Scholarship Phone-A-Thon Tops $99,000

Thanks to the support of local families, businesses and organizations, more than 90 students from East Providence will receive $1000 scholarships this year. Scholarship Foundation of East Providence’s recent phone-a-thon topped their $95,000 goal.

More than 80 volunteers spent two evenings in March making calls to East Providence residents and raised more than $54,000. The Carter Fund matched the first $45,000 received. The total amount of more than $99,000 will be awarded as scholarships to high school and college students living in East Providence.

Students in the National Honor Society at East Providence High School as well as La Salle Academy and Bay View 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.

“We are grateful to the families and donors who made these scholarships possible, noted Phone-a-thon Chairman Louise Paiva. “East Providence students are fortunate to have such a supportive community,” she said.

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

Beatrice L. and John F. Martin Memorial, established by a past recipient family; Dr. John V. DeGoes Memorial, established by family and friends of the former Superintendent of East Providence Schools; Dr. Lawrence T. Ginsberg; Gerry Manning; Harry Asquith Memorial, established by a past recipient; Honorable Joy Hearn, state representative from East Providence; Howard L. Lister Memorial; Irving Peterson Memorial, sponsored by a past recipient family; Midgley Family; Representative Gregg Amore; Richard and Carol Wood; Tripp Family; and William and Norma Conley Scholarship.

New book awards (donations of $100-$150 which supplement scholarships) this year include: Jacqueline B. Forbes Book Award, established by a former Superintendent of East Providence Schools; and Nicini Family Book Award, sponsored by a past recipient family.

Seven East Providence schools, from elementary to high school, continued to participate in Dress Down Days and made their contributions during the phone-a-thon, raising more than $8,000. A number of groups sent volunteers to the phone-a-thon to make calls to increase the amount they award. Alumni from East Providence High Schools Classes of 1950, 1955, 1964, 1965, 1973 and 1974 together raised more than $17,000 in scholarships, almost double last year’s amount.

“We thank 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 are still being accepted and members hope to reach $100,000. 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.