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OPEN HOUSE AND DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR THE NEWLY RE-OPENED ELMWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER

Providence Community Action will be hosting an Open House and Dedication Ceremony for the newly renovated and re-opened Elmwood Community Center on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. Located at 155 Niagara Street in the Elmwood Neighborhood, the once vital Community Center fell into disrepair and was eventually closed in June 2007.

By December 2007, Providence Community Action, working with Mayor David Cicilline, Councilman Miguel Luna, State Senator Juan Pichardo, and State Representative Grace Diaz, was able to take over operations of the Elmwood Community Center and reopen the facility to neighborhood residents.

Since that time, with the help of sponsors such as GTECH, Aramark, City Year, and the Highlander School, Providence Community Action has embarked on an intense restoration and repair project involving the physical structure, the grounds and outdoor sports area, and on added programming.

A special dedication will be held for the GTECH After-School Advantage Computer Center, donated to the Elmwood Center by GTECH, which features eight state-of-the-art computers and the latest educational software.

The after-school advantage program is designed to provide inner-city youth with a safe environment in which to participate in a meaningful, yet fun, learning experience during the critical after school hours.

Beginning in December 2007 with just a small food pantry and limited case management services, Providence Community Action has expanded the Elmwood Center to include a fully stocked food pantry, Low Income Home Heating Assistance, Adult Education and ESL Programs, a Clothing Closet, Youth Recreation and Education Services, Summer Youth Basketball Leagues, Summer Camp for 35 neighborhood children including breakfast and lunch programs, a traveling Health Van, Emergency Housing Assistance, and direct access to all of Providence Community Action’s varied and comprehensive anti-poverty programs.

“We are honored to have Mayor David Cicilline; Councilman Luna; Senator Pichardo; Representative Diaz; our partner, Robert Vincent of GTECH; and Providence Community Action’s Chairman of the Board, Paul MacDonald, be a part of the Dedication Ceremony at Elmwood Community Center,” said Frank Corbishley, Executive Director of Providence Community Action. “It took a great deal of effort and dedication on everyone’s part to re-open the doors of this essential community and neighborhood multi-purpose center.”

For more information regarding either the Dedication Ceremony or services provided through the Elmwood Community Center, please contact Lihna Agostini at 654-4967.
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Providence, RI -- June 2008
ARAMARK AND CITY YEAR DONATE “A DAY OF SERVICE” TO PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY ACTION

On Saturday, June 14, 2008, Aramark, teaming up with City Year, will donate a full day of service to help renovate the recently reopened Elmwood Community Center, 155 Niagara Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02907.

Providence Community Action Program reopened the Elmwood Center in 2007 in order to provide much needed social and recreational services to the Elmwood and Washington Park neighborhoods. The building had been closed, vacant, and neglected for several months. Providence Community Action was able to facilitate repairs and renovations that allowed the agency to reopen the doors of the center in December 2007 and provide an emergency food pantry, adult education and ESL programs, Emergency Housing Assistance, Weatherization Services, utility assistance, youth recreation and educational services, a medical van, and case management services to neighborhood residents. But much remains to be done.

Aramark, a leading provider in food and facility services, partnering with City Year, is demonstrating the company’s dedication to community service by donating an entire day to enhancing the physical environment of the Elmwood Community Center.

Kicking off at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, more than 200 City Year and Aramark volunteers will paint, repair, landscape, and hang murals at the Elmwood Center.

“We are very excited about this event and thankful to Aramark for recognizing the important and positive role community centers play in the lives of neighborhood residents,” said Frank Corbishley, Executive Director of Providence Community Action. “The Elmwood Community Center is an important asset to this neighborhood and Providence Community Action, thanks to the great volunteers from Aramark and City Year, is pleased to be able to restore essential services in a beautifully renovated building.”

The volunteers will work all through the building on Niagara Street culminating in a closing ceremony with Mayor David Cicilline and members of the Providence City Council at 1:00 p.m.

For more information, please call Lihna Agostini, at 654-4967

ProCAP's Awards Dinner is a Great Success

April 18, 2007

On Tuesday, April 17, 2007, Providence Community Action (ProCAP) celebrated its second annual Awards Night, with more than 350 supporters in attendance. The agency, also celebrated its 45 year anniversary. Originally incorporated in 1962 as Progress for Providence, the agency has remained dedicated to helping low to moderated residents of the city of Providence with a variety of essential social services such as Heating Assistance, Addiction and Recovery Services, Case Management Services, Emergency Housing Assistance, and Shelter Services.

The evening, at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, was dedicated to honoring the outstanding community service of several Rhode Island residents.

Representative Steven M. Costantino, received the Civic Leader of the Year award for his steadfast and tireless support of Community Action and his continuing efforts to better the lives of the residents of Rhode Island

Providence Community Action was proud to honor Glenn Ahlborg, President and Chief Operating Officer of TPG Construction, with its Business Award. Mr. Ahlborg was instrumental in the development and completion of the Valerie V. Case Apartments, ten units of affordable housing for low-income, disabled Providence residents.

Tom Savoie, Vice President of Carpenters Local 94, was honored with the Labor Award. Mr. Savoie and Local 94 donated labor and materials thereby making a computer lab for the Agency’s Interim Middle School a reality.

The award for Volunteer of the Year went to Emilia Maron of Federal Hill Tutorial. Ms. Maron has often gone without salary and taken her own money from savings in order to continually provide tutorial services to the many needy children of the city. .

Ed Mastriano, of NBC 10’s Promotion Department was awarded this year’s Media Award. Providence Community Action saluted Mr. Mastriano for being ready to support and promote the agency’s fundraising events, including donating promotional items. His ongoing involvement with the community is applauded.

"We were really gratified by the support," said Frank Corbishley, Executive Director of ProCAP. "Statewide officer holders came and presented citations. The Rhode Island congressional delegation was represented and also presented citations, as well as key members of the Rhode Island House and Senate. Additionally representatives of the Providence City Council and Mayor Cicilline's Office came to lend their support for the essential work Providence Community Action continues to do in our community."

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