Providence Promise

Happy Juneteenth❤️🖤💚
Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, a day that commemorates freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equity and justice!

At Providence Promise, we honor the generations who have fought for liberation and recognize the work that remains to ensure every child and family has access to opportunity, education, and a brighter future.

Congratulations to Matthew on graduating as Salutatorian of his class!

For more than four years, Matthew and his family have been an important part of the Providence Promise community. Alongside his two sisters and mom, he has consistently shown what dedication, hard work, and community engagement can achieve.

Matthew has been a leader on our Youth Council, participated in dozens of workshops, and has been a committed member of our Mentorship Program for the past three academic years. Through it all, he has impressed us with his leadership, determination, and willingness to support and inspire others.

We are incredibly proud of all that Matthew has accomplished and grateful to have been a small part of his journey. As he prepares to begin the next chapter at the University of Rhode Island, we know he has a bright future ahead of him.

Congratulations, Matthew! We can't wait to see all that you achieve at URI and beyond. 🎉🎓💙

Today is 5/29 — College Savings Day — and we’re celebrating by investing in the dreams and futures of Providence students! 💛

At Providence Promise, we believe every young person deserves access to opportunities that prepare them for college, careers, and long-term success. Since 2017, more than 1,575 students and 800+ families have participated in our savings and financial empowerment programs, helping families build nearly $3 million toward future education goals.

This year, we’re raising $25,290 to support impactful student experiences and programs, including:
🎉 Celebrating our graduating seniors
💼 Creating career exploration opportunities through our Annual Career Summit
🎓 Expanding Every Saver so more families can access 529 guidance and virtual support

Thanks to the generosity of our partners at , the first $7,500 donated today will be matched dollar for dollar — making your support go even further.
When you give, you’re helping students gain access to resources, mentorship, and opportunities that can shape their futures for years to come.

👉 Make your contribution today through the link below:
https://givebutter.com/529giving2026

Every year, our 529 Day celebration grows in impact, joy and community spirit – and it did not disappoint this year!

On Saturday, May 16th, PVD Promise welcomed nearly 500 students, families, partners, and supporters for our 9th Annual . In honor of the , we celebrated a milestone worth remembering: 1,570+ students from 800+ enrolled families have collectively saved nearly $3 Million toward higher education since 2017. 🎉 🎓

This year’s graduating class made history as our biggest one yet. 🙌 More than 60 high school seniors are walking across the stage next month. Of those who've shared their next steps to date, over 90% are headed to a 2 or 4-year university or trade school this fall. Together, they've earned over 100 college acceptances at schools including Boston University, Rhode Island School Of Design, Rhode Island College (RIC), Providence College, University of Rhode Island, and more!

The celebration itself was full of sunshine, great food, carnival games, a student-run flower pot sale, a parent-led Bake Sale, powerful speakers, and 20+ community partners. We were honored to hear from Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, Providence City Councilor Councilman John Goncalves, Gubernatorial Candidate Helena Buonanno Foulkes, PVD Promise Graduating Senior Amelia Pepen, and PVD Promise Parent Leader Lianne Santos.

Honoring this year's awardees:
The RI Education Collective received the Community Partner of the Year Award — a well-earned recognition for strengthening both our work and the broader movement to ensure every child in Rhode Island has the opportunity to thrive.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley received the Ambassador Award — a much-deserved acknowledgement for elevating our mission and connecting our work to a broader network of civic, business, and community stakeholders.

This work would not be possible without the generosity of our incredible sponsors. This year, 70+ corporate, foundation, and individual donors came together to raise $167,000 in honor of 529 Day. A heartfelt thank you to our Presenting Sponsors, Richard & Judy Lappin; our Valedictorian Sponsors, Susan & Michael Brown and Constance Tucker; and our Salutatorian Sponsors: Brian Iannuccillo, Bill O’Gara, Tony & Virginia Thomas, Roz & Herb Hill, Baystate Financial, Oceanstate Financial, Ahlborg Construction, the Squantum Foundation, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and the Providence Performing Arts Center — your generosity keeps the work moving forward!

We would also like to express our appreciation to this year’s in-kind sponsors. CVS Health provided 100 food packages for families and other event refreshments, Ocean State Job Lot provided $500 worth of materials and supplies, and Caribbean Soul LLC donated their expert services!

To everyone who poured into this day: thank you! Providence Promise is built on the support of this amazing community – and that support means everything to us! 💛