as scholarships in June to students from East Providence.

Students in the National Honor Society at East Providence High School, La Salle Academy students and 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.

Phone-a-thon Chairman Louise Paiva thanked local residents, businesses and organizations for their generosity. “We are elated and so grateful to East Providence residents for their continuing support of higher education for East Providence students,” she said.

New scholarships of $200 or more were established through the phone-a-thon, including: David & Lynn Angell Memorial, who were killed when Flight 11 hit the World Trade Center on 9/11, A. J. Lusignan Memorial, Martha J. Northup Memorial and Rising Sun Lodge #30 Free & Accepted Masons Scholarship. The four sons of George J. Brown, all who attended East Providence High School, initiated a scholarship in his memory. Two scholarships were established in memory of past scholarship recipients. Angie Dolan, a recipient who passed away in 2010, was a guidance counselor at Kickemuit Middle School in Warren. Her family established a scholarship in her memory. Corey Agin received a scholarship when he graduated in 2010. A political science major at Rhode Island College, Corey passed away in January. Family and friends established a scholarship in his memory.

Thirteen families sponsored named awards (donations of $100-$150) this year: Anna Burns, John M. Rizzini Family, Karen Eng, Lauren Bettencourt, William and Norma Conley, M. Jeanne Mason, Michael D. Flexington, Laderer Family, Riverside Middle School PTA, Robert Monteiro Memorial, Royal Flush Plumbing, Shannon Neves, Susan and Donald Sullivan and Howard L. Lister.

Nine East Providence schools continued to participate in Dress Down Days and made their contributions during the phone-a-thon, raising nearly $9,000. Parent/teacher groups from six schools also took part. A number of groups sent their own volunteers to make calls to increase the amount they award. Alumni from East Providence High School Classes of 1950, 1964, 1965, 1973 and 1974 raised more than $9,000 in scholarships.

“We appreciate the continuing support of Nordson EFD,” 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 are still being accepted. 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.