Track 15 Director of Marketing & Private Events Kaitlyn Frolich (right) presents a $7,500 donation check to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Executive Director Heather Hole Strout (left). The donation, raised during the "Preview at Giusto" event, will support the center's programs and initiatives.

Track 15, the highly-anticipated Providence food hall from the Marsella family, has donated $7,500 to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Newport due to its recent preview event held at Giusto in Newport.

“We had such a wonderful time enjoying the delicious food while celebrating the upcoming launch of Rhode Island’s premier food hall, and are thrilled with this generous donation,” said Heather Hole Strout, Executive Director, MLK Community Center in a statement. “These funds will help support over 25 critical programs that help more than 8,000 people each year. With the help of the Marsella family, all the Track 15 partners, and our generous supporters, the MLK Community Center helps build a stronger community.”

The evening featured an introduction to Track 15 restaurateurs and their food offerings, including modern Indian from Little Chaska, Middle Eastern cuisine from Tolia, seafood from Dune Brothers, Mexican from Dolores, burgers from There, There, Italian from Giusto PVD, and sweet treats from Mother Pizzeria PVD.  

“We are so grateful to our guests and our restaurateur partners for making this donation possible, and just in time for the holidays,” said Christopher J. Marsella, President, Marsella Development Corporation. “We look forward to our next event in January and hope it’s just as successful.”

Track 15’s second and final preview event is scheduled for Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Farm Fresh Rhode Island. Tickets are available at www.3common.com (search “Track 15 at Farm Fresh”).  

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Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...