Salve Regina University is trying to chip away at two of health care’s most persistent problems at once — rising education costs for nursing students and a shortage of clinical workers across Rhode Island — through a new partnership that lines up jobs and loan repayment before students ever leave campus. Since launching the Scholars […]
Nonprofit
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Federal filings: Newport Performing Arts Center lost money three of the last five years
In three of the last federal tax filings, the Newport Performing Arts Center (NPAC) reported net income losses while it continues to try and raise millions of dollars to renovate and reopen the former majestic opera house on Newport’s Washington Square. What’sUpNewp (WUN) reviewed all 990 forms filed by the Arts Center since 2002. The […]
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Newport Restoration Foundation to host sustainable fashion panel at Rough Point April 21
The Newport Restoration Foundation will host a panel discussion on the art and science of sustainable fashion at Rough Point Museum on Tuesday, April 21, as part of its Earth Week programming. The moderated conversation is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. and will explore the intersection of innovation, art and sustainable fashion. The panel […]
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Newport Jazz Festival to unveil 2026 lineup Tuesday, tickets on sale same day
The Newport Jazz Festival will unveil its 2026 lineup on Tuesday, April 21, with tickets going on sale the same afternoon for what will be the first festival under newly appointed Artistic Director Nate Smith. The festival returns to Fort Adams State Park on July 31, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, marking its 72nd year […]
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Aquidneck Island Earth Week returns April 18–26 with cleanups, hikes, film screenings and more
From shoreline cleanups to geology hikes to a climate film festival, the 7th Annual Aquidneck Island Earth Week kicks off Saturday, April 18, with more than two weeks of events spread across Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth. Organized by Sara Poirier of Spark Strategic Science Communication, the nine-day celebration runs through April 26 and draws together […]
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Newport Little League to host annual fundraiser at O’Brien’s Pub on May 14
Newport Little League will hold its 2026 annual fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 14 at O’Brien’s Pub, 501 Thames St., with tickets priced at $20 and including a drink and light appetizers. The event, which is open to all guests 21 and older, will also feature a raffle and silent auction. O’Brien’s […]
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Newport Restoration Foundation calls for nominations for 20th annual Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards
The Newport Restoration Foundation is seeking nominations for the 2026 Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards, marking the 20th anniversary of the joint program between the NRF and the City of Newport. The annual awards recognize exemplary historic preservation projects that carry forward the legacy of Doris Duke and have had a significant impact on the […]
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More than a building: Inside the next chapter of Newport’s Boys & Girls Clubs
“It’s not about a big building. It’s about what happens inside the building,” said Kelley Coen, newly appointed CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Newport County. She shared the remark at a recent Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce Women of Distinction event, where Coen was interviewed by Newport Chamber CEO Erin Donovan-Boyle. A […]
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Rhode Island Spirits and Save The Bay launch new gin made with botanicals foraged from Narragansett Bay’s shoreline
Rhode Island Spirits has partnered with Save The Bay to release a new gin made with botanicals foraged directly from the shoreline of Save The Bay’s Providence Bay Center, with a portion of every bottle sold going back to bay conservation. Rhodium Save The Bay Gin is the latest release from Rhode Island Spirits, New […]
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Vague on specifics, NPAC executive confident of raising millions to reopen opulent former opera house
In multiple exchanges of emails, we posed several questions to Melissa Caldwell Quinn, managing director of the Newport Performing Arts Center. This is another in our ongoing series on the opera house restoration project that is now approaching 25 years. WUN: Is this still a viable project? If not, what happens now? If it is, […]
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Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County accepting applications for $2,000 Tinney Family Arts Scholarship
The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County is accepting applications for the Tinney Family Arts Scholarship Award, a $2,000 scholarship given each May to a Newport County high school senior who has demonstrated artistic talent and plans to continue studying the arts. The scholarship is open to seniors attending any high school in Newport […]
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15th annual Citizens Pell Bridge Run moves to August 30 due to planned Pell Bridge maintenance
The 15th annual Citizens Pell Bridge Run will take place Sunday, August 30 at 7 a.m., a departure from its traditional October date to accommodate significant maintenance and improvements planned for the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge this fall. The 4-mile run and walk begins in Jamestown and finishes in downtown Newport, offering participants a rare […]
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Newport Restaurant Group donates more than $81,000 to local nonprofits through 2025 gift card program
