Today more than 450 business and government leaders from around the state showed their support for City Year Rhode Island at the annual Starfish Luncheon at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Over $100,000 was raised at the event, which recognized longtime board member Steve Rosa, President and Chief Creative Officer of (add)ventures as well as 17 corporate volunteers selected by their companies as community heroes.
Rosa was presented with the Starfish Award, City Year’s highest honor. The award recognizes individuals who consistently demonstrate the desire to impact the lives of others through a dedication to service.
“I am both humbled and honored by this award and by the opportunity to serve alongside my amazing friends at City Year Rhode Island,” said Rosa. “From the corps members and staff to my fellow board members and supporters, City Year is a truly amazing team that is committed to developing leaders and helping Rhode Island children. I am proud to be associated with such a great organization.”
Each year, City Year ambitiously works to build stronger communities, a stronger country, and a better world through service. Its mission is to build democracy through citizen service, civic leadership, and social entrepreneurship. This involves bringing together young adults from diverse backgrounds for a demanding year of full-time community service, leadership development, and civic engagement to children in the Ocean State.
“Imagine a world where a team of young people is serving in every school and in every community center, giving of their time and their talents, just like the outstanding individuals honored at the Starfish Luncheon today,” said City Year Rhode Island Executive Director Michael Goldstein.
Sponsors for the 2007 Starfish Luncheon included: Sovereign Bank, Citizens Bank Foundation, Hasbro, Inc., Textron, Inc., Cox Communications, American Power Conversion, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Equity National Title Insurance Company, Collette Vacations, Bank of America, T-Mobile, The Providence Journal, Gtech, and the Rhode Island Service Alliance
City Year: City Year’s signature program is its service corps which unites diverse groups of young adults for a demanding year of full-time community service, leadership development and civic engagement. These young leaders put their idealism to work as tutors and mentors to school children, reclaiming public spaces and organizing after-school programs, school vacation camps and youth service corps. Founded in Boston in 1988, City Year has established programs in Boston; Chicago; Cleveland; Columbia, SC; Columbus; Detroit; Little Rock; Louisiana, New Hampshire; New York; Greater Philadelphia; Rhode Island; San Antonio; San Jose/Silicon Valley; Seattle/King County; South Africa and Washington, D.C. For more information about City Year, please visit www.cityyear.org
