During the 13th annual Celebrity/Scholarship Dinner held for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s Center for Marketing Research, 22 students each received scholarships in addition to some encouraging words from former New England Patriots player, Ty Law. more

In partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers, CVS Caremark Corp.’s CVS Caremark Charitable Trust has announced the 21 recipients of the “Innovations in Community Health” grants. more

Rhode Island local private nonprofits in need of a U.S. Small Business Administration loan to cover physical damages from Feb. 8 - 9 snowstorms must apply before the May 21 deadline, according to the SBA. more

The Rhode Island Welcome Back Center at Dorcas Place Adult and Family Learning Center was recently given a $5,000 donation by the Rhode Island Health Care Association. more

BankNewport recently presented a $5,000 grant to the Newport Art Museum to support its Community Arts Enrichment Program, an after-school program offered in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County. more

Joyce Ruppell was recently appointed director of early-childhood initiatives at Connecting for Children & Families Inc. Ruppell will now be responsible for the nonprofit’s Early Reading First and Parents as Teachers programs. After earning a B.A. from Barrington College, Ruppell went on to receive an M.Ed. from Rhode Island College. She is currently working toward a doctorate in educational leadership at Johnson & Wales University. more

This year’s Hasbro Children’s Hospital radiothon brought in $436,270 worth of donations that will support pediatric care, family programs and research at the hospital. more

During a fundraising week that coincided with Ocean State Theatre Co.’s production of “Rent,” the theater and AIDS Care Ocean State raised more than $2,000 to assist those living with HIV/AIDS. more

We are a philanthropic nation. Even with the challenges of recent economic times, charitable giving increased by $8 billion in 2011, an increase of almost 4 percent from 2010, according to the 2012 report by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Individuals gave $217 billion, compared with $209 billion in 2010. more

After serving 17 years in the military, Matthew Paquette left his work as an electrician’s mate in the Navy, where he was assigned to the USS Shasta Battle Group Echo, stationed off the coast of Kuwait. more