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Community Support Highlights

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2024 Savor The Story celebrated libraries, our staff, and those we serve

Our 2024 Savor the Story continued in its tradition of being a tremendous success, this year raising just over $100,000. Moreover, our ninth annual gala provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the heart and soul of our community: the Library. This year’s Banned Books theme and information shared served not only as a profound celebration and poignant reminder of the indispensable role that libraries play in shaping our lives and enriching our communities, both also why protection and advocacy matter now more than ever.  

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2024 PPLGive Day 

​We are so grateful, once again, to our community of generous supporters on PPLGive Day!. In just one day, we raised $13,854 and we could not be more proud! We were able to meet our goal and unlock our matching gift, as well as contribute some extra funds to our three 2024 Give Day Community Partners – Black & Pink PVD, City Year, and The Genesis Center. 

Major grants support new and ongoing programs, infrastructure 

The Library relies on a vast number of generous funders that contributed nearly $2 million in 2024, including a number of notable grants in support of new and ongoing programs and necessary infrastructure from the following:​

  • Rhode Island Department of Education contributed $322,094 and $349,345 respectively toward PPL's continued operation of RIFLI (Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative) and Adult Education Professional Development statewide programs as well as $33,697 toward PPL's Digital Equity team's work offering workshops, digital literacy classes and walk-in services

  • Governor's Workforce Board (Real Skills for Youth) awarded a $150,000 grant for various PPL workforce readiness initiatives, including PVD Young Makers internship, Rhode Coders 2.0 programs, Teen Entrepreneurs programming, and Data for Good

  • FM Global continued support of $150,000 for Special Collections Whaling Log Digitization & Data Mining

  • IMLS National Leadership Grant Program ongoing support of $150,060 for Data for Good

  • NEH contributed 142,909 in support of the National Digital Newspaper Program (4th year)

  • Hearst Foundation contributed $125,000 in general support of TC Pathway programs

  • Federal Communications Commission Affordable Connectivity Program Special Project funding of $124,600 for ACP Outreach/Enrollment Support/ACP Fairs

  • Rhode Island Department of Education contributed a $118,353 Digital Infrastructure Mini-Grant in support of equipment for Adult Education and $98,840 for Adult Information Center services

  • Governor’s Workforce Board (Real Jobs Rhode Island) contributed $78,968 in support of PPL’s ESOL Teacher Training / Excel Work Readiness Pathway

  • Rhode Island Foundation contributed $70,000 in support of general operations

  • Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training contributed $36,159 in support of adult Technology Career Pathway programs

  • City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism contributed $32,000 in support of the Education Workshop and Makerspace

  • June Rockwell Levy Foundations contributed $25,000 in support of general lifelong learning initiatives

  • Murray Family Foundation contributed $25,000 in support of Teen Squads, STEM Mentoring RI  and Young Creators programs

  • Verizon Foundation contributed $25,000 in support of Technology Career Pathway (Adults/Teens) programs

  • Nellie Mae contributed $25,000 in support of Children's Lifting Literacy PPL programs

  • Centerville Bank contributed $20,000 for Youth programs (Teen Squad)

Reed, Magaziner deliver $700,000 for building upgrade

In an effort to provide new and improved indoor and outdoor community spaces at PPL, U.S. Senator Jack Reed and U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner teamed up to secure $700,000 in federal funding toward planned projects in the Library's historic 1900 building.

 

Once securing matching funds, PPL plans to utilize this federal funding to increase accessibility of its outdoor courtyard, creating a new unique, transitional outdoor space that would enable the Library to host new community programs, provide yet another inviting and inspiring new space for patrons to enjoy a book on a sunny day, and offer more options for event partners.

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“PPL, all RI public libraries, and those we serve are incredibly fortunate to have the tremendous and unwavering support of both Senator Reed and Congressman Magaziner. They recognize the enduring importance of libraries and we are grateful for their work on our behalf. As we approach PPL’s 150th anniversary, these funds to maintain and enhance our beautiful building will help ensure that our historic library continues to be here for another 150 years,” said Jack Martin, PPL Executive Director.​​

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