During the pandemic, while filming the documentary NEWPORT: In This Together, I discovered that the majority of Newporters managed to pull together, rather than apart, when faced with the challenges of COVID-19. As I conducted over 200 video interviews for the film, I realized that there are many people working in nonprofits, businesses, and government […]
Nonprofit
Posted inArts & Culture
Arts & Cultural Alliance celebrates local artists at annual Raise Up the Arts event
The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County brought together the local arts community for its annual “Raise Up the Arts” event on Wednesday, June 25, celebrating outstanding contributions to the region’s cultural landscape. Held at the Atlantic Pavilion at the Wyndham Newport Hotel in Middletown, the evening event drew supporters from across Newport County […]
Posted inBusiness, Food & Drink, News, Nonprofit
Vermont brewery’s new IPA to benefit Rhode Island Community Food Bank
A popular Vermont brewery is bringing its charitable beer program to Rhode Island for the first time, with proceeds from a new IPA benefiting the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Lawson’s Finest Liquids, the Waitsfield-based makers of the well-known Sip of Sunshine beer, released Cosmic Shift IPA (6.2% ABV) on Monday as part of their […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Rose Island Lighthouse license plate wins national ‘Best Plate Award’
A Rhode Island specialty license plate has earned national recognition for the first time, bringing honor to the Ocean State and supporting a beloved Newport landmark. The Rose Island Lighthouse license plate has been awarded the 2024 Best Plate Award by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA), marking a historic first for Rhode Island. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Opera House stage remains silent
The stage at the old opera house on Washington Square remains silent, some 23 years after the Newport Performing Arts Center (NPAC) purchased the historic building. When and if it reopens remains a mystery. After projecting a reopening in the spring of 2024, NPAC officials now say they are unsure when construction will even resume. […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Nearly 300 swimmers set to cross Narragansett Bay next weekend
More than 300 swimmers will plunge into Narragansett Bay next Saturday morning for Save The Bay’s 49th annual Swim, the organization’s biggest fundraising event of the year. The challenging two-mile open water swim will take participants from the shore of the Naval War College in Newport across the East Passage of Narragansett Bay to Potter […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County raises $464,000 at 12th Annual Yacht Rendezvous
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County celebrated another successful fundraising milestone last month, welcoming over 300 guests and raising $464,000 at their 12th annual Newport Yacht Rendezvous on June 27th at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard. Under clear evening skies, the waterfront event combined the organization’s signature yacht hopping experience with dinner, dancing, and […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Community invited to support Rogers High School athletics at annual golf tournament
The Rogers High School athletics program is gearing up for its annual fundraising golf tournament, inviting the community to support student-athletes while enjoying a day on the links. The Rogers Invitational Golf Tournament will take place on Friday, August 8, at Green Valley Country Club, located at 371 Union Street in Portsmouth. The event features […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Newport County YMCA partners with Newport Mental Health to support youth well-being
The Newport County YMCA announced Thursday a new partnership with Newport Mental Health that will bring mental health professionals directly to youth programs, starting with summer camp and continuing into before- and after-school programs for the 2025-2026 school year. The collaboration, funded by the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, comes as children and teens face increasing […]
Posted inFood & Drink, Instagram, News, Nonprofit
Preservation Society shows off the elegance of The Carriage House at opening party
When I got an invitation to the opening party for the renovated Carriage House at The Elms, I was expecting a tasteful affair. That’s what the Preservation Society usually does. However, what I encountered far surpassed my expectations and certainly bodes well for the future of dining experiences at the revamped Elms restaurant. “This was […]
Posted inInstagram, News, Nonprofit
Save The Bay’s annual fundraising swim to temporarily close East Passage of Narragansett Bay
Boaters planning to navigate Narragansett Bay this Saturday should take note: portions of the East Passage will be temporarily closed to vessel traffic for Save The Bay’s signature fundraising swim event. The closure will affect waters between Gould Island and Conanicut Island (Jamestown), extending to the Pell Newport Bridge, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. […]
Posted inInstagram, News, Nonprofit, Things To Do
Lobby Muddy Fest returns July 19 to support Newport Mental Health
What began as a laid-back Sunday tradition, just a handful of friends gathering at O’Brien’s Pub for lobster rolls, mudslides, and weekend recaps, has since transformed into one of Newport’s most impactful (and energetic) grassroots fundraisers. Born out of community, connection, and a desire to give back, Lobby Muddy Fest officially launched in 2020. Since […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Nonprofit
BankRI launches five-week food drive to combat rising hunger on Aquidneck Island
As food insecurity continues to climb across Rhode Island, Bank Rhode Island has launched its annual summer food drive with an early start date to address what officials are calling an unprecedented level of need in local communities. The five-week collection effort began Monday at all 22 BankRI branches statewide, including the bank’s Middletown and […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit, Sports
