Koch honored with funding for mentoring program

Tim Forsberg
Posted 2/12/15

Warwick’s Peter Koch of Koch Eye Associates has a huge personality that is only outsized by his generosity and dedication to Rhode Island’s children.

Koch has done phenomenal things to …

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Koch honored with funding for mentoring program

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Warwick’s Peter Koch of Koch Eye Associates has a huge personality that is only outsized by his generosity and dedication to Rhode Island’s children.

Koch has done phenomenal things to enhance youth mentoring programs throughout the state, from being a mentor to two children, serving as treasurer of the Board at the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership (RIMP), to performing in their signature fundraiser Dancing with the Stars more than once and suffering through a personal roast by the community at his expense to raise funds.

Now, Koch’s efforts to make a difference in the lives of local children are getting a major boost.

Coastway Community Bank on Monday announced it would pledge a donation of $100,000 to the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership, with the funding used to support the expansion of Cranston’s mentoring program. Coastway’s donation is being made in honor of Koch, who is also a board member for the bank.

The donation will be disbursed in increments of $25,000 per year over four years, beginning in 2015.

The Warwick-based RIMP program pairs school-age children with adults, with the pairs meeting in school for one hour each week.

“I think this is a wonderful opportunity for our children. I can’t speak highly enough about the program or the fact that every child needs a significant person in their lives,” said Cranston Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Judith Lundsten, who now hopes the city’s program will grow from 14 children currently to more than 50 by 2016.

“These mentors give up their time freely, and it’s the whole social and emotional piece that they give that’s so important. We see this as a phenomenal opportunity for our students, and we truly appreciate the collaborative spirit of Coastway,” Lundsten added.

“Simply put, Coastway believes in the mentoring mission,” said William White, Coastway’s president and CEO, in a press release. “In 2014, we had over 50 employees volunteering their time as mentors in various capacities throughout the state and are constantly working to recruit more. We’ve seen firsthand the difference that can be made in a young person’s life by having a mentor.”

Jo-Ann Schofield, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership, said the organization is “thrilled” with the bank’s “generous donation.”

“Not only is it an affirmation of our work and their belief in quality mentoring, but it is also well-deserved recognition of our long-time board member and friend, Peter Koch,” Schofield said. “Peter’s impact on our organization is immense. It’s amazing the difference one person can make, just like mentoring.”

White in the release calls Koch “an outstanding example of who a mentor is.”

The non-profit Mentoring Partnership is dedicated to the expansion of quality mentoring services for Rhode Island’s young people. It serves as an umbrella organization for dozens of mentoring programs around Rhode Island, offering help with mentor recruitment, training and other support.

The Mentoring Partnership is also directly responsible for the coordination of the school-based mentoring programs in Warwick, Woonsocket, Newport and Middletown.

Coastway Community Bank has been helping Rhode Islanders with their banking and financial needs for over 90 years and has more than $420 million in assets and 27,000 customers. Coastway is located in Cranston, East Greenwich, East Providence, Lincoln, Providence, Warwick and at www.coastway.com.

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