NRI Chamber Holiday Open House Generates over $12,000 for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank

NEWS RELEASE

Lincoln, RI–December 13, 2013

The Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Holiday Open House on December 11, 2013 at the Twin River Event Center.  With over 350 guests in attendance and 25 table top exhibitors, the NRI Chamber was pleased to present the RI Community Food Bank with a check. This donation included $3,640 from NRI Chamber ticket sales, along with a $2,500 donation from Twin River.  That $6,140 donation was then doubled through the End Hunger Challenge fund, made up of local donors who match contributions to the Food Bank, bringing the total donation to $12,280.

This signature holiday event was generously sponsored by Twin River Casino and the Chamber’s Board of Directors.   All proceeds generated from ticket sales are donated entirely to the RI Community Food Bank to help provide warm meals to local families this holiday season.   Some Chamber members who were unable to attend this sold-out event submitted online donations prior to the Open House.

“The Food Bank is so grateful to the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce for the gift of $3640 from its holiday party, and to Twin River for contributing an additional $2,500 to support our work. We are also fortunate that these funds will be matched by the End Hunger Challenge fund, doubling the gift from $6,140 to $12,280. The Food Bank can acquire three pounds of healthy food for every dollar donated, so these gifts will translate into nearly 39,000 pounds of food for low-income families in Northern Rhode Island,” said Lisa Rothman Black, Chief Philanthropy Officer for the RI Community Food Bank.

Table top exhibitors were also on-hand to promote their business and a silent auction was held.  The check was presented by John Gregory (NRI Chamber) and Kim Ward (Twin River) to Lisa Roth Blackman (RI Community Food Bank).

Photo caption: In the attached picture from left to right: John Gregory (President & CEO of the NRI Chamber); Lisa Roth Blackman (Chief Philanthropy Officer for the RI Community Food Bank); and Kim Ward (Director of Public & Community Affairs at Twin River).

About the Northern Rhode Island Chamber:

The Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of businesses in the communities of Burrillville, Central Falls, Cumberland, Glocester, Lincoln, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Smithfield and Woonsocket. The NRI Chamber leads the Chamber of Commerce Coalition, representing 11 area chambers of commerce. The Coalition is the largest business advocate in the State of RI representing more than 6,500 businesses and 70,000 employees statewide.  For more information about the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, call (401)-334-1000 or visit www.nrichamber.com.