For the second year in a row, the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $2000 grant from the John E. Fogarty Foundation. The mission of the John E. Fogarty Foundation for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is to seek “to support inclusive programs, research and organizations that provide services to improve and enhance the quality of life for Rhode Island individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
The funds received from this grant will be used toward the work done with The Cove Center as part of our Art Days at the Imagination Center. For 10 weeks this summer, Cove Center clients travel to Burnside Park to work alongside our summer staff and prepare the park for our Art Days program.
Funds will also be used to expand the open air library to include books about art and artists for readers at every level. The Imagination Center will also be investing in adaptable art tools for people of all abilities.
The DPPC and the Cove Center have worked together in Burnside Park for the past few summers to further the DPPC mission of preserving and revitalizing Providence’s historic downtown core. Through this work, Cove clients learn valuable skills and requirements of employment, such as time management and pride of work. Their clients also build social integration skills by working with DPPC staff, as well as interacting with park goers. This grant will help us to formalize this program and help it grow in the future.
Thank you so much to the Fogarty Foundation for supporting our work and helping us expand this partnership with The Cove Center. If you would like to support the work that we do, please consider making a one time donation.