On June 6, supporters and staff of the East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) gathered at the Wyndham Newport Hotel to celebrate the organization’s 20th Seaside Gala and 60th anniversary.
EBCAP President and CEO Rilwan Feyisitan, Jr. expressed his gratitude to those supporting the organization’s six decades of work. “We lost so much federal funding recently, so the money raised this evening will go right back to the community,” said Feyisitan, who also had high praise for EBCAP’s 500 employees. He noted that staff continue to go above and beyond, adding, “You can’t teach that; it’s people doing what they do to meet the needs of others.”
Christine Arouth, while busy selling raffle tickets, took a moment to express her appreciation for the community partners who bring programming to the Newport Family Child & Opportunity Zone, where she has worked for 28 years. She spoke fondly of the elementary school-aged children in the program, describing them as curious and eager to learn. The Newport and Middletown COZ programs serve more than 1,000 children.
Many attendees have been connected to EBCAP for decades, including some who worked for organizations that merged to form the current agency. Today, EBCAP provides vital health and human services to more than 31,000 people annually in Newport and Bristol Counties, as well as East Providence. Among those in attendance was board chair Jim Vincent, who was part of the 2004 merger of New Visions and Self Help, Inc. Also present was former EBCAP COO Susan Schenck, who greeted guests warmly at the check-in table.
Adeline Rose arrived with Pauline Perkins-Moye. Rose volunteered with the agency in the 1980s when Perkins-Moye was on staff. “We distributed food—government cheese and butter—all over Newport, Jamestown, Middletown, Portsmouth, and Tiverton,” recalled Perkins-Moye, adding with a laugh, “People still ask what happened to that cheese!”
Sarah Rivard was first introduced to EBCAP while working at the YMCA and has remained a supporter ever since. “We need to support the organizations that take care of the community, especially the children,” she said.
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