RI Foundation offers more than $2 million in college scholarships

At the time of year when colleges are sending out financial aid packages, the Rhode Island Foundation is offering students and their families more than $2 million in scholarships.

Dozens of individual, family, corporate and organizational donors established scholarship funds at the foundation to help students defray educational expenses such as tuition, room and board, fees and books.

“This support can turn dreams into reality for our donors and the recipients,” said Neil D. Steinberg, the foundation’s president and CEO. “The impact of their generosity will ripple through our state for decades as these students make their marks in their fields and on their communities.”

The foundation expects to help hundreds of students pay for college. In addition to general scholarship assistance, some funds target specific geographic areas such as Cranston, Johnston and Warwick.

The Cataract Fire Company #2 Scholarship, Marissa Salabert Memorial Scholarship Fund, TGHS ’82 Renee Tetreault Newell 9/11 Scholarship and the Daniel Brian Cohen Scholarship are among the awards available to Warwick residents.

Ralph C. and Joyce L. Vossler Fund, Ralph C. and Joyce L. Vossler Fund and Brian Moretti Scholarship Fund are for Cranston High School West graduates, while the Holly Charette Scholarship and Agnes Meade Tramonti Memorial Scholarship go to Cranston High School East students.

The Johnston Lions Armand Muto Scholarship is among the scholarships that Johnston residents can apply for.

The foundation also offers a number of awards targeting students studying everything from social work or engineering to textile technology or nursing. Johnston resident Brittany Williams won an Edward J. and Virginia M. Routhier Nursing Scholarship last year.

“The support I’ve received has afforded me the opportunity to pursue my master’s degree and embark on my career as a certified registered nurse anesthetist,” she said.

Other funds provide assistance based on gender, economic status or special circumstance. The Melvin and Patty Alperin First Generation Scholarship is earmarked for high school seniors whose parents did not graduate from college while the Bruce and Marjorie Sundlun Scholarship is open to low-income single parents.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the foundation raised $114 million and awarded $52 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities in 2018. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information about applying for a scholarship, visit rifoundation.org.