BankNewport drive collects 1,800 books

NEWPORT – BankNewport has raised the bar when it comes to philanthropic donations. The bank’s new and used book drive, which ran from July 16-21, collected more than 1,800 new and gently used children’s books.
The drive was in partnership with the United Way of Rhode Island’s Women’s Leadership Council and Books Are Wings.
Together, the group surpassed its goal of 1,000 books, raising almost twice that amount thanks to the generosity of the community.
The books were distributed on Aug. 18 as part of BankNewport’s sponsorship of the Back to School Celebration of Rhode Island event to be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Community College of Rhode Island Newport County Campus. The celebration also provided 1,000 children with a free backpack full of school supplies for the coming year, as well as an opportunity to select a book of their choice to begin building their at-home library.
Back to School Celebration of Rhode Island is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide outstanding quality educational programs, helping individuals and families reach their full intellectual potential.