Read to Succeed awards $267,000 in college scholarships
Providence Mayor Elorza and RI General Treasurer Magaziner participate
PROVIDENCE: On Wednesday afternoon, students from Bishop McVinney Catholic Elementary School were celebrated by RI General Treasurer Seth Magaziner and Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, along with Lisa M. Foehr, Chief of the Division of Teaching & Learning at the Rhode Island Department of Education, and parents and teachers for earning their $1,000 college scholarship from Read to Succeed.
This is the second of three scholarship award ceremonies this week for 267 students at Highlander Charter School, Bishop McVinney Catholic Elementary School, and Community Preparatory School, which is hosting its event on Friday at 1:30 pm. Read to Succeed will award $267,000 in scholarships to these students who have successfully completed an innovative summer reading program. Over $1.1 million in scholarships have been awarded by Read to Succeed to date.
Read to Succeed is the only Rhode Island nonprofit dedicated to reducing the summer learning loss by enrolling South Providence students into a challenging reading program that is free to students, parents and schools. Students who read six books and pass a comprehension exam receive a $1,000 college scholarship invested into their own Rhode Island CollegeBound|Saver account, the state’s 529B college saving plan. Students can participate for five summers earning a total of $5,000 for college.
Read to Succeed was founded in 2008 by Ralph and Barbara Papitto, who have dedicated themselves to increasing literacy rates in the low-income, largely minority community of South Providence. This innovative nonprofit is funded by The Papitto Foundation along with numerous individuals and companies, as well as the TriMix Foundation, Edward J. & Virginia M. Routhier Fund, The Warren Alpert Foundation, the Hassenfeld Family Foundation, the Rhode Island Foundation, The Carter Fund and many others.
The Media is invited to cover the final 2019 Read to Succeed scholarship ceremony:
Friday, October 25th, 1:30 to 3 pm, Community Preparatory School
135 Prairie Avenue, Providence
