Providence Promise

05/29/2026

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

05/28/2026

Tomorrow is 5/29 — the National Day of College Savings — and it’s your chance to support brighter futures for Providence students! 💛

For nearly a decade, Providence Promise has partnered with families to help students build pathways to college and career success through savings programs, financial education, and community support. Since 2017, more than 1,575 students across 800+ families have saved close to $3 million for their futures.

Our goal is to raise $25,290 to continue creating meaningful opportunities for middle and high school students, including:
🎓 Celebrating our biggest graduating class yet
💼 Hosting the Third Annual Career Summit
📚 Expanding Every Saver to connect more families with 529 resources and virtual support

Thanks to our partners at , the first $7,500 donated will be matched dollar for dollar — making every contribution go twice as far while matching funds remain available!

Your support helps students gain the tools, confidence, and opportunities they need to pursue higher education and future careers.

💡 All donors will be recognized in our Summer 2026 Annual Report.
👉 Donate through the link in our bio before the match runs out!

https://givebutter.com/529giving2026

FutureReady SupportStudents

05/22/2026

One week from today is 5/29 — the National Day of College Savings — and we’re inviting our community to invest in brighter futures for Providence students. 💛

Since 2017, Providence Promise has helped 1,575+ students from 800+ families save nearly $3 million for their futures through college savings, financial literacy, and family engagement programs.

Now, we’re raising $25,290 to expand life-changing opportunities for middle and high school students, including:
🎉 A Graduation Celebration for our largest-ever class of high school grads
💼 The Third Annual Career Summit
🎓 Every Saver — expanding access to 529 support and virtual services for more families

And thanks to our partners at RI Education Collective, the first $7,500 donated will be MATCHED dollar for dollar — doubling your impact while the match lasts!

Every dollar helps students build the confidence, knowledge, and support they need to pursue higher education and meaningful careers.

https://givebutter.com/529giving2026

05/21/2026

We are so grateful for incredible supporters like The Hayden Foundation of Rhode Island!

05/18/2026

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! 💛

05/18/2026

We are incredibly honored to receive the 2026 Community Partner Award at Providence Promises' annual 529 Day celebration. 💙

This recognition reflects the power of community, partnership, and our shared belief that every child and family in Rhode Island deserves access to opportunity, support, and a bright future.

We also want to give a special shoutout to Collective Action For Education for hosting a table at the event and helping connect more moms to the Madres para la Educacion program, creating space for families to access resources, build community, and get involved. ✨

We are grateful to be in this work together.

05/18/2026

05/04/2026

On Sunday, we were blown away by the heart, hustle, and dedication of our incredible run crew at the Providence Marathon! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️A group of volunteers, staff, and board members took on the Marathon, Half, and 5K, together raising over $14,000 for Providence Promise. We are so grateful!

A huge congratulations to Aron Blidner, the champion of this effort, who completed his fifth race for PVD Promise, finishing the half marathon. Since 2022, Aron and the community he’s inspired have raised nearly $50,000 for our work, a number that truly speaks for itself. We also want to give a special thank you to Lisa Lappin, PVD Promise board member and Aron’s wife, whose behind-the-scenes dedication has made this effort possible every single year.

Finally, a shoutout to our very own intern and Urban Education Policy grad student, Ash Horn, who crushed her second race for PVD Promise in less than a year - this time tackling the full marathon! In addition to her incredible contributions through her internship, Ash’s fundraising efforts aligned with her runs have brought in more than $2,300 to support our mission.

We are endlessly proud of this community. Thank you for running for Providence Promise. 🧡

04/21/2026

Big things are happening in Central Falls…and they’re starting early! 🎓✨

On Friday, we proudly celebrated the launch of Central Falls Promise, a major step forward in expanding college savings accounts (CSAs) and long-term educational support to every kindergartener in Central Falls Public Schools. As part of this program, every kindergarten student received a seeded CSA, plus incentives, virtual programming, and the option to open a seeded parent-held 529 account through a partnership with the Office of General Treasurer James Diossa.

The event brought together an incredible coalition of leaders and partners who are deeply committed to students and families, including longtime partner and champion of our work in Providence and the impetus behind this initiative—the Warren Alpert Foundation—plus Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, Mayor Maria Rivera, General Treasurer James Diossa, Superintendent Stephanie Downey-Toledo, and fantastic team members from Central Falls Public Schools.

We were also honored to have Senator Acosta, Representative Giraldo, Councilman Rivas, and members of the Governor’s team and School Board in attendance, highlighting the power of strong local and state partnership.

One moment truly captured the spirit of the day. During a live classroom reading led by Commissioner Infante-Green, all 138 kindergarten students received real-time literacy incentives deposited directly into their CSAs. Then, in an unexpected and inspiring show of leadership, Mayor Rivera matched the contribution on the spot, doubling the day’s impact and bringing accounts to over $8,500.

Central Falls Promise is about more than dollars—it’s about building a culture of possibility. When we invest early, pair financial assets with meaningful programming, and surround students with a community that believes in them, we help shape future-bound identities that last a lifetime.

The momentum is real… and we’re just getting started!

04/17/2026