Newport Restaurant Group has donated $81,314 to seven local nonprofits through its annual gift card donation program, surpassing last year’s total and bringing the program’s cumulative giving to more than $366,000 since its launch in 2019. Through the program, $2 from every gift card purchase is directed to area nonprofits fighting food insecurity. The 2025 […]
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NOSOLO Giveback Foundation brings ‘Off to the Races’ Derby back to Newport on May 2
The NOSOLO Giveback Foundation will mark five years of mental health advocacy with a night at the races. The Middletown-based nonprofit, a registered 501(c)(3), will host Off to the Races: NOSOLO Foundation Derby on Saturday, May 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Salve Regina University’s Young Building. The Kentucky Derby-themed event features a live […]
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401Gives surpasses $5 million goal, setting records across the board for Rhode Island nonprofits
Rhode Islanders delivered. 401Gives, the statewide day of giving powered by United Way of Rhode Island, surpassed its $5 million fundraising goal by the time giving closed at 6 p.m. Wednesday, setting new records for donors, gifts and participating organizations in the initiative’s seven-year history. Over 36 hours, 20,112 donors made 32,544 gifts to benefit […]
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401Gives enters final hours with $3.5 million raised and two matching gift opportunities still ahead
401Gives is in its home stretch, and Rhode Islanders still have time to make their donations count. As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the statewide day of giving had surpassed $3.5 million raised — more than $3.521 million from 22,431 gifts by more than 14,500 individual donors — pushing toward its $5 million goal with seven […]
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Rogers High School juniors launch ‘Donut or Donate’ fundraiser with a community twist
The Rogers High School Class of 2027 is giving Newport a reason to feel good about their next sugar fix. The junior class has launched a “Donut or Donate” fundraiser, selling dozens of Krispy Kreme donuts for $15 each — with a charitable option baked in. Buyers can choose to keep their donuts, have them […]
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401Gives tops $2.5 million in less than 12 hours, already halfway to its goal
The momentum behind 401Gives shows no signs of slowing down. By 5:17 p.m. Tuesday, the statewide day of giving had surpassed $2.5 million raised — more than halfway to its overall goal — with more than 15,860 donations pouring in from over 10,200 individual donors in less than 12 hours. A record 658 nonprofits have […]
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401Gives surpasses $1 million in just hours as Rhode Islanders rally behind local nonprofits
Rhode Islanders didn’t wait long to open their wallets. 401Gives, the statewide day of giving powered by United Way of Rhode Island, surpassed $1 million in donations by 9:42 a.m. Tuesday — just a few hours after giving began — with more than 3,700 donors contributing to 602 nonprofits. The Haitian Project led all organizations […]
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Millions spent, doors still closed: Inside the stalled Newport Performing Arts Center
Farrar Associates of Newport has been the general contractor for the Opera House project (Newport Performing Arts Center) and is responsible for a considerable amount of work completed under phase one and funded by a 2014 state Council of the Arts Bond Referendum. James Farrar, President of Farrar Associates, after some initial confusion on our […]
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Tiverton’s West Place Animal Sanctuary receives customized Land Rover Defender 130 after winning national award
West Place Animal Sanctuary has received a customized Land Rover Defender 130 vehicle after winning the Honoree Award in the 2025 Defender Service Awards presented by Chase, the organization announced Monday. The vehicle handover took place Sunday at Jake Kaplan’s Land Rover Warwick, where West Place supporters, volunteers and staff gathered to celebrate the honor. […]
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Boys Town New England names Marcy Shyllon as executive director
Boys Town New England has named Marcy Shyllon as its executive director, the organization announced Monday, formalizing her leadership after a successful stint as interim director. Shyllon, who has been with Boys Town since 2006, most recently served as senior director of program operations, overseeing the Family Home Program and Foster Family Services Program across […]
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IYRS launches new runabout restoration course in partnership with Antique & Classic Boat Society
IYRS School of Technology & Trades has announced a new Runabout Restoration Course, a 9-month hands-on program developed in partnership with the Antique & Classic Boat Society (ACBS). The pilot course gives students the opportunity to complete a full restoration of a classic 17-foot 1940 Chris-Craft Deluxe, from structural rebuild to final water testing. Classes […]
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Rhode Island’s family caregivers provide $2.8 billion in unpaid labor each year, AARP report finds
Rhode Island’s family caregivers provide an estimated $2.8 billion worth of labor each year, the vast majority of it unpaid, according to a new report from AARP. The report, “Valuing the Invaluable 2026,” finds that 155,000 Rhode Islanders care for older parents, spouses, neighbors, and other loved ones, contributing 111 million hours of care annually. […]
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Potter League for Animals to host Bark & Boogie gala April 11 in Newport
The Potter League for Animals will host The Bark & Boogie, a spring fundraising gala, on Saturday, April 11, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at the Newport Marriott Hotel & Spa. Presented by the Lola Ruth Giving Fund, the cocktail-style event will feature craft cocktails, food, live music from World Premier […]