Thanks to the generosity of Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) customers, staff and the community, the holiday season has been made brighter for underprivileged children across the Ocean State. The Bank’s Holiday Giving Tree program, which recently concluded, led to an incredible 7,576 donated gifts. It is the most gifts ever collected in the program’s 26-year history.

In Cranston and Warwick, the Bank’s local branches combined to provide a total of 1,477 presents to its nonprofit partners, AIDS Care Ocean State, Boys & Girls Clubs of Warwick, Comprehensive Community Action Program, and SSTARbirth.

“We have amazing people in our state who never miss an opportunity to help others, especially when it comes to children in need,” said Will Tsonos, President and CEO of BankRI. “Our Holiday Giving Tree program continues to reach new heights after all these years, demonstrating the true holiday spirit. Thank you to all who donated!”

BankRI began its 26th annual Holiday Giving Tree program on November 1 at all of its branches statewide. For six week, branches displayed a giving tree decorated with ornaments featuring the name, age, and holiday wish of a child served by that branch’s nonprofit partner. Throughout the effort, people visited their local branch to select ornaments, later returning to place their donated gifts beneath the tree.

A number of branches saw tremendous support, including BankRI’s Lincoln location, which led the way by collecting 1,527 presents to benefit children served by the Town of Lincoln Holiday Basket Program.