‘Scrappy’ fund launches annual drive for community progress

John Howell
Posted 10/14/14

Bob Stout remembers why he was recruited for the Fund for Community Progress about 33 years ago by, as he put it Thursday, “a federation of edgy, scrappy agencies.”

He told a breakfast …

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‘Scrappy’ fund launches annual drive for community progress

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Bob Stout remembers why he was recruited for the Fund for Community Progress about 33 years ago by, as he put it Thursday, “a federation of edgy, scrappy agencies.”

He told a breakfast gathering at the Warwick Country Club, “They were too scrappy for the United Way, but they didn’t take no for an answer.”

Stout said he was called to serve on the board of this new federation, and what they wanted him to do was raise money.

Stout was still doing that Thursday. He joined Richard Godfrey, executive director of Rhode Island Housing, as a speaker for the kickoff of the Annual Workplace Giving Campaign. Last year, the campaign raised $212,000 for the fund’s 25 member agencies. This year, said fund executive director Sally Turner, the goal is $225,000.

Stout’s account of the creation of the fund rang true with many of the old timers attending the breakfast. At the time of the fund’s start, United Way was very selective of member agencies and, when Henry Shelton, Irwin Becker and others involved with agencies that were denied participation, they set off to form their own federation.

Today, the fund has giving campaigns in 54 workplaces comprising 985 donors. Workers can designate where their donations go and, if they choose not to make a selection, the money goes toward running the fund and split between the agencies.

Fund membership agencies take on the work of improving life for at-risk communities with efforts to end poverty, hunger, illiteracy, violence and discrimination. Member agencies are involved in conflict resolution, job training, employing the unemployed, housing the homeless, advocating for civil rights, protecting the environment, providing mental healthcare and working for lead paint abatement.

Turner said AIDS Project Rhode Island and Habitat for Humanity of Rhode Island-Greater Providence are two of the larger donor-designated agencies within the fund. She said Community Care Alliance is the newest member. The alliance provides a variety of services, ranging from mental health to substance abuse treatment, workforce development and early childhood programs.

Stout said Brown University was among the first to create workforce campaigns. The university continues to be a partner with the fund and, in terms of collective workplace contributions, is the largest, said Turner.

Godfrey said Rhode Island Housing joined “the radicals” 20 years ago. He applauded the work of member organizations to “work with community to promote real change.” He also thanked his employees who, he said, give an average of $120 to the fund. He said he is proud of the work they do for the community.

With its reputation as the non-conformist community fund campaign, Turner remarked that the breakfast being held at the country club would have raised eyebrows years ago. But the core cause is unchanged.

“We are the underdogs,” she said. “We fight for those who don’t necessarily get their fair share.”

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