Record-breaking golf tournament raises $150,000 for Newport Mental Health
A charity golf tournament supporting Newport Mental Health exceeded expectations this week, raising more than $150,000 through the generous participation of 124 golfers and 15 major sponsors. The “Drive for Mental Health” Charity Golf Tournament, presented by Horan Building Company, took place at The Aquidneck Club on Tuesday and featured competitive play across two divisions […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Newport Restoration Foundation announces 2025 Historic Preservation Award winners
The Newport Restoration Foundation and the City of Newport have announced the recipients of the 19th Annual Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards, recognizing four outstanding preservation projects that exemplify craftsmanship, community engagement, and adaptive reuse. The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Rough Point in Newport, marking the foundation’s largest […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Fort Adams Trust opens historic underground listening tunnels to self-guided tours
Fort Adams Trust has opened its mysterious underground listening tunnels to the public for the first time, marking a significant expansion of the self-guided tour experience at the National Historic Landmark. The narrow, brick-lined passageways were originally constructed in the 19th century as a covert military feature, allowing soldiers to detect approaching enemy intruders. These […]
Posted inCity & Government
World Café event fosters connection and community engagement in Newport
On Wednesday, June 18, an intergenerational group of 25 people gathered at Salve Regina University to engage in meaningful conversations at a World Café hosted by RENEWport and The David and Carolyn Brodsky Chair in U.S. Constitutional Culture and Democracy. Gene Thompson-Grove, facilitator and transformational learning coach, moderated the event. Participants focused on a series of […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Community unites for ‘Portsmouth Strong’ fundraiser to support victims of tragedy at Portuguese American Citizens Club
The Four Hearts Foundation is proud to announce “Portsmouth Strong”, a community fundraiser event taking place on Tuesday, July 22 at 5:30 PM at Green Valley Country Club. They have graciously provided the venue and food for a community sphaghetti dinner. This heartfelt evening will raise critical funds to support the victims of the recent tragedy at the Portsmouth Portuguese […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Community rallies around teen injured in Portsmouth stairwell collapse
The Aquidneck Island community is coming together to support a local teenager whose life was forever changed by a tragic accident that shocked the state earlier this month. Aaron Delgado, who suffered critical injuries in the Portsmouth stairwell collapse during a graduation party on June 15, remains in the ICU facing a long road to […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Rhode Island Foundation offering grants to nonprofits that serve LGBTQ+ residents
Nonprofits that serve the state’s LGBTQ+ communities have until August 15 to apply for grants of up to $10,000 through the Equity Action Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation. “In times as challenging as these have become, supporting organizations that serve the state’s LGBTQ+ communities is vital,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “We are […]
Posted inCity & Government
Six Newport County organizations awarded $139,500 in state capital grants
Six Newport County organizations are among 43 recipients sharing $1 million in capital grants awarded by the Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corporation (RIHEBC) to support essential infrastructure improvements and equipment purchases. Child and Family Services of Newport County, Lucy’s Hearth, the Town of Middletown, Middletown Public Library, Portsmouth School Department, and Jamestown Public […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Newport Polo Gala to support local environmental initiatives
Newport Polo’s 24th annual charity gala, “Singapore Swing,” is set for Aug. 1, 2025, at Rosecliff Mansion in Newport. This black-tie event will support four local environmental organizations: Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Save The Bay, and Newport Tree Conservancy. These charity galas have raised nearly $2.2 million for nonprofit initiatives […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Student documentary filmmakers celebrated at newportFILM’s docUnbound screening
Tuesday, June 10 marked the premiere of two short documentaries made by newportFILM’s newest batch of homegrown filmmakers. Screened at the Firehouse Theater in Newport, “The People’s Policy” and “Talking Ghostly” were the semester-long capstone projects made by students participating in newportFILM’s Documentary Unbound (or “docUnbound,” for short) program. First beginning in February of 2022, […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
BankNewport Charitable Foundation awards more than $400,000 in grants
The BankNewport Charitable Foundation on Monday (June 16) announced the recipients of its Spring 2025 grants. More than $400,000 was awarded to over 60 nonprofit organizations across Rhode Island, reflecting the Foundation’s continued commitment to strengthening communities and supporting programs across a wide range of focus areas, including arts and culture, basic needs and food security, education […]
Posted inInstagram, News, Nonprofit
2nd Annual Charlie Holder, Sr. Memorial 5K raises $20,000 to benefit Newport County YMCA and MLK Community Center
Foggy conditions didn’t stop 290 participants from running and walking in the second annual Charlie Holder, Sr. Memorial 5K race on Saturday, May 17th. The event was presented by BRS Building Company. Mr. Holder passed away on Aug. 6, 2023. In his memory, all net proceeds from the race again benefited the Newport County YMCA […]