Actress Viola Davis was back home Oct. 7 for a Veterans Memorial Auditorium fundraiser to support the Central Falls High School Drama Club and the Segue Institute for Learning. Davis, who grew up in Central Falls, earned a SAG Award for outstanding female actress in a leading role in “The Help.” The fundraiser included a reception at which two of the actress’ awards dresses were auctioned to support the schools. Davis is pictured above with Steven Feinberg, executive director of the R.I. Film & TV Office. more

Things have been happening in Rhode Island since The Rhode Island Foundation’s two-day private-sector intervention in the Ocean State economy brought together stakeholders in early September. more

M. Weisman Roofing recently donated time and money to support efforts to change the future for those with autism. more

In an effort to ensure those without health insurance have access to medical care, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island has contributed $75,000 to the Rhode Island Free Clinic. more

Provider Group recently closed its offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts so employees could pitch in at the Children’s Friend Head Start Program in Providence. more

Narragansett Council Boy Scouts sort food for the 25th annual Scouting for Food Drive on Nov. 3. Thousands of Boy Scouts collected nonperishable food items for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Last year the Boy Scouts collected close to 300,000 pounds of food, with 185,000 pounds being brought directly to the food bank. Since its inception in 1988, the food drive has collected more than 7.8 million pounds of food. more

The 13 social ventures participating in the 2012 Change Accelerator Incubator, a Social Enterprise Rhode Island program, celebrated their graduation on Thursday evening at Betaspring’s Chestnut St. headquarters. more

When it came time for Stephanie Ogidan Preston to send her daughter to middle school, there was only one choice, as far as she was concerned: Community Preparatory School in Providence. more

In 2010, Big Sisters of Rhode Island, a nonprofit that matches adult volunteer mentors with at-risk youth, made a game-changing decision: For the first time, the organization would expand its work to mentor girls and boys. The organization adopted its current name, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State, to embrace its new mission and broader service population. more

What makes Amgen Inc. a leader in community involvement and volunteerism is its core values in creating a holistic work/life balance, according to Bill Flaherty, a database administrator who has worked at the biomanufacturing facility in West Greenwich for 10 years. more