President's Party raises funds for the arts and humanities

Both the auction bidding and the conversation were lively at the recent President’s Party to raise funds for the Charles Sullivan Arts and Humanities Fund and the CCRI Foundation. Bidders competed for nearly 100 items ranging from a week at a Mexican resort or lunch with Mayor Avedisian of Warwick, to gift certificates to dozens of area restaurants or tickets to Celtics and Red Sox games.

The atrium of the Liston campus was brightly decorated with green and white balloons as well as food and beverage stations to serve the nearly 200 guests, who mingled over tables laden with artwork, jewelry, and beverage and food baskets.

Julie White, executive director of the CCRI Foundation, said, “The event was a wonderful success in not only bringing together a diversity of community and college leaders, but also in raising nearly $30,000 and surpassing our fundraising goal. It was also the Foundation’s first event at our Liston facility, which proved to be an excellent venue for a party and gave us a chance to showcase our inner-city campus.”

Distinguished guests at the event included Karen Adams of WPRI-TV and Mayor David Cicilline of Providence, who served as event co-chairs, as well as the Honorable Frank Caprio, chairman of the Board of Governors for Higher Education.

Created in honor of long-time CCRI professor and arts advocate Charles Sullivan, the Charles Sullivan Fund for the Arts and Humanities helps fund a variety of cultural opportunities at the community college’s multiple campuses. The CCRI Foundation supports college-wide projects, such as student scholarships, educational equipment purchases, campus beautification, athletics and library acquisitions.