POC Foundation

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POC Foundation Here to Listen. Here to Help.

Every community has its own story, and the people in it know best what the next chapter needs. That's where POC starts. ...
10/13/2026

Every community has its own story, and the people in it know best what the next chapter needs.

That's where POC starts. Instead of deciding from the outside, we listen first, then invest in the programs Rhode Islanders tell us matter most: education, skills training, entrepreneurship, housing, and healthcare.

We partner with local non-profits already doing the hard work on the ground. We also invest in young people through the Transform RI Scholarship, which gives students across the state a voice and real resources to bring their big ideas to life.

Whether you're a neighbor with a story to share or an organization with a vision for your community, we want to hear from you.

Visit https://pocfoundation.com to share your story, explore our work, or sign up for our newsletter.

Congratulations to My HomeCourt and the Providence Housing Authority who just unveiled a new mural court at Manton Heigh...
10/08/2026

Congratulations to My HomeCourt and the Providence Housing Authority who just unveiled a new mural court at Manton Heights, designed by local artist Alyssa Barnes. It's the 7th My HomeCourt project in Providence's urban core, and we're proud that POC has supported this important work.

Read the full story and more in our latest newsletter:http://pocfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/POC-September-2026-Newsletter.pdf

POC was proud to attend the Annual Supporter Breakfast, where Madalyn Champi, Executive Director of Providence Promise, ...
10/06/2026

POC was proud to attend the Annual Supporter Breakfast, where Madalyn Champi, Executive Director of Providence Promise, delivered the organization's 9th Annual Report to supporters.

Providence Promise serves 1,600 students and 1,000 families each year, most from Providence, including 145 kindergarten students from Central Falls where the program expanded this year. To date, $1.1 million has been awarded in college savings.

A highlight of the event: the very first student to sign up for Providence Promise, Amelia Pepen, who joined at age 9, graduated high school last spring and is now a student at Rhode Island College.

Congratulations to Providence Promise on nine years of investing in students and families and thank you for the opportunity to celebrate this milestone with you!

View the full report: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHSMqm2TQY/ArQMHVxP9K0WSr85K1GE8A/view?utm_content=DAHSMqm2TQY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h97bcded7a7 #1

Thank you to the Women's Fund of Rhode Island for having the POC team at Women Leading Change last week! It was an inspi...
10/02/2026

Thank you to the Women's Fund of Rhode Island for having the POC team at Women Leading Change last week!

It was an inspiring evening celebrating leaders who are leveling the playing field for women and girls across Rhode Island. Congratulations to this year's honorees: Representative Julie Casimiro, Amy Romero, and Bev Wiley. Your work moves our state forward.

We're grateful to be part of a community that believes in a more equitable Rhode Island, and we're proud to stand alongside the Women’s Fund of RI in this mission.

Opportunity starts with listening. At the Papitto Opportunity Connection, we let Rhode Island communities tell us what t...
09/29/2026

Opportunity starts with listening. At the Papitto Opportunity Connection, we let Rhode Island communities tell us what they need, then back the organizations already doing the work on the ground.

That looks like investing in school-based health clinic for Central Falls . It looks like standing alongside The ELISHA Project as they provide food to neighbors who need it. And it looks like job training, small business support, and classroom programs that open new doors across the state.

Our youth have big ideas, too. This year, Met School sophomore Rio VieraSpears earned the 2026 Transform RI Scholarship, and we're putting $1 million behind Rio's plan to make a difference.

Now we want to hear from you. Whether you're an individual with a story to share or an organization looking for a partner, visit https://pocfoundation.com/ to connect with us or learn about applying for a grant.

09/29/2026

We invite you to join us for an impactful morning session dedicated to Fatherhood Engagement.Together, we will share perspectives, highlight effective…

POC checks in with PVD Things! Since 2020, PVD Things has been building something special in Providence: a community-pow...
09/25/2026

POC checks in with PVD Things!

Since 2020, PVD Things has been building something special in Providence: a community-powered space where neighbors share tools, skills, and knowledge. With an inventory of over 1,500 items, they're making it easier for everyone to borrow, reuse, and create together.

This summer, members rolled up their sleeves for free workshops on electrical basics, natural dyeing, woodworking, and more. Every session is an opportunity for the community learn and grow together.

We're proud to celebrate the neighbors, volunteers, and organizers who make PVD Things possible.

Want to get involved? Stop by to borrow, learn, or volunteer! Visit PVD Things to learn more.

09/23/2026

“Culture survives when people choose to carry it forward.” — Marilyn Cepeda, President of Quisqueya En Accion

Now in its 39th year, the Dominican Festival & Parade of Rhode Island is one of the state’s most anticipated cultural celebrations. Organized by the non-profit Quisqueya in Action (QIA), the parade’s roots can be traced back to the Cepeda sisters, Margarita and Marilyn, and their childhood friends. The Cepeda sisters immigrated from the Dominican Republic with a deep vision for keeping Dominican culture alive, especially for kids who have never set foot on the island their parents and ancestors call home.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Papitto Opportunity Connection is proud to support and celebrate QIA’s impact and the many contributions of our Latino neighbors.

To learn more about QIA and the Dominican Festival, visit: https://pocfoundation.com/videos/hispanic-heritage-month-feature-how-quisqueya-in-action-keeps-heritage-alive-across-the-diaspora-right-here-in-providence/

Thank you to Ian Travis Barnard photography and the Legacy Collective team for capturing the spirit of the festival and helping us share QIA's story with our community.

Celebrating 16 Years of Impact with RIBBA! Papitto Opportunity Connection Founder Barbara Papitto was honored to celebra...
09/17/2026

Celebrating 16 Years of Impact with RIBBA!

Papitto Opportunity Connection Founder Barbara Papitto was honored to celebrate RIBBA’s 16 years of showing up for community and driving change.

Their impact tells the story:
✅ 1,700+ small business clients served through the Small Business Development Program, with 3,000+ individuals employed across the RIBBA network
✅ The Workforce Development Program has provided 1,300+ training hours, hosted 250+ participants, and delivered 2,100+ mentorship hours

RIBBA’S 16th Annual Awards Gala drew community leaders from all sectors and communities of Rhode Island, including, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, Ty'Relle Stephens, and Kelly Nevins (Women's Fund of Rhode Island). For POC, it is a privilege to connect with Rhode Islanders who are shaping the future of our state.

Congratulations to all of tonight's honorees! Here's to 16 years of impact, and many more to come.

Photos Courtesy of RIBBA/Justincase Media Inc.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Papitto Opportunity Connection is inspired by the contributions of Latinos in the U.S. Thi...
09/16/2026

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Papitto Opportunity Connection is inspired by the contributions of Latinos in the U.S. This remembrance invites us to honor the stories, traditions and hard-won progress that continue to shape our communities. In the words of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor: "You cannot value dreams according to the odds of their coming true. The real value is in stirring within us the will to aspire." This is a reminder that dreaming boldly, even against the odds, is what pushes us forward.

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